How to regain Italian Citizenship: Requirements and Process
With the entry into force of Law No. 74/2025, a temporary window from 1 July 2025 to 31 December 2027 has been opened, allowing individuals who have lost Italian citizenship to apply for its reacquisition.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the reacquisition of Italian citizenship, you must meet the following conditions (Art. 17, Law No. 91/1992):
1) Birth in Italy, or continuous residence in Italy for at least two years if born abroad;
2) Loss of Italian citizenship no later than 15 August 1992, based on one of the following:
- Voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship and transfer of residence abroad (Art. 8(1), Law No. 555/1912);
- Involuntary loss of citizenship (Art. 8(2), Law No. 555/1912);
- Joint loss of citizenship as a minor child cohabiting with a parent (Art. 12, Law No. 555/1912).
According to Art. 15 of Law No. 91/1992, the reacquisition of citizenship takes effect from the day following the submission of the application. For this reason, it does not allow for the automatic acquisition of citizenship by children—whether minors or adults—even if they live with the parent.
So how can you pass your citizenship to your children?
If you lost your Italian citizenship as an adult, you are not eligible to pass it on to your children. That said, we believe there may be a limited possibility of obtaining recognition through a court proceeding that challenges the constitutionality of the new law.
Indeed, if you lost your citizenship as a minor, your children could obtain Italian citizenship through an Italian court. In this case, the children will need the support of a lawyer, who will file an appeal outlining the constitutional issues arising from the traditional patriarchal view of the family, in which all significant decisions were entrusted solely to the authority of the father.
The Italian Supreme Court has ruled on multiple occasions regarding this matter in relation to the position of women, thereby establishing an important precedent. Given that the circumstances of the minor are analogous to those of the women, we are confident that the legal reasoning will be consistent.
Required Documentation
The application process requires gathering several documents to verify the possession of Italian citizenship and the circumstances surrounding its loss. The required documents differ depending on whether the applicant lost their citizenship as an adult or as a minor.
If you lost citizenship as an adult, you must collect the following documents:
- Passport or other valid ID;
- Birth certificate;
- Historical certificate of residence (only for those born abroad);
- Historical certificate of Italian citizenship;
- Documentation proving the loss of citizenship (e.g., naturalization certificate or equivalent).
If you lost citizenship as a minor, you must also collect the following documents in addition to those listed above:
- Birth certificate of the former citizen’s parent;
- Historical certificate of Italian citizenship of the parent;
- Parent’s naturalization certificate, showing the loss of citizenship and the exact date.
All non-Italian documents must be apostilled and translated into Italian by a certified translator. An apostille is an international certification that confirms the authenticity of a foreign document.
The Application Process
- Gather Documentation: Collect all necessary records mentioned in the 'Required Documentation' paragraph.
- Take an appointment:
- At the Italian Consulate in your country of residence.
- At a Municipality (comune) in Italy if you reside there.
- Formal declaration in front of the administrative authority (Consulate or Italian Municipality)
- Pay Application Fees: Administrative fees apply depending on the authority handling your application.
- Wait for Processing.
How AcrossBoundaries Can Support You
Navigating the legal landscape created by the new law on Italian citizenship can be difficult. That's where AcrossBoundaries comes in. We are a team of dual citizenship lawyers working to assist individuals in reclaiming their Italian citizenship under the new reacquisition provisions introduced by Law No. 74/2025.
Our services include:
- Personalized Service: We tailor our services to your specific needs, ensuring a smooth and effortless process.
- Seamless Online Process: Benefit from our fully digital services, ensuring all documentation is managed online for a streamlined and hassle-free experience.
- Efficient Scheduling: We optimize your application timeline to ensure a smooth and timely process.
- Full Ownership of Your Application Process: We provide comprehensive support, handling every aspect of your application from start to finish.
- Collaboration with the Italian Court: If needed, we involve the Italian Court at no additional cost to ensure the successful acquisition of Italian citizenship.
- Meticulous Documentation: We prepare and submit all required documents, ensuring they meet the strict requirements.
Conclusion
Whether you lost your citizenship through naturalization abroad or other historical circumstances, our team is here to help guide you through every step of the process with clarity and confidence. If you think you're eligible to reclaim your citizenship, don’t wait—now is the time to begin the process.
With AcrossBoundaries guiding your journey, the path to Italian and EU citizenship is within reach.
Contact Us
Obtaining Italian citizenship is a complex process that can require a significant time investment, and mistakes or incomplete paperwork could jeopardize your application. If you have any doubts or questions about the Italian citizenship by descent application, BOOK A 100% FREE CONSULTATION TODAY.
We’re here to guide you every step of the way.
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