italian Citizenship through great grandparents, also known as jure sanguinis (“right of blood”), allows individuals with Italian ancestry to claim citizenship as a birthright. If you have a great-grandparent of Italian origin, you may be eligible to obtain Italian citizenship. Let’s explore the process, qualification requirements, and necessary documentation!
Eligibility criteria for italian citizenship through great grandparents:
If you have an Italian ancestor, you may be eligible for Italian citizenship. To claim citizenship through a great-grandparent, neither you nor anyone in your Italian lineage (parent or grandparent) should have renounced Italian citizenship. Therefore, you must ensure that the Italian lineage has been passed down without any interruptions.
Genealogical research:
Trace your family tree back to your Italian-born great-grandparent. Gather birth, marriage, and death records for each generation in the lineage.
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Qualification requirements:
Your great-grandparent must have been alive after Italy’s unification on March 17, 1861. Ancestors naturalized before June 14, 1912, could not transfer citizenship, even to children born before their naturalization. If your great-grandparent naturalized in the United States before June 14, 1912, this would also apply to their minor Italian children living in or born in the U.S.
1948 cases:
For individuals seeking Italian citizenship through administrative means, having a male-dominated Italian lineage is a requirement. If your lineage involves a female ancestor, her child must have been born after January 1, 1948, to qualify for administrative application. However, if her child was born before 1948, the case falls under the ‘1948 rule,’ which necessitates legal action through the Italian courts with the assistance of an attorney to claim citizenship. For instance, if your grandmother was born in Italy in 1920 and emigrated to the US without naturalizing, and your father was born after 1948, you can apply administratively. However, if your father was born before 1948, you may need to seek judicial assistance.
Required Documents:
You must obtain birth, death and marriage records of every relative in the line of descent, from your great-grandfather to you. Every document must be translated and authenticated with an apostille. For more information, head to the “documentation requirements” webpage.
Application process for italian citizenship great grandparent:
If you reside outside Italy, apply through an Italian consulate in your country, however, there’s also the possibility of applying directly in Italy. The latter is a quicker route, but it is more expensive.
Remember that each case is unique, so consult the relevant authorities or seek expert assistance, such as io.citizenship’s!
Take advantage of specialized assistance to secure your passport for a borderless future.
