If your grandmother was born in Italy, in addition to the endless love and incredible food she spoiled you with during your entire life, she might also be able to give you the gift of new life opportunities by providing you with the right of italian citizenship.
Principle of Jus Sanguinis
As family is one of the most important things for Italians, the Italian government grants the children and grandchildren of Italian nationals the right to claim for dual citizenship through descent.
This principle is known as “Jure Sanguinis”, Latin for “right of blood” and can take you to be part of the European Union.
Traveling back in time: a trip to your family history
The first step into the adventure of getting your Italian citizenship will be to dig into your family (in this case grandmother)’s history in order to collect the necessary information.
If you’re fortunate enough to have a close relationship with your grandmother—and especially if she’s still alive—this could be a wonderful opportunity to connect with her on a deeper level.
Chances are, you grew up immersed in Italian culture. But learning more about her personal journey—how old she was when she left her hometown, the name of the village where she was born, and the experiences that shaped her—can offer a richer understanding of who she is. These stories aren’t just family history; they’re part of your heritage, too.
Take advantage of specialized assistance to secure your passport for a borderless future.
How do I prove my right to dual citizenship?
In order to show enough evidence of your right to being Italian, the authorities will require you to show a series of legal documents:
- Birth certificates: this includes your grandmother’s and her child (your mother or father).
- Marriage certificates: to explain family unions.
- Death certificates: to anyone who applies.
- No Naturalization certificate: maybe the most important one. Which demonstrates that she did not resign to their nationality once she moved to a different country.
- Personal certificates: all your personal information, born, marriage, divorce, anything that applies.
Where should I look for these documents?
Some grandparents have all their documents kept and safe with them; some others lost them on the way to their new country; some of them are no longer with us and we do not have the possibility to ask for them.
No matter what your personal situation, there are many ways to find the information we need in order to request their official documents to the Italian comune where your grandmother was born.
Family Search and other online portals
For many years, the Italian government has worked with non-profits organizations in order to promote its history and make more accessible all personal records to italian family members around the world.
Being one the biggest sources of the world, Family Search is best known as it offers a vast collection of information, records and genealogies organized by year.
You can find more information and other sources in our post “How to search for Italian records online?“
Applying for Italian Citizenship by descent
Once you have gathered the necessary information, you can apply for Italian citizenship through the courts. To know the step by step, enter our post: How to get Italian citizenship by descent.
Italian History & Women Rights
It is well known that human rights were not always the same for men and women throughout history. Unfortunately, Italy is not an exception.
Before 1948, Italian citizenship was only allowed to be transferred by male members of the family.
After this year, and in order to pursue equality, the Italian government changed the constitution and proclaimed all children born from either an Italian mother or father are entitled to Italian citizenship.
Take advantage of specialized assistance to secure your passport for a borderless future.
The Rule of 1948
So the question now is: was your parent (italian grandmother’s child) born before or after 1948?
If they were born after 1948, the bloodline was not restricted, therefore you are able to apply for dual citizenship directly with the consulate.
On the other hand, if they were born before that year, it might imply that the family line was broken. But do not lose your hope! There might still be a way…
This last case is what we know as the Rule of 1948. Where it must be applied to a motion in the court of Rome and request that the particular case be reviewed to apply to citizenship.
Loss of citizenship through marriage
Another special case would be if your grandmother was married to a non-italian citizen.
Before 1983, this would mean that your grandmother had to renounce her Italian nationality and adopt her husband’s at the time of marriage.
After this year, Italy modified its laws to eliminate the automatic loss of citizenship due to marriage.
If your grandmother married after 1983, after last law modifications in 2009, you can now apply for the Rule of 1948 under the same principles.
Important: Under Law 75/2025, eligibility for Italian citizenship by descent requires that your Italian ancestor held exclusive Italian citizenship at the time of their death. If they renounced their Italian citizenship or became naturalized as a citizen of another country before passing away, you will not qualify.
The importance of having an adviser
At io.europeo we understand that the path to citizenship can be tedious and that the lack of time and knowledge plays a key role when putting together the documentation folder.
It is for this reason that we offer personalized assistance, analyzing case by case, with a team of trained specialists who are constantly updated regarding Italian laws and history. In order to guarantee the best possible results.
