Benefits of Italian Dual Citizenship

Buongiorno tutti! This blog is for my cousins and others interested in finding out how to apply for Italian citizenship based on jure sanguinis (descent from an Italian ancestor).



Italian dual citizenship gives you the right to live and work in the E.U. and have the benefits of Italian citizenship, such as:

• Living and working in all EU countries
• Passing on Italian citizenship to your family
• Accessing medical benefits
• Accessing education benefits
• Other countries to go to if you ever need a plan B

The U.S. allows dual citizenship. You can acquire Italian citizenship without losing U.S. citizenship.

How to Apply for Italian Citizenship

The entire process of getting Italian citizenship from start to finish took me 2 years and 9 months. It should be quicker for you, cousins, because we now know the process and how to get all the necessary documents.

The process works! Here's a picture of us getting our passaportos at the Italian Consulate in Los Angeles.

Here is the process that I used to apply for Italian citizenship. I’ve adjusted the steps that I took so that they apply for your situation.

Each Italian consulate has slightly different rules about the required documentation to apply for Italian citizenship. You’ll want to check with the nearest Italian consulate to where you live for the rules.

Click here to go to Chicago Italian Consulate website. Click on the link “Istruzioni per il riconoscimento della cittadinanza italiana jure sanguinis” for the rules. They are in English.

Your eligibility for Italian citizenship is based on “jure sanguinis” (by descent). You are eligible because your grandfather was still an Italian citizen at the time of your mother's birth, which makes her and any of her descendents Italian citizens by default. In applying for Italian citizenship, you are claiming recognition for your Italian citizenship.

The exact language of the eligibility requirement for your situation is:

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

The process of applying for Italian citizenship involves:

1. Scheduling an application appointment with the nearest Italian consulate.
2. Collecting various documents and getting them translated into Italian.
3. Waiting for the application to be approved. This can take a long time (months to a year or more).
4. When the application is approved, you’ll receive a letter from the consulate recognizing your Italian citizenship.
5. You can then schedule a passport appointment with the consulate and go get an Italian passport. There is not a long wait for scheduling a passport appointment.

Here are some tips:

• Contact the consulate and schedule your application appointment before or as you are collecting your documents. There can be a very, very long wait for an appointment, so schedule it first. Had I known this, I would have done it this way. I waited until I had collected all the documents before scheduling the appointment and then found out that it was several months before the first available appointment.
• You must obtain original copies of the required certificates. Photocopies aren’t acceptable.
• You must obtain apostilles on the certificates. An apostille is similar to a notarization, but is internationally recognized. Instructions on how to get apostilles are included below.
• The certificates must be translated into Italian. The translations must translate all words on the form (even the fine print that might not seem necessary to translate). The consulate websites recommend using a professional translator, which can get expensive (on the order of $50 per document). An Italian friend of the family did the translations for me. These translations were accepted at the Los Angeles consulate, but rejected for my sister at the San Francisco consulate due to incompleteness. I completed them myself using Google translate and Bablefish. It worked. 

If you are applying (and are a cousin or extended family member), I can provide you with sample translations that might be enough for you to put together translations of birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc. yourself.
• Apostilles do not need to be translated.
• Documentation must be presented in person at the consulate in original. The consulate keeps the originals. One exception is the Certificate of Naturalization. A photocopy is acceptable. You don’t want to give them the original.
• If multiple family members apply through the same consulate together, the consulate will create a file for the family. In this situation, you do not need an original copy of each document for each person. A single copy of documents that are common to the group is sufficient.
• This website has helpful message boards for posing questions to others going through the Italian citizenship quest.

Required Documents to Apply for Italian Citizenship

If you are applying for citizenship through your mother, you need the following documents. Whether a document needs to be translated and needs apostilles is indicated in parenthesis.

1. Your maternal grandfather's birth certificate (from Italy)
2. Your maternal grandmother's birth certificate
3. Your maternal grandparents' marriage certificate
4. Your maternal grandfather's certificate of naturalization
5. Your mother’s birth certificate (APOSTILLE from Secretary of State in which the document was issued; TRANSLATED)
6. Your father’s birth certificate
7. Your parents' marriage certificate (APOSTILLE from Secretary of State in which the document was issued; TRANSLATED)
8. Your birth certificate ("certified copy of the "full/long form" with APOSTILLE from the Secretary of State of the Sate in which it was issued; TRANSLATED)
9. Death certificates relating to Italian born ascendants only (APOSTILLE from Secretary of State in which the document was issued)
10. Your application and declarations that you and your ascendants never renounced Italian citizenship before any Italian authority
11. Your passport and driver's license

How to Obtain the Documents

Document 1. Your maternal grandfather’s birth certificate (from Italy)
Document 2. Your maternal grandmother’s birth certificate
Document 3. Your maternal grandparent’s marriage certificate

To obtain the above three documents, write to the "Commune" where our grandfather was born, request a birth certificate in "formato internazionale" or in "estratto per riassunto" (showing his father's and mother's names), and enclose $3-4 for S&H and a self-addressed envelope.

