What is Naturalization?

August 10, 2026 01:13 PM - Comment(s) - By Jacqueline Nobile

And Why Is It Important?

Definition of Naturalization

I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I had never heard of ‘naturalization’ prior to my foray into the world of jure sanguinis. I understood that a person could move from one country to another and become a citizen through a lengthy, often difficult process, but I had never heard it referred to as ‘naturalization’.


naturalization

/ˌnatʃ(ə)rəlʌɪˈzeɪʃn/

Naturalization is the legal process by which a person from another country becomes a citizen 

of a new country after birth.


Naturalization & Eligibility
Now that we know what naturalization is, it is vital to understand why it is so important in the context of Italian citizenship by descent. Due to the way the laws governing Italian citizenship by descent are written, naturalization of your last Italian born ancestor is the linchpin of whether or not you qualify. 

Prior to the Decree Law 36/2025 and the Minor Issue Circolare of October 3rd, 2024, the rules stated that your last Italian born ancestor must only have naturalized after the birth of the next in line in order to successfully pass Italian citizenship on to the next in line. If your last Italian born ancestor or the next ancestor in your direct line moved abroad again to another country (which was not uncommon in the late 19th and early 20th centuries), the same rule applies: the ancestor must not have naturalized until after the birth of the next in line.

It sounds simple, but as you probably know, Italian bureaucracy is fond of over complicating things. On October 3rd, 2024 a circolare was issued regarding the Minor Issue. The Minor Issue stated that if an Italian citizen born in Italy naturalized while their child, who was born abroad, was still a minor, that act of naturalization cut the line for the minor child and their descendants. 


If the minor child was also born in Italy, their parent's naturalization would have stripped them of Italian citizenship as well, thus cutting the line.


My head hurts, too. Hang in there with me just a little bit longer!


On March 28th 2025, the Decreto Legge was proposed with immediate effect, and officially passed into law at the end of May 2025. The decree law limited your last Italian born ancestor to your parent or grandparent, no longer allowing unlimited generations to pass on citizenship. Additionally, the citizenship status of your last born Italian ancestor is highly debated depending on where you apply. 



The law states:

Original Italian

«c) un ascendente di primo o di secondo grado possiede, o possedeva al momento della morte, esclusivamente la cittadinanza italiana»;

English Translation
«c) a first or second degree ascendant possesses, or possessed at the time of death, exclusively Italian citizenship»;

Many US consulates and Italian comuni take this to mean that in order to qualify your ancestor must not have ever naturalized abroad, holding solely Italian citizenship for the entire duration of their life. Some consulates believe that the law requires the Italian born ancestor to not have naturalized until after the birth of the next in line, especially now after the Minor Issue was overruled on June 26, 2026. Many attorneys will not take new cases to court unless the applicant can provide a CONE (certificate of non-existence; referring to the non-existence of naturalization documentation because the ancestor in question never naturalized.

Documentation of Naturalization
Now that we’ve melted our brains diving into the laws to understand how your ancestors’ naturalization could affect your eligibility for Italian citizenship by descent, we need to discuss documents. In order to properly prepare your documents for successful application for Italian citizenship by descent, your portfolio must include the appropriate naturalization records. 

In the US, most naturalization records can be ordered from USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services). A CONE (certificate of non-existence) will be issued for those who did not naturalize in the US. Otherwise, a certified copy of your ancestors’ naturalization certificates can be ordered. 

Sometimes, naturalization records can be located through NARA, but this is only true if your ancestor did naturalize. NARA holds the paperwork that would have been submitted by your ancestor in order to apply for naturalization, along with the Oath of Allegiance which was signed once their citizenship was approved. NARA records are much less expensive than USCIS records and usually arrive much more quickly. BUT please understand, it’s not a choice between the two- you need to understand if your ancestor naturalized, where they naturalized, and when. Once you know these things, then you will know where and how to collect the correct document from the correct authority.


In order to help break down this part of the process and walk you through how to order a naturalization record from USCIS, NARA, or even a local court, take a look at our free Naturalization Documentation Guide. 

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Glossary


Ciroclare - an official notice, announcement, or advertisement sent to many people at the same time.


Decreto Legge -  decree law; a temporary law made by the government in an urgent situation.


Italian Consulate - an official regional office representing Italy in a foreign city, providing public services like passport issuance, visa processing, and citizen support. It operates under an Italian Embassy.


Jure Sanguinis / Jus Sanguinis - the law of blood; Italian citizenship by descent.


The Minor Issue - outlined in the October 3rd 2024 Circolare, cut the line for applicants applying for Italian citizenship by descent if their last Italian born ancestor naturalized abroad while the next in line was still of minor age.


Naturalization - a way of obtaining citizenship, other than the citizenship you are born with, in a country where you hold legal permanent residence.


Jacqueline Nobile

Jacqueline Nobile

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