How Do I Know If I Am Eligible for Dual Citizenship?

Requirements and Steps to Determine Your Eligibility

Have you ever wondered if you qualify for Italian dual citizenship? Many people around the world have Italian ancestors without realizing they may already have the right to become Italian citizens.

Obtaining Italian dual citizenship is a dream for many, but before starting the process, it’s essential to verify your eligibility. In general, Italian citizenship can be acquired through descent, marriage or residency. If you have Italian ancestors, you may qualify for citizenship by descent, provided there are no interruptions in the transmission of citizenship. If you are married to an Italian citizen, you may be eligible after a specific period. Finally, citizenship can be obtained through residency, depending on the number of years you have lived in Italy.

At Italiza, we help people like you trace their Italian roots and navigate the legal requirements to obtain Italian citizenship. If you want to determine your eligibility, here’s what you need to know.

Verify Your Italian Ancestry

Find Out If You Qualify for Citizenship by Descent

The most common way to obtain Italian citizenship is through your ancestors. Italy grants citizenship based on bloodline (jure sanguinis), meaning that if you have an Italian parent or grandparent, you may be eligible. However, there are specific conditions to consider:

1. Your Italian ancestor must have been an Italian citizen at the time of your birth.
2. Citizenship by descent is now limited to grandparents: great-grandchildren and further generations will no longer qualify..
3. Only applies to ancestors born in Italy. The law strictly applies to those whose grandparents were born in Italy, excluding descendants of Italian parents born abroad.

Citizenship by Marriage: requirements, processing times and application procedures

If you are married to an Italian citizen, you may be eligible for Italian citizenship. The primary requirements include:

1. If you reside in Italy, you must be married for at least two years (or one year if you have children).
2. If you live outside of Italy, the waiting period is three years (or 18 months if you have children).
3. You must pass a B1-level Italian language exam to qualify.

Citizenship by Naturalization: eligibility, processing times and application steps

If you do not have Italian ancestry but have lived in Italy for a long time, you may apply for citizenship by naturalization. The general requirements include:

1. 10 years of legal residence for non-EU citizens.
2. 4 years for EU citizens.
3. 5 years for stateless individuals or refugees.

Check for Restrictions or Exceptions

Special Cases That May Affect Your Italian Citizenship Application

While many people qualify for Italian citizenship, some circumstances may prevent eligibility. The most common issues include:

1. Your Italian ancestor renounced Italian citizenship before your birth.
2. You lack sufficient documents or proof to demonstrate your Italian lineage.
3. Your case falls under the 1948 Rule, which may require a legal appeal to obtain citizenship.

How Italiza Can Help You

Understanding Italian citizenship laws can be complicated, but Italiza is here to guide you. Our team of experts will help you every step of the way.

Applying for Italian citizenship can be a complex process, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Italiza assists you from verifying your eligibility to gathering the necessary documents and submitting your application. With our expertise, we help you avoid common mistakes, streamline the process, and ensure a smooth path to obtaining Italian citizenship.

If you dream of becoming an Italian citizen, contact us today: together, we’ll turn your goal into reality.