Italian citizenship by descent

Italian citizenship is based on the principle of ius sanguinis, according to which a person acquires the nationality of his or her ascendants by the simple fact of their filiation - biological or even adoptive - even if the place of birth is another country.

By maternal line. only for children born after 1 January 1948.

Recognition of Italian citizenship is subject to the applicant's proof that his or her lineal ascendants have maintained Italian citizenship without interruption.

In this case, it is not necessary to apply for a grant of Italian citizenship, but what is requested is the recognition of Italian citizenship.

One has to prove, case by case, one's own descent by submitting all the documents proving it to the Italian authorities.

Italian citizenship can be obtained through the paternal line, from father to son without generation limits in an administrative way, acquired through the Italian consulates in the case of residence abroad or at the "ufficio di stato civile" of the Italian communes.

For children born before 1 January 1948, on the maternal line, the law does not allow the recognition of Italian citizenship through administrative channels, but the sentence of the "corte di cassazione n. 4466 del 25 febbraio 2009" has recognised the right of the ascendants of former Italian citizens to Italian citizenship through judicial channels.