What "Exclusively Italian Citizenship" Means
for Parent and Grandparent Claims

What the law says

Article 3-bis says that a person born abroad who holds another citizenship is treated as never having acquired Italian citizenship, unless an exception applies. The main exception is that a first- or second-degree ascendant, meaning a parent or grandparent, holds, or held at the time of death, exclusively Italian citizenship.

Other exceptions cover cases started by 11:59 PM Rome time on March 27, 2025, and a parent who lived in Italy for two continuous years after acquiring citizenship and before the applicant's birth. See our Law 74/2025 guide for all of them.

Does my parent or grandparent meet the test?

Situation	Usual result
Grandparent born in Italy who never became a citizen of any other country	Usually meets the test
Grandparent born in Italy who became a U.S. citizen before you were born	Generally does not meet the test
Grandparent born in Italy who naturalized after you were born	Depends on dates and consulate practice; needs review
Parent or grandparent born in the U.S.	Does not meet it: they are U.S. citizens by birth
Ancestor who naturalized abroad after August 15, 1992 and kept Italian citizenship	Generally does not meet it: they were a dual citizen
Your parent lived in Italy for two continuous years as a citizen before you were born	May qualify under the separate two-year residence rule

When is the test applied?

Italian consulates assess the ancestor's citizenship at the date of the applicant's birth, or at the ancestor's death if they died before the applicant was born. That timing is why naturalization dates matter so much: the same grandparent can pass or fail depending on when they became a U.S. citizen.

How do you prove it?

Consulates ask for evidence that the ancestor held no other citizenship at the relevant time. Depending on the consulate and the case, that can include:

• Proof that no naturalization record exists, such as a USCIS Certificate of Non-Existence, or the naturalization record itself showing a later date
• Certificates of non-registration on foreign electoral rolls
• Statements of renunciation of any other citizenship, where relevant

Each consulate publishes its own checklist. Check the one for your state on our U.S. consulates page.

What if my family does not meet it?

• Check whether a case was started for you by March 27, 2025.
• Check the reacquisition window if a parent or grandparent born in Italy is alive and lost citizenship by August 15, 1992.
• Follow the EU Court case C-816/26, which could change the position.

Sources

• Decree-Law 36/2025 as converted by Law 74/2025 (Normattiva)
• Consulate General of Italy in Miami: citizenship by descent
• Consulate of Italy in Brisbane: the new rules
• Italian Foreign Ministry: citizenship

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and consulate practice change; check the official sources or ask us before acting.