Studio Settebello - Articles #GenealogyStudio Settebello - Articles #Genealogyhttps://www.studiosettebello.com/articles/tag/genealogyThu, 20 Aug 2026 17:26:03 +0200http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[What Documents Do You Actually Need for Italian Citizenship by Descent?]]>https://www.studiosettebello.com/articles/post/what-documents-do-you-actually-need-for-italian-citizenship-by-descentConfused about Italian citizenship document requirements? Learn why there's no one-size-fits-all list and download the free Ultimate Document Tracker & Checklist to help you get started.]]>

Why There Is No "One-Size-Fits-All"

One of the most frequently searched questions on google from the jure sanguinis community is: what documents do I need to apply for Italian citizenship by descent?


And here’s the answer nobody wants: it depends.


Unfortunately, as much as you may dislike that answer, it’s the truth. Anyone who tries to simplify it or tell you otherwise is lying to you. There is no one-size-fits-all in jure sanguinis cases. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t DIY some of your document collection. 


The trick to understanding what documents you need to collect is attention to detail and experience. You may not have the same level of experience that we have after years of assisting with applications through consulates all over the world, and courts and comuni all over Italy- but don’t let that stop you from getting started!


First thing first- do you qualify? Why waste all the time, money, headache and heartache of building your application portfolio if you don’t even qualify? If you know that you don’t currently qualify, but you’re prepared to make the investment in the hope that the rules will change, that’s fine, too. The point is- don’t walk blindly down this path without knowing where you stand. For a quick overview, take our Italian citizenship by descent eligibility quiz or book a free introductory call to learn more about our Genealogy & Eligibility services.

Next, build a family tree. It’s important to understand your ancestral line so that you can avoid ordering unnecessary documents. You may have more than one Italian ancestor who can serve as the anchor for your application, but you may not know which line is best for your application until after the genealogy research. And sometimes you won't know which line is best until after you start collecting documents. The key here is to pick the most direct line, with the fewest discrepancies, that conform with the strictest interpretation of the laws. That being said, these factors don’t always perfectly align. Sometimes, the best you can do is two out of three.


The basic documents required are birth, marriage, and death certificates for everyone in the direct line. The direct line refers to your parent and grandparent with Italian heritage, not their spouses. You will also need the naturalization or non-naturalization record of your last Italian born ancestor. Check out our article What is Naturalization?: And Why Is It Important?for more information on how to figure out if your ancestor naturalized and how to collect naturalization (or non-naturalization) records for your Italian citizenship application.               

Where things start to get hairy is in the details.

For example:

Was your grandfather married to someone else before your grandmother? You may need to collect his divorce certificate, or his first wife’s death certificate if her passing ended the marriage. But this is only true if your grandfather is in your direct line- if your grandmother is your last born Italian ancestor, these extra documents are unnecessary!


Are you applying judicially through an Italian court? You likely won’t need the death certificates, unless there is a name discrepancy- such as anglicization like Paolo > Paul- that can be explained on the death certificate with an AKA (also known as). But be careful that the death certificate doesn’t have any additional discrepancies that could cause more problems than it resolves!


Are you applying at a consulate? Which one? Because some consulates require the birth certificates for the spouses of your in-line ancestors, but usually a photocopy will suffice- no Apostille or translation needed! Check your consulate's website for exact information.


Does the surname of your last Italian born ancestor change multiple times across vital records or over the generations? Resolving this issue may require a Court Ordered Declaratory Judgement- sometimes referred to as OATS (One And The Same).


Preparing your documents for a successful application is a lot of hard work. To help you get started, we’ve created a free tool. Download The Ultimate Document Tracker & Checklist here and book a free introductory call to learn more about how we can help you.

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]]>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 13:54:09 +0200<![CDATA[What is Naturalization?]]>https://www.studiosettebello.com/articles/post/what-is-naturalization-and-why-is-it-importantLearn what naturalization is and why it's critical for Italian citizenship by descent. Understand how ancestry laws, recent decrees, and record requirements impact your eligibility.]]>

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.


