Jus Sanguinis: your guide to Italian citizenship by descent

When it comes to reconnecting with your Italian roots, understanding the concept of jus sanguinis (Latin for "right of blood") is key. Italy has one of the most inclusive citizenship laws in the world, allowing descendants of Italian nationals to claim citizenship by descent. Whether you're dreaming of an Italian passport or access to the entire European Union, this guide will walk you through everything U.S. citizens need to know about claiming Italian citizenship through jus sanguinis.

Let’s start from the basics: what is Jus Sanguinis?

Jus Sanguinis, meaning "right of blood" in Latin, refers to the principle of acquiring citizenship based on ancestry or bloodline rather than place of birth. In the context of Italian nationality law, it allows people of Italian descent to claim citizenship by demonstrating an unbroken lineage of Italian citizens. This means that even if you were born outside Italy and have never lived there, you may still be eligible for Italian citizenship if you can prove your descent from Italian ancestors. 

Once granted, Italian citizenship provides all the rights of an Italian citizen. This includes the freedom to live, work, and travel within the European Union. It also grants access to various social and economic benefits, such as the right to vote in Italian elections and the ability to access public services in Italy.

Who qualifies for Italian citizenship by descent?

Italian jus sanguinis is an opportunity for those with Italian ancestry to reclaim their citizenship. This legal concept allows the children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren of Italian citizens to qualify for citizenship, provided they meet certain criteria. The process requires indeed more than just proving that you have Italian roots. You’ll need to navigate specific legal requirements and establish an unbroken connection to your Italian ancestor. 

Understanding the eligibility criteria is the first step to determine if you can claim Italian citizenship through your bloodline. Here's a comprehensive breakdown of what you need to know.

Eligibility criteria for Italian citizenship by descent

To qualify for Italian citizenship through jus sanguinis, you must meet three main legal requirements that establish a clear and continuous bloodline to an Italian ancestor. Below are the key criteria you must fulfill:

1. Direct bloodline: you must prove a direct, unbroken lineage to an Italian ancestor who either retained their Italian citizenship or had the right to claim it. The chain of descent must be uninterrupted, meaning that no ancestor in the bloodline relinquished their Italian citizenship, even if they moved to another country.
2. Naturalization of ancestors: your Italian ancestor must not have naturalized as a citizen of another country before the birth of their child (your next-in-line ancestor). If they did, they would have lost their Italian citizenship, breaking the chain of eligibility. This is crucial because citizenship must pass seamlessly from one generation to the next.
3. Unification of Italy: the ancestor in your lineage who is furthest back must have been alive after March 17, 1861, the date when Italy became a unified nation. Prior to this date, Italy did not have a formal concept of nationality or citizenship, so only those born after unification are considered for citizenship claims.

Limitations to eligibility

While Italian citizenship by descent is available to many people of Italian ancestry, there are key limitations to be aware of. Understanding these limitations can help you assess whether you might face obstacles when applying for Italian citizenship.

1. Naturalization before June 14, 1912: if your Italian ancestor naturalized in another country before June 14, 1912, they are unable to pass on their Italian citizenship to their descendants, even if their children were born before they took this step. This historical cutoff date marks the point at which Italian laws regarding naturalization and citizenship began to change. Before 1912, indeed, Italian law did not allow dual citizenship, meaning that if an Italian citizen naturalized in another country, they automatically lost their Italian citizenship. However, in some cases, children might have retained citizenship if they were born in Italy before the ancestor naturalized.
2. Gender restrictions (Pre-1948): prior to January 1, 1948, Italian women were unable to pass citizenship to their children. This means that if your claim is through a maternal ancestor born before this date, you cannot inherit Italian citizenship through her under standard rules. However, since 2009, Italian courts have allowed applicants to challenge this restriction, and many people have successfully claimed Italian citizenship through their maternal line via a court petition in Italy. While these cases require additional legal steps, they have become a viable path for those affected by pre-1948 gender laws.

