Use our guide below to find the documents you need to confirm your eligibility for Italian citizenship.
Due to new generational limits introduced on March, 28th 2025, you can now only obtain citizenship through an Italian-born grandparent or parent, or if your parent lived in Italy for at least two years prior to your birth.
Gather Your Ancestor’s U.S. Residence History
Make a list of all places your ancestors lived after arriving in the U.S. (e.g. New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, also include different counties if applicable).
Google how to request digital copies of immigration or naturalization records from the location(s) they lived in the U.S. and the approximate years they would have naturalized (e.g. 1910–1946).
For more recent cases where you're obtaining citizenship through an Italian parent you may need to make a request to USCIS for their immigration records.
Use the online resources you found on Google for the specific areas that they lived in (usually National Archives, or local county records) to request digital copies of immigration or naturalization documents from the relevant time period (e.g., 1910–1946).
Include all the variants of their name and birthday you are aware of for a thorough search.
Simultaneously, check genealogy websites like Ancestry to see if your ancestor was listed as an “alien” or “U.S. citizen” in any census data. Note: Census data isn’t 100% accurate, but it can give you clues as to whether they naturalized.
Once you receive the naturalization records, you’ll typically see one of the following scenarios:
Naturalized Before Their Child Turned 21
If both ancestors became a U.S. citizen before their child (whom you descend from) turned 21, you are not eligible unless the woman who you are a descendent of naturalized through marriage (see below).
No Record of Naturalization or They Never Naturalized
If there’s no record or they never naturalized, there’s a good chance you qualify for Italian citizenship.
Naturalized After Their Child Turned 21
If they naturalized after their child (whom you descend from) was 21, you are eligible.
Female Ancestor Naturalized Through Marriage Prior to 1948
If a female ancestor lost her Italian citizenship through marriage prior to 1948, you are eligible but must pursue an Italian court case (often called a “1948 Case”).
An Ancestor who Naturalized In or after 1992
After 1992, Italy allowed dual citizenship. Therefore, an ancestor who naturalized at that time often retained the ability to pass on Italian citizenship..
| Situation | Eligible? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| An Italian-born ancestor who never naturalized. | Likely Yes | Most straightforward case; ancestor retained Italian citizenship, passing it down. |
| An Italian-born ancestor who naturalized after their child turned 21. | Likely Yes | Ancestor was still Italian when their child was born (and until that child was at least 21), preserving eligibility. |
| An Italian-born ancestor who naturalized before their child turned 21. | Generally No | Italian citizenship is usually lost if the ancestor naturalized too early, barring certain exceptions like 1948 cases (see below). |
| A female ancestor who married a foreign man before 1948 and lost her citizenship as a result. | Possibly Yes, but Requires Court | Known as a “1948 Case.” Applicants often must file in Italian court rather than go through the consulate. |
| An Italian-born ancestor who reacquired Italian citizenship after previously naturalizing abroad. | Varies | If reacquired before the birth of the descendant or under certain conditions, eligibility may be preserved; otherwise, it can be complex. |
| A Female ancestor who naturalized through marriage to man who became an American before 1948 (e.g., a female ancestor automatically acquired another citizenship by marrying a foreign citizen). | Possibly Yes, but Requires Court | If this occurred before 1948, a court case may be needed; if after laws changed, they may still retain eligibility. |
| An ancestor who naturalized in 1992 or later. | Likely Yes | After 1992, Italy allowed dual citizenship. Therefore, an ancestor who naturalized at that time often retained the ability to pass on Italian citizenship. |
If interested you can learn how to apply through parents and grandparents here and what documents are required (in detail) here
At this point, you can reach out to us for assistance with your case. We only move forward with clients who are legally eligible, ensuring a positive experience and allowing us to focus our resources entirely on helping people successfully obtain their Italian citizenship.
Head of Citizenship Procurement
Aldo holds a Law Degree from the University of Turin, and specializes in the recognition of Italian citizenship by descent (Jure Sanguinis). With extensive experience collaborating with law firms and clients worldwide, Aldo has a proven track record of successfully helping individuals and families obtain their Italian citizenship.
Head of Customer Services
Spencer spent two years independently navigating the Italian legal system, going through the process of gaining an Italian Passport through descent, and is now a dual Italian citizen. Prior to Citizenship Italia, he managed clients like Samsung and the NBA for technology companies and startups. He now brings this expertise to deliver top-tier customer service and personalized support.
You may qualify for Italian citizenship by descent if your parent or grandparent was born in Italy and was still an Italian citizen at the time of their child's birth. However, due to new laws passed in 2025, eligibility is now mostly limited to individuals with an Italian-born parent or grandparent—unless your parent lived in Italy for at least two years before you were born.
If you're applying through a grandparent, you'll need their Italian birth certificate, marriage record, your parent’s birth and marriage records, your own birth certificate, and proof of your ancestor’s naturalization status. Apostilles and certified translations are required for all non-Italian documents.
It can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. U.S. records are usually obtained quickly (with exepctions for places like New York City), but Italian records typically take can take 1 – 4 months or more. If name or birth date discrepancies require corrections or amendments it can take additional mnths or even a year.
You can search for U.S. naturalization and immigration records through the National Archives (NARA), the USCIS Genealogy Program, or state and local archives. Census data, passenger lists, and court indexes can also help determine whether your ancestor became a citizen — and when.
The fastest way is to find out if your last Italian-born ancestor was still a citizen when their child was born. You’ll need to gather birth and naturalization records to verify this. You can also book a free eligibility review with our team to get expert confirmation.
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