]]>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 13:13:29 +0200<![CDATA[In the Absence of Evidence]]>https://www.studiosettebello.com/articles/post/in-the-absence-of-evidence-how-to-deal-with-missing-recordsDon’t let a missing document derail your Italian citizenship dreams. Explore how to creatively verify your ancestry when the paper trail goes cold.]]>

How to Deal with Missing Records

What do you mean, my grandparents weren’t married?!


        Does this sound familiar? Maybe it was your parents. Or maybe you’re missing a vital record because of a fire or an earthquake. It could even be that the document never existed in the first place. Don’t freak out just yet- there are several ways around a missing document.

        If you’ve read my article The Truth in the Cashbox, you’ll know that you can’t always trust what your family tells you. In their defense, lies aren’t always intentional. Many of us in the Italian diaspora have heard similar stories like ‘your great grandmother was the illegitimate child of a nobleman!’, or even simply, ‘your grandfather was born in the US, not Italy!’. In my lineage, both of these stories appeared (in some cases for more than one ancestor). But it was the lie that my grandparents were married that led to my next major road bump- what do you do when the document you need doesn’t exist?

       Without my grandparents' marriage certificate, I needed to find another way to prove my father’s paternity. The line I used to apply for citizenship back in 2024 was Me < My Father < My Grandfather < My Great Grandfather. Although my grandfather was listed on my father’s birth certificate, it cannot be relied on as sufficient proof. If you have a similar issue and need to prove paternity for someone in your line, the easiest way to do so is to have an official document drawn up where the father acknowledges the next in line as their child. The obvious issue here, as it was in my case, is when the family members in question are no longer living.

        The next route I explored was church records. In many cases, a sacramental certificate issued by a church in place of a marriage certificate, or a baptismal certificate in place of a birth certificate is an acceptable form of documentation. Unfortunately, there was no church record of my grandparents’ marriage because they never married, not in the eyes of the government or god. However, if I was able to locate my father’s baptism certificate, and it just happened to include my grandfather’s signature, it would have been the perfect example of proof of paternity. Although I successfully located and received a copy of my father’s baptism certificate with my grandfather listed as my father’s father, it did not bear his signature. I had the document notarized and Apostilled, just in case.

Another reliable option is a Last Will and Testament where the parent either claimed paternity for their child or bequeathed property or belongings to them as their heir. This was my best chance at finding an alternative to my grandparents’ marriage certificate. In my childhood, I visited my grandfather’s house many times. After his passing, I remember the discord between my divorced parents and my grandmother, who all felt entitled to a fair share. But my father was the only one listed on the deed. This was the key. 

My grandpa Sal in front of his house.

First, I searched for my grandfather’s will in the local county where his house was, then in the county where he lived prior, both to no avail. After diving into a rabbit hole of research, I discovered that the deed to the house was considered public and could be requested through the local county. If the Will didn’t exist, there would still be evidence in the transference of the deed from my grandfather to my father. Alas, the high from my ingenious discovery was short lived. My grandfather had purchased the land long before there was even a proper street name, let alone an address. I used google maps and my memory to try to decipher the correct address, all the while cross referencing the county’s website. I was exhausted, so I put the matter to rest, and figured I would pick back up on it in the morning.

The next morning, when trying to log back into the website for the county clerk’s office I was met with an alert- the website was indefinitely offline due to a hacker! Just my luck! I was so close! I waited a few weeks, but the itch to get my hands on the lynchpin document was too great. I wrote out a detailed letter explaining what I was looking for, a few possible addresses, a copy of my photo ID, and a cashier’s check for the payment. Two weeks later, I had the deed in my hands. Shaking, I tore through it until I finally found the line that specifically stated my grandfather transferred the deed to his son, my father! 

