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.
If you are applying for Jure Sanguinis and your line includes a woman who gave birth before 1948, you must file your case in court under the 1948 rule. This is because it was not until 1948 that women had the equal right to pass citizenship to their children.
If your last Italian born ancestor naturalized before the next in line was born, you cannot apply for Jure Sanguinis because the line of transmission was cut at the time the ancestor naturalized. However, there is currently a 2 year expedited naturalization process for those who have a parent or grandparent born in Italy, but cut the line by naturalizing abroad.
Holding Dual Citizenship does not directly affect your tax status. Unlike the US, Italy’s tax regime relies on where you hold residency, not citizenship. This means, you are not required to pay taxes in Italy unless you are a resident there for at least 183 days a year.
An “AtQ” or case Against the Queue is a term used to describe certain Jure Sanguinis cases that are fought in court instead of in a consulate or comune. They are not 1948 cases. These cases could have been submitted at the consulate, but if the individual has not been able to get an appointment within a reasonable time frame (2 years according to Italian law), they can take their case to court. In this case, an individual can pay an Italian avvocato (attorney) to present their Jure Sanguinis case before a judge for a quicker response.
Each consulate typically has their own rules and requirements for Jure Sanguinis applications. Most comuni work under similar requirements, but can be just as diverse as the consulates. The real difference is dependent on where you live. You can only apply at the consulate or comune where you are a legal resident. Processing times through comuni are typically much shorter than applying at a consulate, but also require the applicant to move to Italy and become a legal permanent resident throughout the citizenship process.
The apostille is essentially a standardized cover letter that guarantees the authenticity of a document specifically for international use. They are issued by the same authority that issued the certified record in question (in the US this is typically done by the state where the certificate was issued, or in some cases, by the Federal Government for federally issued documents such as naturalization records). The format for the apostille was agreed upon in 1960 by the Hague Convention, in which only certain countries are participants. Translations are separate from the original documents, in which the original language is translated into another language (in this case Italian) for official use in Italy. Without apostilles and translations, your documents will not be acceptable for official use in a foreign country.
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.
The Elective Residency Visa is for retirees or those who do not need to actively work to support themselves. Only passive income is allowed. The financial proof required varies from consulate to consulate but typically includes the following:
2 years of tax returns
2 years of bank statements
Proof of financial means: 2 letters from the applicant’s banking representative and/or accountant indicating the financial status of their accounts, including amount of money in each account, copy of last pension check received, etc.
Documented and detailed guarantee of substantial and steady private income (including pensions or annuities) from property, stable economic and commercial activities, or from other sources
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.
It depends on what country you currently hold citizenship in. US citizens can stay in Italy visa free for up to 90 days as a tourist- this means no working, and no school allowed, those activities require the appropriate visa. EU citizens can stay permanently, but may be required to claim residency and pay taxes if they stay over 183 days in Italy.
No, you will need to apply for a family reunification visa prior to leaving your home country, and only after your spouse has arrived in Italy.
No, you must apply for an Italian visa in your home country before moving to Italy.
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.
Codici Fiscali are no longer being issued to those applying for Jure Sanguinis. In order to register an Italian lease or purchase property in Italy, you will need a codice fiscale. For home buyers, the consulate where you live or the Agenzia delle Entrate will still issue you a codice fiscale with a note from your notaio vouching for your intentions. For Jure Sanguinis applicants who plan to rent, you will need to register your lease by completing the Modello 69, and can only apply for your codice fiscale after you become an Italian citizen. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to set up utilities, open a bank account, open an Italian mobile phone number, or complete other legal matters without a codice fiscale.
Yes. If you are looking to relocate to Italy, Studio Settebello can find appropriate housing that suits your needs and lease requirements for those looking to apply for citizenship. Studio Settebello can also assist you with locating homes for purchase in Italy. Our attorneys can review your lease to ensure your lease is fair and give you peace of mind.
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.
General
Yes. All of our services are tailored to your specific needs. We will review what you have accomplished on your own in order to provide you with a customized quote for only the services that you need.
Determining eligibility for citizenship or visaNo matter where you’re at in the process, we offer a free 20 minute introductory call, with no obligations, for those who need expert advice on next steps. During your free introductory call we will discuss your goals to determine which of our services best meets your needs. Here are the most common topics we discuss during an introductory call:
Document collection services
Documents review & amendment services
Planning your relocation strategy
Assistance collecting Italian records
Assistance requesting your Codice FiscaleIf you need to cancel or reschedule, please do so at least 24 hours in advance.
Book your call here.
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