Citizenship by Descent – iure sanguinis – Citizenship by direct descent

This category is only for applicants whose parent (or parents) were born in Italy.

If you fulfil this requirement, you can submit your application by booking a virtual appointment online. Please create an account on the Prenot@mi portal and select

Citizenship by direct descent (parent born in Italy)

Your application, which is handled EXCLUSIVELY by mail, must include the following forms and documents:

1. Your Italian parent’s birth certificate (estratto dell’atto di nascita) issued within the last six months, by the Italiancomune where the birth was registered.
2. Your parents’ marriage certificate. If the marriage occurred in Italy, please submit the estratto dell’atto di matrimonio issued within the last six months, by the Italian comune where the marriage was registered. If the marriage occurred abroad, please submit the original certificate (in long form), duly legalized and translated into Italian. Should there be discrepancies in how your parents’ names are noted on their marriage certificate, you must first have the document corrected, or submit the existing Court order that has granted the name change. The Court order must also be duly legalized and translated into Italian (the translation of the court order must be done by a professional translator who must also issue a certificate of accuracy).
3. Notarized copy of the parent(s)’ green card or notarized copy of the U.S. naturalization certificate. If the date the green card was issued/renewed cannot be determined, you must submit the relevant documents of non-existence of naturalization as listed on the Check List (link). The naturalization certificate must show the person’s correct name in full and their date of birth (for married women the spouse’s surname on the naturalization certificate is acceptable). Should the person’s date of birth not appear on the certificate, you must request a certified copy of their declaration of intention/petition for naturalization/oath of allegiance issued by NARA;
4. Copy of the Italian-born parent’s most recent Italian passport (if available);
5. Your original birth certificate in long form where your parents’ name appear EXACTLY as they do on their original birth certificates. The document must be duly legalized and translated into Italian. Should there be discrepancies in how your parents’ names are noted on your birth certificate, you must first have the document corrected, or submit the existing Court order that has granted the name change. The Court order must also be duly legalized and translated into Italian (the translation of the court order must be done by a professional translator who must also issue a certificate of accuracy).
6. If you are married, you must submit an original of your marriage certificate (long-form), duly legalized and translated into Italian. The certificate must show your parents’ names as they appear on their respective birth certificates. You must also include a photocopy of your spouse’s birth certificate (please refer to point 4 in case of name discrepancies).
7. If you have minor children, you must include an original birth certificate for each child. The certificate must be in long form, duly legalized by apostille and translated into Italian.
8. You must include the following FORMS (to be downloaded from our website) which need to be notarized by a notary public who has jurisdiction in the State of residence of the undersigned.
   • “Application for Italian citizenship recognition” with applicant’s notarized signature, DULY LEGALIZED BY APOSTILLE
   • Form 1 with applicant’s notarized signature, and DULY LEGALIZED BY APOSTILLE
   • Form 2 with applicant’s notarized signature, and DULY LEGALIZED BY APOSTILLE
   • Form 3 (if your parent/s is/are still living) with their notarized signature, and DULY LEGALIZED BY APOSTILLE
   • Form 4 (if your parent/s is/are deceased) with applicant’s notarized signature, and DULY LEGALIZED BY APOSTILLE
9. Copy of your valid passport.
10. Proof of residence: copy of your valid driver’s license / recent utility bill /latest tax statement (please only provide the page with your name and address).
11. Payment by money order or cashier check made out to the “Consulate General of Italy in New York”. Please include full (maiden if applicable) name on the memo portion of money order. The current amount can be found here.
12. Printout of the appointment confirmation from the online booking system.
13. A self-addressed, prepaid USPS envelope