NOTE: Listed are 4 categories, which may be the most common. However, there are NO generational limits, as long as the line of descent is not broken. Also, for any category, it is important that YOU, nor your Parent (from whom citizenship will be derived) has ever renounced their right to Italian citizenship.

Your father was an Italian citizen at the time of your birth.

Your mother was an Italian citizen at the time of your birth, you were born after January 1, 1948.

Your father was born in the United States, your paternal grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of his birth.

Your mother was born in the United States, your maternal grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of her birth, you were born after January 1, 1948.

If 1. applies to you, you must obtain the following documents:

1. Your father’s birth certificate from Italy.
2. certificate of Italian citizenship from Italy. (note: the certificate of citizenship may not be required by all consulates, so check with the consulate in your jurisdiction)
3. Your father’s naturalization certificate, or a statement from the U.S. Immigration Services in Washington, D.C. (U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE - 421 I Street North West - WASHINGTON D.C. 20536) and from the Court of the County in which he resided, stating that he was never naturalized. This serves to prove that your father became a naturalized U.S. citizen after your birth (if it occurred before your birth than you are not entitled to Italian citizenship) unless, of course, you fit into another category.

4.Your parents’ marriage certificate. If the marriage took place in the US, you must obtain the certificate in LONG FORM, and an Apostille from the Secretary of State, where the certificate was issued.

Your birth certificate (LONG FORM), with Apostille

If 2. applies to you, you must follow the requirements, but from the maternal side.

If 3. applies to you, you must obtain the following documents:

Your grandfathers birth certificate from Italy

Your grandfathers marriage certificate. (If married in the US, it must be in LONG form with Apostille)

Your grandfathers naturalization records, OR (see category 1 for information if he never naturalized)

Your fathers birth certificate (LONG form)

Your fathers marriage certificate (LONG form)

Your birth certificate (LONG form)

If 4. applies to you, you must obtain the following documents:
1. Your maternal grandfather’s birth certificate from Italy
2. Your maternal grandfathers marriage certificate (if married in the US, must be in LONG form with Apostille)
3. Your maternal grandfathers naturalization certificate (see category 1 if never naturalized)
4. Your fathers birth certificate (LONG form with Apostille)
5. Your fathers marriage certificate
6. Your birth certificate

Additional Requirements for ALL Categories:
.
All birth, marriage, and death certificates issued in the United States must be “certified copies” in LONG FORM, and bear the “Apostille” of the secretary of State , in which the document was issued.

If you are married you must also submit your marriage certificate AND (marriage license and marriage application) . Both the marriage application and marriage certificate must be “certified copies” LONG FORM, and also bear the appropriate apostille.

If you are divorced you must submit your FINAL DIVORCE DECREE, in certified copy with Apostille attached. You may also need a “letter of no appeal” from the court (check with your consulate)

If you have any children under the age of 18 you must also submit their birth certificates in certified LONG form, with Apostilles attached

Any pertinent Death Certificates must also be submitted in LONG form, along with the Apostille.

5. ALL CERTIFICATES issued in the United States or other country, MUST be TRANSLATED into Italian

PLEASE NOTE: All birth, marriage , death certificate and divorce decree issued in the United States must be “Certified copy LONG form” bearing the “Apostille” of the Office of the Secretary of State of the State in which the document was issued.

Please Note:

Before translating any documents, be sure to check carefully for ANY discrepancies, such as names, dates of birth, ages, as documents with errors cannot be sent to Italy.
If there are any errors, you MAY need an “Affidavit to amend a Record”, from the Vital Records office where the certificate was issued, OR from the court. Check with your Consulate if you are uncertain.

If you have us translate your documents, we cannot be responsible for errors on the original document.