Frequently Asked Questions
Italian Citizenship by Descent (Jure Sanguinis / Jus Sanguinis)
Literally ‘law of blood’, otherwise known as Italian citizenship by descent.
Literally ‘law of blood’, otherwise known as Italian citizenship by descent.
Genealogical research is required if you do not know enough about your Italian ancestry to determine if you qualify for Italian citizenship by descent.
There is no ‘one size fits all’ answer, but some work-arounds include using baptismal certificates or other church records, and having delayed birth or marriage certificates issued by the court where the person resided at the time of the event.
Under the current laws, only those whose last Italian born ancestor was a parent or grandparent who never naturalized qualify for Italian citizenship by descent.
Some documents can be amended through the municipality where they are held, or they can be amended by court order.
To request your records from the Italian comune where your ancestors lived, you need to reach out to them via PEC email (certified mail) and pay the fee. You can also hire someone to make the request on your behalf.
Under the current laws, you can claim Italian citizenship by descent through your parents or grandparents, but not great grandparents or further.
Through genealogical research we can help you uncover where your ancestors were born.
Their last Italian born ancestor is a great grandparent or further back. Or their Italian born ancestor naturalized abroad (outside of Italy).
Birth, marriage, and death records (when applicable) of everyone in your direct line (not including spouses, unless you are applying at a consulate that requires them) and proof that your Italian ancestor did NOT naturalize and remained solely Italian for the entirety of their life. *If you are applying at a consulate, please check their website for a detailed list of documents as they may require additional documentation.
Any document that is not Italian and is issued by a country that participates in the Hague Convention of 1970 needs to be Apostilled. For countries that do not participate in the Hague Convention, the documents must be legalized by the appropriate authorities in order to be used in Italy.
Comuni legally have six months to respond to a PEC email.
- Differences in spelling of the family surname.
- Incorrect spelling of a first name.
- Date discrepancies between documents.
- Incorrect ages of the individuals listed on a document.
- Middle names added in later documents that are not listed on the birth certificate.
In order to apply in Italy, you must become a legal resident. This process usually takes a month or two depending on the comune- but most comuni will require a long term lease (at least one year) before agreeing to process residency.
There are no guarantees on how quickly your application will be processed. For most cases, a citizenship application in Italy is processed in 6-12 months.
To become a legal resident in Italy you must have a valid visa, Italian citizenship, or citizenship from another EU country. Non-EU spouses of Italian citizens also have the right to legally reside in Italy without being a citizen.
Italian Visas (Student, Digital Nomad, Elective Residency)
Check your local Italian consulate’s website. Each consulate may have different requirements. You must apply for your visa in your home country, and you must go through the local consulate that serves your area. Check out our Italian Visa Quiz to see if you're eligible.
You CANNOT work. ALL income must be passive
For one person, you typically need about 32,000€ passive income per year, for a couple about 40,000€.
You must present a complete set of documents to your local Italian consulate on your appointment date- it is important to check the requirements as they are listed on your consulate’s website as each consulate may have slightly different checklists and income requirements.
The Italian Digital Nomad visa is the perfect fit for those who work remotely for non-Italian companies and make a minimum of 28,000€ per year. Check your local Italian consulate for a more detailed list of requirements. Click here to take the Italian visa quiz.
If you are retired and do NOT plan on working, the Elective Residency visa is the right choice. Work remotely? Choose the Digital Nomad visa. If you plan on attending an Italian university, check out the Student visa. There are also options for sponsored work, entrepreneurship, and investment visas. Check out our Italian visa quiz to find out which visa is right for you.
Student visas require ~11,000€. Digital Nomad and Elective Residency visas require a minimum of 28,000€ to 32,000€. Each Italian consulate may have different requirements, and you must book your appointment at the Italian consulate that services the jurisdiction where you live. If you plan on bringing your spouse with you on an Elective Residency visa, the income requirement goes up by ~8,000€ - 10,000€ per year.
Relocation to Italy
Cost depends entirely on your personal living standards. Although there is a lot you can do on a budget, if you plan to move to Italy and live ‘cheap’ you will be disappointed.
If living in a community with other expats is important to you, do some research on social media pages like reddit and facebook to find local groups. Big cities are usually pretty diverse and full of expats, but aren’t always the right fit for everyone. There are plenty of small or mid-sized towns with their own groups of expats.
What is my pathway to legal residency? Italian or EU citizenship or spouse of citizen, OR Italian visa
Start learning the language, culture, and history.
Draft a plan with measurable goals and realistic timing.
Research to determine exactly where you want to relocate to, and determine why that is the best fit for your situation.
Hire local assistance to help you locate sufficient housing, attend appointments, and guide you through the process.
Depending on your pathway to legal residency, you will need to attend several different types of appointments such as residency at the anagrafe, applying for your permesso di soggiorno, visiting the Questura if you’re on a visa, or applying for citizenship in your comune. Additionally, the first 90 days can be the most intense when it comes to culture shock, language barriers, and homesickness. Set yourself up for success by partnering with a trusted service provider who can not only get you through the bureaucracy, but knows first-hand how to integrate fully into life in Italy.
Everyone’s tax situation is unique. In order to fully understand the implications of moving to Italy on your particular taxes, you must speak to a commercialista (Italian accountant). If you are a US citizen, understand that while the US will tax your global income no matter where you claim residency, there is a reciprocity agreement between the US and Italy that stops you from being “double taxed”. Residing in Italy for more than 183 days in one calendar year means you will be required to pay taxes in Italy- no matter what citizenship you hold.
Yes. As a foreigner, most bureaucratic processes are going to be difficult due to expectations, language barriers, and cultural differences. Additionally, if you are a US citizen the process becomes even more complex, because the US taxes global income despite where you claim residency. That means that all bank accounts held by US citizens (even dual US-Italian citizens) must be reported to the US by the bank institution itself. Due to this extra requirement, many Italian banks avoid the extra paperwork by refusing to open new accounts for US citizens.
Similar to a social security number in the US, the Codice Fiscale is the Italian equivalent of a ‘tax code’. A Codice Fiscale is required to sign a lease, purchase property, work, and pay taxes. It is best to get your Codice Fiscale prior to making the move- without it, you won’t be able to rent or purchase a home! If your local consulate refuses to issue you a Codice Fiscale, you can hire Studio Settebello to get it for you.
If you want to come to Italy on a visa, you must obtain a sufficient insurance policy in order to have your visa approved. With your insurance, the healthcare system works much the same as it does for an Italian citizen.
If you are an EU citizen, the healthcare system works the same as it does for Italian citizens due to an EU wide agreement.
No. But, you do need to try. Even just a few words, gestures, and a bit of cultural understanding goes a long way. If you are not fluent in Italian and/or you are unfamiliar with the regional cultural norms, having local assistance is a must to get you through the bureaucracy and to help you integrate fully.
Social media likes to show off “pretty Italy”. While most of this content is real, every day life is more of a mixed bag. No one likes to talk about how each individual’s experiences can be wildly different- and all of them are valid. You’ll have good days, and bad days. The only real difference is your mindset and how you approach each hurdle. The biggest challenge is you.