As I write this recollection, I understand just how fortunate I am that I was able to locate this document- which was later waived away and dismissed by the comune worker as unnecessary. You can read all about my application in Italy in my article Piano, Piano. After my sister and I completed this process for ourselves, I became passionate about helping others achieve their goals of being recognized as an Italian citizen. Just as no two people are the same, neither are any two family lines, nor the issues or solutions for their applications. If you’re having trouble locating or replacing a missing record, book a free introductory call to find out how we can help.

On the left, my grandparents holding my newborn father; on the right is the house my grandpa built still in its early stages.
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]]>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 16:36:05 +0200<![CDATA[Jure Sanguinis]]>https://www.studiosettebello.com/articles/post/jure-sanguinis-the-laws-explainedAre you navigating the complexities of Italian citizenship by descent (Jure Sanguinis)? Recent legislative changes—including new rules regarding “The Minor Issue” and the impact of Decreto Legge 36/2025—have significantly altered eligibility requirements.]]>

The Laws Explained

There are a few things you need to know about Italian citizenship by descent (also known as Jure Sanguinis or Jus Sanguinis) before you can determine if you are still eligible under the new laws.


Previously, those with Italian heritage who could trace their ancestry back and collect the vital documents to prove it, could claim citizenship. In recent years, the number of people applying for recognition has boomed. Consulate appointments have become increasingly impossible to book leading to many applicants choosing to pursue their case in court. 

        The first blow to those seeking recognition of their Italian citizenship came on the 3rd of October 2024 when the Gazzetta Ufficiale posted a circolare that reinterpreted the laws thus anyone with “The Minor Issue” was rendered ineligible. 

“The Minor Issue” is a way to describe anyone whose last Italian born ancestor naturalized abroad before the next in line became an adult. Prior to 1975 the age of adulthood was 21 years old, after 1975 the age was lowered to 18. 

After the circolare, many applicants shifted to an alternative line of Italian descent in order to keep the dream alive. While many Italian men naturalized in order to work legally after moving abroad, oftentimes their wives did not. In cases where the female ancestor was also born in Italy, but did NOT naturalize, the application could be processed through her. If the female ancestor gave birth to the next in line before 1948, the applicant has to take their case to Italian court. 1948 cases cannot be processed at a consulate or via residency in Italy. Although 1948 cases are still considered valid, your line must still be eligible under the Decreto Legge (Decree Law) 74/2025.

On March 28th, 2025 the Gazzetta Ufficiale posted the Decreto Legge 36/2025 which was converted into law as Decreto Legge 74/2025, and primarily made the following changes to the rules governing Italian citizenship by descent:

  1. Only those whose parent or grandparent were the last Italian born ancestor have a viable line. (Anyone whose last Italian born ancestor is their great grandparent or further is no longer eligible).

  2. Only those whose last Italian born ancestor never naturalized abroad, remaining solely Italian for the duration of their life OR was solely Italian at the time of birth of the next in line if they are still living, are considered to be eligible for citizenship by descent. (Meaning, your last Italian born ancestor could not have naturalized at all!)

  3. Opened a "reacquisition window": Any persons who were previously Italian, but naturalized abroad before dual citizenship became legal in 1992 are now able to reclaim Italian citizenship via declaration at their local consulate with a deadline of December 2027.

  4. Minor Children: An extended deadline has been issued to parents, who now have until May 31, 2029 to file a declaration of intent for children who were under 18 on May 24, 2025 (when the law was passed). For births occurring after the new law was passed, parents must register or submit the declaration within three years of birth or adoption.


Other notable changes from the Decreto Legge include:

  • Two year expedited naturalization: for those whose last Italian born ancestor is a parent or grandparent, but that person naturalized. The applicant must be approved for a visa in order to relocate to Italy to become a permanent resident. After two years and successfully passing a B1 level Italian language exam, the applicant can gain Italian citizenship through naturalization after completing just two years of residency.


