Recognition of Italian citizenship “JURE SANGUINIS” Categories

This is the case of descendants of Italian citizens who wish to have their Italian citizenship recognized. 

If you were born in the United States you can be recognized an Italian citizen if any one of the categories listed below applies to you: 

Category 1-    Your father was an Italian citizen at the time of your birth and you never renounced  your Italian citizenship;

Category 2-    Your mother was an Italian citizen at the time of your birth, you were born after January 1, 1948, and you never renounced your Italian citizenship;

Category 3-      Your father was born in the United States or a country other than Italy, your paternal grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of his birth, neither you nor your father ever renounced your the Italian citizenship.
Your mother was born in the United States or a country other than Italy, your maternal grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of her birth, you were born after January 1, 1948 and neither you nor your mother ever renounced your Italian citizenship;

Category 4-     Your paternal or maternal grandfather was born in the United States, your paternal or maternal great grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of his birth, neither you nor your father or mother, or your grandfather ever renounced your/their Italian citizenship. Please note: a grandmother born before 1/1/1948 can claim Italian citizenship only from her father and can transfer it only to children born after 1/1/48.

Reacquisition of Italian Citizenship- 

According to Italian law, individuals born in Italy who automatically lost the Italian citizenship when they became U.S. citizenship by naturalization before August 16th, 1992, may, under certain conditions, reacquire the Italian citizenship.

Pursuant art. 13 c) of Law n. 91/1992, you may regain the Italian citizenship by establishing your residency in Italy. 

Citizenship by marriage to an Italian citizen-

The foreign spouse of an Italian citizen may apply for Italian citizenship after2 years of marriage if they reside in Italy and after 3 years of marriage if they reside abroad. Such terms are halved in case of offspring from the marriage. After the application is submitted, the Ministry of Interior takes about 2 years to issue a decree either granting citizenship or denying it.

Two basic requirements must be met prior to submitting the application-

1. the marriage must have been already registered at the Comune in Italy;
2. the Italian spouse must be registered at the Consulate as an Italian Citizen
Residing Abroad (A.I.R.E.).