Reacquiring Italian Citizenship:
The Window Open Until December 31, 2027
A temporary route for former Italian citizens, usually parents or grandparents born in Italy, who lost citizenship by naturalizing abroad before August 16, 1992.
Last updated: November 2, 2026
Short answer (as of November 2026)
From July 1, 2025 to December 31, 2027, former Italian citizens who were born in Italy, or lived there for two consecutive years, and lost citizenship on or before August 15, 1992 can reacquire it by declaration at their consulate. The fee is €250 and they do not need to move to Italy.
- It is for the former citizen personally, typically an Italian-born parent or grandparent who naturalized in the U.S.
- Loss on or before August 15, 1992 is the key date; later losses follow a different procedure that requires moving to Italy
- Filed by appointment at the consulate for the person's place of residence
- Whether it helps children or grandchildren depends on separate rules and dates
Who can reacquire by declaration?
According to Italian consulate guidance, the declaration route is open to former citizens who were born in Italy, or who lived in Italy for at least two consecutive years, and who lost Italian citizenship on or before August 15, 1992. Typical cases:
- People who voluntarily became citizens of another country, such as the U.S., on or before August 15, 1992
- People who renounced Italian citizenship after involuntarily acquiring a foreign one and living abroad
- People who lost citizenship as minors because they lived with a parent who lost it
Those who lost citizenship on or after August 16, 1992 use a different procedure, which requires a commitment to move to Italy within one year.
Cost, deadline and where to file
| Window | July 1, 2025 to December 31, 2027 |
| Fee | €250, paid as the consulate instructs |
| Where | The Italian consulate for the place you live, by appointment |
| Move to Italy? | Not required for losses on or before August 15, 1992 |
Documents usually required
Each consulate publishes its own list. The Miami consulate, for example, asks for:
- Current foreign passport, and an expired Italian passport if available
- Italian birth extract (estratto per riassunto) for those born in Italy
- A historical certificate of Italian citizenship
- Proof of how and when citizenship was lost, such as the original U.S. Certificate of Naturalization
- Proof of residence in the consular district
Can reacquisition help my children or grandchildren?
Reacquisition restores citizenship to the former citizen. It does not, by itself, make their adult children or grandchildren Italian. Whether it helps the family depends on the descendants' ages and on other rules, such as the declaration for minor children and the exclusive-citizenship test. Because the window closes on December 31, 2027, families with a living Italian-born parent or grandparent should get this checked soon.
Could reacquisition work for your family?
We'll check the dates and tell you whether the 2027 window is worth using.
Sources
- Consulate General of Italy in Miami: reacquisition of Italian citizenship
- Decree-Law 36/2025 as converted by Law 74/2025 (Normattiva)
- 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.
Questions about reacquisition
Have a living parent or grandparent born in Italy?
We'll check whether reacquisition is open to them before the December 31, 2027 deadline, and what it could mean for the rest of the family.
Check reacquisition for my family →Related guides
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Registering Children Before May 31, 2029
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Law & Policy
Law 74/2025 and Article 3-bis Explained
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