What is Jure Sanguinis?

Jure Sanguinis, also known as or Jus Sanguinis, means “right of blood” in Latin. The term is also interchangeable with “by descent.” Italy has friendly citizenship regulations and regards anyone of Italian ancestry to be “family.” Italy permits people of Italian origin to apply for Italian Dual Citizenship by descent in various instances.

Once given Italian birthright citizenship, a person is entitled to all the rights and privileges enjoyed by Italian citizens and the opportunity to get a European Union passport.

Qualifying for Italian Citizenship by Descent

To prove that you inherited a claim to Citizenship through descent, you must show that your Italian great-grandparent (or grandparent) passed down Citizenship to you from an Italian-born ancestor.​

Until August 15, 1992, Italian Citizenship was exclusive; As a result, for persons who were born with Italian Citizenship, acquiring non-Italian Citizenship of one’s own volition entailed the immediate renunciation of their Italian Citizenship.

The children of Italian citizens that were born in the USA or other jurisdictions with jus soli (“right of the soil”), on the other hand, gained their foreign Citizenship unwittingly as a result of their birthplaces. As a result, these children can only acquire Italian Citizenship by descent if they can confirm that their Italian-born ancestor was an Italian citizen at the time of their birth. They can then pass down their Citizenship to their children, grandkids, and so on, assuming they don’t lose Citizenship along the way.

Italy is a signatory to the Strasbourg Convention on the Reduction of Multiple Citizenship Cases. According to this Convention, children with Citizenship from a member country born outside of Italy may not have been eligible for Italian Citizenship at birth. Furthermore, the Convention has extended the period during which Italians can lose their Citizenship through naturalization in a different country to dates after August 14, 1992, if naturalization occurs in a participating country.

Preliminary Investigation

You must have the following information before can begin your application for Italian Citizenship by descent:

• The dates of birth of each relative in a direct line from you to your Italian ancestor (you’re not required to provide the precise dates, but you should know the year)
• The date when your Italian-born ancestor became a citizen of your country

Before you start the process for Italian dual Citizenship by descent, ensure that your present Citizenship is unaffected. This is not the case in the United States, and you can have multiple passports in the United States and many other countries.

Additional Requirements for Italian Citizenship by Descent

The applicant and their ancestors must satisfy the following fundamental conditions to apply for Italian Citizenship by descent:

1. The Italian ancestor lived during the unification of Italy, which occurred on March 17, 1861.
2. Before June 14, 1912, the Italian ancestor in the United States had not been naturalized.
3. If your Italian ancestor became a citizen, it had to happen after the next relative in line was born. For instance, if your great-grandfather immigrated to the United States and was naturalized after your paternal grandfather was born, you would be able to petition for Italian dual citizenship by descent if the naturalization occurred after June 14, 1912.
4. If your Italian ancestor never became a naturalized citizen, you’ll need to show a certification from the USCIS stating that no naturalization records exist, as well as a record of the ancestor’s alien file or a validated census report stating that the ancestor was not a US citizen.
5. If your Italian ancestor was a woman whose birth date was before January 1, 1948, only her children and descendants born after January 1, 1948, are eligible to inherit Italian citizenship. Exceptions to this rule can only be sought by filing a case with the Rome Civil Court.
6. If your Italian ancestor was born in one of these regions: Trentino Alto-Adige, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, or Veneto, you need to prove that he or she departed Italy after July 16, 1920, to qualify for Italian citizenship.
7. Minor children born in Italy who relocated to the United States with their parents who gained “derivative citizenship” because of a parent’s naturalization in the United States forfeited their Italian citizenship and are unable to pass it on to their descendants.

Most Common Eligibility Categories

The most specific categories are shown below to assist you in determining your eligibility. Please remember that many other reasons could jeopardize your ability to apply for Italian Dual Citizenship by descent. Even though your case does not seem to meet any of these eligibility conditions at first glance, you should consider having a professional assessment because numerous elements could benefit your claim that only qualified lawyers like Bersani Law Firm & Partners are aware of. The Italian Embassy and Consulates are not law firms, and they do not provide free legal services to the public.

• Category 1: Your father was a citizen of Italy when you were born (in other words, he was not a citizen of the United States or another jurisdiction at the date of your birth);
• Category 2: Your mother was a citizen of Italy when you were born (she was not yet a citizen of the United States and given that your birthdate was January 1, 1948, or later);
• Category 3: Your paternal grandfather was a citizen of Italy, your father was born outside of Italy, either in the United States or in another nation, and at the time of his birth, your paternal grandfather was still a citizen of Italy;
• Category 4: Your maternal grandfather was a citizen of Italy, was born outside of Italy, either in the United States or in another nation, and at the time of her birth, your paternal grandfather was still a citizen of Italy, and given that your birthdate was January 1, 1948, or later;
• Category 5: Your maternal or paternal great-grandfather was a citizen of Italy, your maternal or paternal grandparent was born outside of Italy, either in the United States or in another nation, and your maternal or paternal great-grandfather was a citizen of Italy when your grandparents were born.

How To Apply for Italian Citizenship by Descent

Individuals who wish to apply for Italian Citizenship by descent must do so at the Italian Consulate in their country of lawful residence. Every Italian Consulate has somewhat distinct procedures regarding required paperwork and translations, scheduling appointments, and waiting hours. The legal criteria for acquiring Italian Citizenship by descent, on the other hand, are the same. Individuals who have obtained permanent residency in a municipality in Italy can also petition for Italian Citizenship by descent.

Documents Required to Apply for Italian Citizenship by Descent

To apply for Italian Citizenship by descent, you must submit certified copies of your family’s vital documents to the Consulate or your Italian municipality. These documents include the following:

Birth Certificates From the Commune in Italy

Your Italian ancestors’ birth certificates from the Italian commune where they were born are required. If you’re claiming Italian ancestry through a paternal grandparent, you’ll need certificates from both grandparents’ communes, as well as certificates from your parents. In other words, birth certificates are required for every generation in your direct ancestry.

Death Certificates

You will require a verified copy of the relevant death certificate if your ancestors from Italy are no longer alive. Additionally, an apostille must be attached to this certificate, and it needs to be translated to Italian. In some circumstances, death records could be necessary.

Marriage Certificates From Italy

You’ll need a marriage certificate stating that your parents or other ancestors were married in Italy. If the marriage occurred in the United States, you’d need a valid copy of the marriage certificate as well as an apostille from the Secretary of State’s office.

Naturalization Certificates

Suppose you are applying through your mother, father, grandmother, or grandfather, and your parents or paternal grandparents do not have an Italian passport and official resident card. In that case, you will require a copy of their naturalization record.

Your Personal Civil Records

You must submit an authentic birth certificate, as well as a marriage certificate and, if relevant, the birth certificates of your children, with your application. If you’re divorced, you’ll also need a certified copy of your divorce papers and an apostille from the Secretary of State.

Apply for Italian Citizenship by Descent Today!

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about Italian Citizenship by descent or our services! The “ICD-Italian Citizenship by Descent” team will be glad to assist you in claiming your rights to becoming an Italian citizen.

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