Main categories of eligibility for Italian citizenship by descent

Understanding the exact conditions under which you can claim the right to Italian citizenship by Italian descent is essential. The process is not always straightforward, as eligibility can depend on several factors such as the nationality status of your ancestors, the dates of their births, and whether they naturalized in another country. That’s why, below we collected the main categories of eligibility to help you understand whether you may qualify for Italian citizenship by descent. It’s important to note that these are the most common scenarios, and there are many other factors that could affect your eligibility, such as potential renunciations of citizenship or different interpretations of the law. If your case doesn't seem to fall within these categories, it's still worth considering a professional evaluation, as there may be other nuances that could support your claim.

Category 1: Your father was an Italian citizen at the time of your birth

If your father was an Italian citizen when you were born, and you never renounced your Italian citizenship, you qualify for Italian citizenship through jus sanguinis. This applies regardless of whether you were born outside of Italy.

Category 2: Your mother was an Italian citizen at the time of your birth

If your mother was an Italian citizen at the time of your birth, and 1. you were born after January 1, 1948, and 2. you never renounced your Italian citizenship, you qualify for Italian citizenship by descent. If you were born before 1948, the path to citizenship may require legal intervention in Italy.

Category 3: Your father was born in your native country, and your paternal grandfather was an Italian citizen

If your father was born in your home country, but your paternal grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of his birth, you may be eligible for Italian citizenship. It’s important, however, that neither you nor your father have renounced your right to Italian citizenship.

Category 4: Your father was born after January 1, 1948, and your paternal grandmother was an Italian citizen

If your father was born after January 1, 1948, and your paternal grandmother was an Italian citizen at the time of his birth, you may be eligible for Italian citizenship. Like Category 3, this lineage is traced through your paternal side, but it is tied to your father’s mother’s Italian citizenship.

Category 5: Your mother was born in your native country, and your maternal grandfather was an Italian citizen

If your mother was born in your home country, and 1. your maternal grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of her birth and 2. you were born after January 1, 1948, you may qualify for Italian citizenship. The additional condition is that your mother must have been born after 1948, when women were finally allowed to transmit Italian citizenship to their children.

Category 6: Your mother was born after January 1, 1948, and your maternal grandmother was an Italian citizen

If your mother was born after January 1, 1948, and 1. your maternal grandmother was an Italian citizen at the time of her birth and 2. neither you nor your mother ever renounced your Italian citizenship, you could qualify for Italian citizenship. 

Category 7: Your paternal grandfather was born in your native country, and your paternal great-grandfather was an Italian citizen

If your paternal grandfather was born in your home country, and your paternal great-grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of his birth, you could be eligible for Italian citizenship. The key is that neither you, your father, nor your grandfather must have renounced Italian citizenship.

Category 8: Your paternal grandmother was born in your native country, and your paternal great-grandfather was an Italian citizen

If your paternal grandmother was born in your home country, your paternal great-grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of her birth, and your father was born after January 1, 1948, you may qualify for Italian citizenship. This case is similar to Category 7 but involves the paternal grandmother and the condition that your father must have been born after 1948.

Category 9: Your maternal grandfather was born in your native country, and your maternal great-grandfather was an Italian citizen

If your maternal grandfather was born in your home country, your maternal great-grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of his birth, and you were born after January 1, 1948, you may qualify for Italian citizenship. This is another case of tracing lineage through your maternal side with the added condition that you were born after the 1948 law change, allowing maternal transmission of citizenship.

Category 10: Your maternal grandmother was born in your native country, and your maternal great-grandfather was an Italian citizen

If your maternal grandmother was born in your native country, your maternal great-grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of her birth, and your mother was born after January 1, 1948, you may qualify for Italian citizenship. Again, the key factor here is the maternal line and the law change in 1948 allowing Italian women to pass on their citizenship.

Category 11: Your paternal great-grandfather was born in your native country, and your paternal great-great-grandfather was an Italian citizen

If your paternal great-grandfather was born in your home country, and your paternal great-great-grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of his birth, you could qualify for Italian citizenship as long as neither you, your father, nor your paternal grandfather have renounced Italian citizenship.

How to apply for Italian citizenship by descent?

Applying for Italian citizenship by descent can be a detailed process. To ensure that you meet the requirements and submit the correct documentation, here’s a clear breakdown of the steps involved.