Updates:

         

  • In April and June of 2026, the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court of Cassation convened to deliberate the legality of the Decreto Legge and the October 3rd circolare. Unfortunately, the new laws have been upheld. 
  • On July 23rd 2026, the Constitutional Court officially suspended their proceedings and referred the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in order no. 147/2026. 
  • On July 26th 2026, the Minor Issue was overturned, but still contradicts the Decreto Legge 74/2025 in terms of whether or not your last Italian born ancestor's naturalization cut the line. The Constitutional Court recently delayed making an official decision on the Decreto Legge by referring the case to the CJEU (Court of Justice of the European Union) through order number 147/2026. 
  • August 10th 2026, upholding the decision made by the Supreme Court of Cassation's landmark Joint Sections Ruling No. 24045 of July 26, 2026, a new circolare was issued effectively reversing circolare 43347/2024, known for introducing the Minor Issue. There is no precedent for successfully applying this rule change to new applications, but you can now request an official re-evaluation if your case was denied specifically due to the October 3rd 2024 circolare.

   There’s a lot of misinformation online right now, and unfortunately, the more you read the easier it is to become confused. This new ruling on the Minor Issue is an important win, but there’s still a lot up in the air. For now, what’s certain is, if you have a parent or grandparent who never naturalized, you’re likely still eligible. 


We know just how heartbreaking these changes have been to the global Italian diaspora who were midway through the process of having their Italian citizenship recognized. Please know that if your goal was to relocate to Italy, or achieve Italian citizenship, there are still other pathways for you. Book a free introductory call to discover your options and how Studio Settebello can help you get started.


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Glossary


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

The Constitutional Court - Corte Costituzionale is the highest independent legal body that checks if laws follow the Italian Constitution, resolves power disputes between state branches or regions, and judges the President for high treason.

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) - ensures EU law is applied the same way in all member countries.

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

Gazzetta Ufficiale - the official gazzette or journal; where the Italian government publishes new laws, decrees, regulations, and public notices.

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.

The Supreme Court of Cassation - Corte Suprema di Cassazione is Italy's highest court of last resort for civil and criminal matters, ensuring laws are applied correctly and interpreted in a unified manner across the entire country.

]]>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 16:31:26 +0200<![CDATA[A Seemingly Insurmountable Task]]>https://www.studiosettebello.com/articles/post/a-seemingly-insurmountable-task-how-I-made-the-move-from-the-US-to-ItalyMoving to Italy felt like an impossible dream that no one believed in. Discover the real story of how I left the rat race behind and chose to pursue dual citizenship.]]>

How I Made the Move From the US to Italy

When I decided to move to Italy, I knew I couldn’t tell anyone about my plans. The guilt of hiding such a momentous dream evaporated when I finally shared my secret- no one believed me. Not my colleagues, not my neighbors, not my family, or friends. It wasn’t my dream of moving abroad that they doubted- rather, they never thought that I’d actually do it. Some smiled politely, others laughed out loud. My boss flat out refused to hire my replacement even after I’d put in my notice. To them, my dream was a joke.

Outwardly, I continued going through the motions of my old life, as if it were just a movie playing in the background to appease my ADHD, meanwhile I worked tirelessly towards what felt like an insurmountable goal.

In retrospect, making the decision felt  like flipping a switch. I went to bed one night and when I woke up the next morning it was decided. In reality, I had been dreaming of living in Europe since I was in high school. As each year of my adulthood passed by, I witnessed the probability of my dream coming true grow smaller and smaller. It was in 2022, when everyone was trying to pretend that COVID was over, and I was the brokest I’d ever been in my adult life, that I heard about Italian citizenship by descent. 

Although I’d heard about jure sanguinis before, more than a decade earlier from a co-worker, I thought my Italian ancestry was too far back for me to qualify. At the time, I was too overwhelmed as a full time student and employee to do any research. Back then I still had hope that I’d find a great job that would sponsor my move to Europe, I never even contemplated dual citizenship. Maybe it was a Tik-Tok video or a Facebook post, I don’t remember now, but in August of 2022 I realized that my sister and I just might be eligible and I dove in. 

