Italian Citizenship by Descent
28.000
Annual Income needed to apply for the Italian Digital Nomad
Family-friendly
Include spouse, children, and dependents.
Shengen
Access the whole Shengen Area with one Visa
Italian citizenship by descent — commonly referred to as jure sanguinis (“right of blood”) — allows individuals with Italian ancestry to claim citizenship based on lineage rather than place of birth. Under Italian law, citizenship is transmitted from parent to child without generational limits, provided that certain legal conditions are met and the line of transmission was never interrupted.
Legal Framework
Italian citizenship law is primarily governed by Law No. 91 of 1992, with historical provisions dating back to 1861 (Italian unification). Unlike countries that impose generational caps, Italy generally recognizes citizenship transmission through an unbroken line, regardless of how many generations have passed.
However, eligibility depends on whether each ancestor in the line:
– Was an Italian citizen at the time their child was born
– Did not naturalize as a citizen of another country before the birth of the next person in the line
– Did not formally renounce Italian citizenship
Key Eligibility Requirements
To qualify through jure sanguinis, applicants must demonstrate:
Direct bloodline to an Italian citizen (parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, etc.)
No break in citizenship transmission due to naturalization or renunciation
Proof of lineage through official civil records
There is no language requirement, residency requirement, or generational limit in standard descent cases.
Required Documentation
Applicants must collect and present certified civil records establishing the full lineage from the Italian ancestor to the present applicant. Documentation typically includes:
Italian birth certificate of the ancestor
Marriage and death certificates (if applicable)
Naturalization records (or proof of non-naturalization)
Birth, marriage, and death certificates for each generation
Apostilles and certified translations where required
Accuracy and consistency across documents are critical, as discrepancies in names, dates, or locations can delay or complicate approval.
Benefits of Italian Citizenship
Successful recognition grants:
– Full Italian citizenship status
– The right to live, work, and study anywhere in the European Union
– Access to Italian public healthcare and social systems
– The ability to pass citizenship to future generations
– Italian citizenship is lifelong and inheritable, provided transmission rules continue to be met.
Get in touch with us
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