Step 1: Preliminary research

Before you begin gathering documents and filling out forms, it's essential to conduct thorough research into your family's lineage and confirm your eligibility for Italian citizenship by descent. Here’s what you should do.

• Trace your family lineage: gather detailed information about your direct Italian ancestor, including their full name, birthdate, and any events related to their naturalization (if applicable).
• Identify key events: investigate any naturalization events or changes in citizenship that could affect the chain of eligibility. For example, if your Italian ancestor became a naturalized citizen of another country before their child was born, the chain of citizenship could be broken.
• Check dual citizenship laws: verify that your current country allows dual citizenship. For instance, if you're from the United States, dual citizenship is allowed, but this may vary depending on your country of residence.

Step 2: Required documentation

Once you’ve confirmed your eligibility, the next step is to gather all the necessary documentation to prove your Italian ancestry.

1. Vital records: you will need birth, marriage, and death certificates for each ancestor in your direct lineage, starting with yourself and working backward to your Italian ancestor. These records confirm family relationships and prove your connection to your ancestor.
2. Naturalization records: if your Italian ancestor naturalized in another country, you must provide proof of their naturalization status (or documentation showing they never naturalized). This will help confirm whether the Italian citizenship was passed down or lost.
3. Apostilles and translations: all documents must be legalized with an apostille (if issued outside Italy) and translated into Italian by a certified translator. This ensures the authenticity of your documents and their acceptance by Italian authorities.

Step 3: Submission of application

With your documents in hand, you can now submit your application. The submission process will vary depending on where you live, as you must submit your application to the appropriate Italian consulate or directly to Italian authorities:

1. If you live outside of Italy, your application must be submitted to the Italian Consulate that has jurisdiction over your area of residence. Each consulate has its own process, so it's essential to confirm their specific requirements before submitting your documents.
2. If you live in Italy, you can apply directly through the Prefecture in your area. This is typically a faster option compared to applying from abroad, though it still requires submitting all necessary documents.

Applying for Jus Sanguinis directly in Italy

If you want to secure Italian citizenship and are willing to apply directly in Italy, doing so can be a rewarding and efficient path. To begin, you must establish residency in a Comune and apply for a permit of stay at the Questura before your 90-day Schengen limit expires. This requirement applies to visa-exempt nationals, such as those from the United States, Canada, and Australia, and allows you to remain in Italy legally while your application is under review. 

Once you start the process, there are several key steps you must follow.

1. Residency verification: after registering at the Comune, local police will verify that you live at your declared address.
2. Declaration of presence (Dichiarazione di presenza): if you entered from another Schengen country without receiving a passport stamp, you must submit this declaration at the Questura within eight days of arrival.
3. Permit of stay application: since the citizenship process takes longer than the standard 90-day Schengen limit, you must apply for a “permesso di soggiorno in attesa di cittadinanza” at the Questura. This is done through a postal kit from Poste Italiane. After submitting the application, you will receive a receipt, which serves as proof of legal stay. You must also attend a fingerprinting appointment at the Questura.
4. Processing time and validity: the permit typically takes two to six months to process. It is initially valid for one year and can be renewed if necessary.‍
5. Returning the permit: once citizenship is granted, you must return the permit of stay to the Questura, as you will no longer need it. At this point, you can apply for an Italian passport and ID card (carta d’identità), completing your transition to full Italian citizenship.

By following these steps—research, gathering documentation, and submitting your application—you can navigate the process of applying for Italian citizenship by descent with greater clarity and confidence. Be sure to double-check all your documents for accuracy and completeness to avoid delays, and consider consulting with a professional if you need assistance throughout the process!

Our pathway: An Italian journey even before citizenship

Applying for Italian citizenship by descent is an exciting but complex process. While gathering documents and navigating legal steps, many applicants find that spending time in Italy can make the journey smoother and more rewarding—and that’s where our programs come in.

Our gap programs provide the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in Italy while managing key steps of your citizenship process. Whether you need to establish residency, familiarize yourself with the culture, or simply want to experience life as an Italian before making the move, we offer:

1. Support in settling in Italy
2. An immersive cultural experience to help you feel at home
3. A structured, engaging environment while you wait legal procedures

Many of our participants use this time to build connections, improve their Italian, and truly embrace their heritage before officially becoming Italian!