The timing was perfect, though in the moment it didn’t feel that way. After COVID my career was gone. I was an under-employed, jaded millennial, disillusioned with US politics and the mirage of the American Dream. I was burnt out from the perpetual rat race and I didn’t want to worry anymore about my lack of health insurance snowballing me into bankruptcy. Don’t get me wrong, Europe has its share of problems too- especially Italy. It wasn’t so much a “grass is greener” situation as it was a “I’ve got nothing left to lose, why not throw caution to the wind?” It never feels like the right time to go for your dreams. I had already spent too much time playing the game according to everyone else’s rules. I figured if I was going to continue to be miserable, it might as well be because I tried and failed to do things my own way.

            It was terrifying. It still is sometimes. Sometimes I’m awestruck by the beautiful wonder of the ancient buildings in my town and the view of the Mediterranean Sea from my balcony- I pinch myself in disbelief.

This is my real life and I feel so lucky! 

            Other times I lament the loss of being able to jump in my car, swing by the dispensary, and grab a pint of Haagen-Dazs chocolate peanut butter ice cream on my way back home. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Making this move wasn’t about transplanting my old life onto a new backdrop, and if that is your mindset you’ll certainly fail. It was about challenging what my life could be if I embraced the change, shifted my perspective, and tried something different.


Moving abroad is an enormous feat, but not impossible. It was a series of well organized, measurable tasks. The process demanded patience and flexibility. Things going wrong, or even just differently from my expectations was the norm- so much so that when things went according to plan it made me suspicious. People ask me all the time “how did you do it?” My answer is that I chose it. Not once, not twice, I chose it every day. Every time I was challenged, every time it felt too hard, every time I just wanted to give up or would rather just not exist- I chose it. And I still do. I think that’s true about every hard thing we can do: the real trick isn’t knowing the exact series of steps, or all the potential pitfalls and pain points, it helps, but nothing will make your dreams come true if you are not actively choosing them every single time.


For more details about my genealogy research, preparing my documents for jure sanguinis, and my application in Italy check out my other articles: The Truth in The Cashbox;In The Absence of Evidence; and Piano, Piano.

And for an in depth guide on how to prepare yourself to make a successful move abroad, check out our Pre-Arrival Workbook.


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]]>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 12:28:57 +0200<![CDATA[The Truth in the Cashbox]]>https://www.studiosettebello.com/articles/post/the-truth-in-the-cashbox-the-importance-of-genealogyNavigating the complexities of Italian citizenship by descent? My genealogical journey taught me one vital lesson: don't always trust family lore. Learn about my experiences with official records, overcoming 'brick walls,' and the true importance of thorough genealogy research.]]>

The Importance of Genealogy

My mother showing my sister and I family photos.

As a little kid, I spent a lot of time pestering my parents and grandparents about my ancestors and where my family came from. Perhaps it’s just part of our natural instinct to want to know who our people are and where we belong. Growing up in the melting pot that is the US, it wasn’t unusual for people to ask “what are you?” Translation: “where are your ancestors from?” Although I don’t remember exactly what sparked my interest when I was little, in 2022 I wondered if there was a part of me that knew I would need the information later.

           In August of 2022, I began a deep dive into my family’s roots, determined to discover whether or not I could qualify for Italian citizenship by descent (also known as jure sanguinis or jus sanguinis, literally ‘law of blood’). In some countries, citizenship is based on jus soli (law of the soil) meaning if you are born on the soil of that country, you are a citizen of that country- like the United States of America. Italian citizenship is a little more complicated. Being born in Italy isn’t enough to make you eligible for citizenship. In order to be considered Italian, you must have at least one Italian parent.

It is important to note that there have been several changes to Italian citizenship laws since my sister and I applied in July 2024, including the October 3rd circolare in 2024 regarding “The Minor Issue” and the Decreto Legge (or Decree Law) 36/2025 that was put into effect on March 28th 2025, and passed into law as Decreto Legge 74/2025 on May 24th 2025. For more information on the current rules governing Italian citizenship by descent, check out our article Jure Sanguinis: The Laws Explained.

        I consider myself extremely fortunate that I was able to collect my documents and submit my application in Italy via residency in 2024. It wasn’t easy or straight forward- I later learned that hardly anyone’s pathway is, no matter how direct. Beginning with genealogy to determine if I was eligible, I hit several road blocks before I even got started.

           The first brick wall was finding my grandfather’s birth certificate. Although locating his death certificate was quick and relatively painless, as I had been alive at the time of his passing, the details beyond his date of birth were much more elusive. According to my living family members, our ancestors resided in New York City or New York State from the time they arrived in the US, but none of the vital statistics offices had any record of him. Hour upon hour was wasted as I pored over census records and searched relentlessly for all potential variations of his name with no luck. 

My first mistake was working under the assumption that my family had given me the correct information. In this case, the misinformation was that my paternal grandfather, Salvatore, was the son of my great grandfather, also named Salvatore. What I didn’t know was that at some point after my father (haha, you guessed it, also Salvatore) was born my grandfather had a falling out with his parents (over what? I’m not sure. I have a few guesses but that’s a story for another time). Desperate for a clue, I tried searching for my great grandfather’s naturalization records by last name only. When I saw his picture, I knew instantly I found the right person. His strong jawline and piercing eyes matched perfectly the black and white photos I inherited from my father in an old metal cashbox. But his first name was not Salvatore, it was Paolo. 

My great grandfather’s name wasn’t the only shock. To my surprise, I learned that my grandfather was not an only child as I had been led to believe. He had an older brother and a younger sister, both born in Italy! Additionally, according to Paolo’s naturalization records, my grandfather was born in the US, but not in New York as I had originally believed, but in West New York, New Jersey! With that final piece of information uncovered, I flew to the New Jersey State archives (as his birth was over 100 years ago) and was easily able to locate the record I had struggled to find for so long.

       Between my grandfather’s birth certificate and my great grandfather’s naturalization record I had everything I needed to prove that my sister and I qualified. Naively, I thought all we needed was the rest of our family’s documents and an appointment at the consulate! If you’ve been on this journey for yourself, I’m sure you don’t have to imagine some of the other hiccoughs I encountered along the way. The story continues in my article In The Absence of Evidence, where I discuss options for missing or non-existent records (because apparently my grandparents were NOT married) and why we decided to apply in Italy (Italian consulates- if you know, you know).


P.S.

Ironically, right after I had the breakthrough of finding my great grandfather’s naturalization record, I went looking through my family photos just to be 100% certain that they matched and that I had the right person. Amongst those old photos was a page from my grandfather’s first passport when he was 16 years old- and there it was: “Place of Birth: West New York, New Jersey”. The lesson here is, don’t trust everything your family tells you, but definitely take a closer look at whatever printed documents your family has- even if it’s only a photograph.

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]]>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 12:28:57 +0200<![CDATA[Piano, Piano]]>https://www.studiosettebello.com/articles/post/piano-piano-my-jure-sanguinis-application-in-italyFrom residency in Italy to complex bureaucracy, learn how careful preparation and the right local support can turn an impossible task into a success story. Read my journey and learn why navigating the process requires patience, local support, and to take things piano, piano.]]>

My Jure Sanguinis Application in Italy

        If you’ve spent any amount of time at all in the online communities regarding Jure Sanguinis you’ll know that applying in Italy is risky business- or so some would have you believe.

It’s true that a full blown move to Italy is no small undertaking, even if you only plan to stay for a year or so to process your recognition. Additionally, it’s critical to select a comune (city or town) that will be receptive to processing your residency and jure sanguinis application. Choose a comune too big and you’ll be met with government officials unwilling to take the time out of their busy schedules to deal with your application. Too small and you risk facing a clerk who isn’t at all familiar with the process. It’s important to understand that Italy isn’t the US, the bureaucracy works differently here, and if you’re not accustomed to it, it can make an application in Italy an impossible task.

Applying in Italy wasn’t always my plan. Although my goal was always to move abroad, I much preferred the plan where I became a recognized citizen through the consulate first without having to risk it all and move across the world. I knew that an application through the consulate would take at least two years to process, and that getting an appointment was difficult, but I really had no idea just how impossible it was until I tried. Before I was even certain that I qualified, I created a Prenot@mi account for the Italian Boston Consulate (in the region where I lived at the time). In 2022 I couldn’t even get onto the calendar page. I tried a midnight Rome time (CET), once a month when the appointments were released, on Thursdays, from the high speed wifi, from a different computer, from my phone, from a laptop, from a landline- the result was always the same, for months!

The day my sister and I were recognized as Italian citizens.

Finally I got onto the calendar in 2023, the soonest appointment was for Christmas Eve in 2029! I knew there was no way that appointment would stick, certain it was a mistake, I kept flipping through the pages. Month after month, red, red, red. Finally, I saw black! But I had skipped so far ahead, we were now into 2031. No. There was no way I was waiting a decade to have my citizenship recognized. There were already whispers of ‘The Minor Issue’, which luckily wasn’t an issue for my line, but I felt that if they could restrict the rules for one reason, other, more restrictive rules would be sure to follow. So, I focused and got to work. 

Document collection, amendments, apostille- I had it all covered. I was practicing my Italian every day, I was mapping out the comune and building an address book of all the places I would need to know in my day to day life. The one thing I couldn’t DIY was getting someone to respond to me about renting an apartment. After a tremendous amount of research, I found a service provider located in Italy who was willing to assist us. As part of her service, she contacted the comune to ensure they were willing to accept our application. It was a good thing she did, because the comune wasn’t willing to even look at our application until we held residency there for at least one year! She recommended a different comune, one she was familiar with, one where she knew they would accept our application, and knew of a landlord willing to rent to us. It wasn’t perfect, and there were plenty of bumps in the road, some of which could have been easily avoided with better planning, but she did what she said she would do- something I was unable to do for myself. For that, I will always be grateful.

The comune workers were some of the kindest people I’ve ever met. They appreciated my imperfect attempts at communicating in Italian, and calmed my nerves with a waive of their hands and the promise of ‘piano, piano’.


Piano, piano. An Italian phrase literally meaning ‘slowly, slowly’. 


It turned out that all of the work I did trying to prove my father’s paternity (In The Absence of Evidence) was unnecessary, as the comune worker decided that my grandfather’s name on his birth certificate was more than enough. Honestly, I was still glad I had it, better safe than sorry. We arrived at the end of May 2024 (which I truly do not recommend, plan on arriving in the fall or winter, because nothing ever gets accomplished over the summer in Italy). We had to nudge the comune a bit to get them to stop by our house to complete the residency check. Immediately after our residency was confirmed, we were able to make an appointment to submit our application for jure sanguinis at the end of July 2024. Like I said, nothing typically gets done over the summer, especially not in August. The circolare establishing ‘The Minor Issue’ came out on October 3rd 2024, which did not affect our line. And finally my sister and I were recognized by the middle of October 2024.

If we had waited even just a few months, we may have hit the Decreto Legge (Decree Law) 36/2025 of March 28th 2025, restricting jure sanguinis applicants to only those whose parent or grandparent was born in Italy, and also only those who did not naturalize, remaining solely Italian. Both of these pieces would have made my sister and I ineligible. To learn more about the current laws governing jure sanguinis check out our article Jure Sanguinis: The Laws Explained or book a free introductory call with us to find out how we can help you.


For a detailed breakdown of how to determine your legal pathway abroad and what to expect in your first 90 days after the move, download our free guide: The Relocation Roadmap.

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