When writing to the commune, address your request to:

COMMUNE DI ______________
Ufficio Anagrafe - Stato Civile
(zip code) ____________ (City) ________________ (province of) ____________
ITALY

After I sent the request, I received documents approximately three weeks later. It was much faster than I expected.

Here’s the letter I sent:

my_name
my_address
USA
my_email
tel: my_tel

18 febbraio 2008

Ufficio Anagrafe e Stato Civile
Comune di Cogollo Del Cengio
Piazza della Libertà - 36010 Cogollo del Cengio
36010, COGOLLO DEL CENGIO
ITALIA

Egregi Signori,

Mi chiamo my_name, ed abito negli Stati Uniti all'indirizzo sopradetto. Cerco informazioni su mio nonno, ITALO CARLASSARE, nato nel comune di Cogollo Del Cengio nel 1910. Cerco questi dati per ottenere la cittadinanza Italiana.

Vi sarei molto grata se poteste inviarmi 4 copie del certificato di nascita, in formato internazionale ed in estratto per riassunto, e 4 copie del certificato di matrimonio con ALICE CAROLLO (nata nel comune di Caltrano nel 1912) in formato internazionale.

Vi mando le fotocopie del certificato di nascita e di matrimonio per facilitarvi la ricerca.

Vi ringrazio in anticipo per la vostra gentilezza e premura, e vi prego di addebitarmi tutte le spese postali e dei certificati.

Distinti saluti,

my_name

Document 4. Your grandfather's certificate of naturalization

Alice has this document. A photocopy is acceptable. It does not need to be translated and does not need an apostille.

Document 5. Your mother’s birth certificate (APOSTILLE from Secretary of State in which the document was issued; TRANSLATED)

Step 1. Request birth certificate

I completed the birth certificate request form here.

Cost is $15 for a certified copy and $2 for any additional copies.

As a service to customers, Vital Records staff will forward birth certificates ordered from the Illinois Department of Public Health, to the Illinois Secretary of State office to affix the apostille IF you provide the information needed to process the request (Illinois Secretary of State's Web site) AND include a SEPARATE CHECK MADE PAYABLE TO THE "SECRETARY OF STATE" for the required apostille fee. If you do not send a separate check, only your order for a birth certificate will be processed. You will then have to send the certificate directly to the Illinois Secretary of State office to obtain the apostille.

The cost is $2 per apostille. You must state the country of destination and include a SASE. It’s fine to include a SASE priority mail envelope.

Step 2. Obtain apostille

If Step 1 doesn’t work for obtaining the apostille, you may separately request it from the Secretary of State.

Here’s a link to the Illinois Secretary of State website with info on obtaining an apostille. You may also call 800-252-8980.

Send your written request for the apostille to the Department of Index

Department of Index
111 E. Monroe
Springfield, Illinois 62756
(217) 558-2972

Include:

• The original document(s) to be certified, which have already been signed by a certified public official.
• The identity of the country to which the document is to be sent.
• A $2.00 fee per document made payable to the Secretary of State.
• A self-addressed stamped envelope.
• You may also submit pre-paid and prepared express mail, priority mail, Federal Express, United Parcel Service, or Airborne Express that the submitted documents may be returned in that manner.

Document 6. Your father's birth certificate

Request a certified copy. No apostille or translation is required.

Document 7. Your parents' marriage certificate (APOSTILLE from Secretary of State in which the document was issued; TRANSLATED)

Step 1: Request marriage certificate

Information on how to obtain a certified marriage certificate for Illinois is available here. You need to request it from the county where your parents were married.

The cost will vary depending on the county. Include a SASE. Cost is $14 for the first certificate and $4 for each additional one.

When I requested a copy of my parents marriage certificate from Los Angeles, I was told that it’s important to write these words on the request: “IMPORTANT: The marriage certificate will need the original signature of the County Clerk.”

The request letter I sent (for Los Angeles County) is below:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Enclosed is my request for a certified copy of my parents' marriage certificate and a check for $13.

IMPORTANT: The marriage certificate will need the original signature of the County Clerk.

I will be getting an apostille on the marriage certificate.

Please return at your soonest convenience to me. I have provided a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to email me or call.

Thank you for your assistance!

Sincerely,

my_name
my address
my_phone
my_email

Step 2. Obtain apostille

If Step 1 doesn’t work for obtaining the apostille, you may separately request it from the Secretary of State.

Here’s a link to the Illinois Secretary of State website with info on obtaining an apostille. You may also call 800-252-8980.

Send your written request for the apostille to the Department of Index:

Department of Index
111 E. Monroe
Springfield, Illinois 62756
(217) 558-2972

Include:

• The original document(s) to be certified, which have already been signed by a certified public official.
• The identity of the country to which the document is to be sent.
• A $2.00 fee per document made payable to the Secretary of State.
• A self-addressed stamped envelope.
• You may also submit pre-paid and prepared express mail, priority mail, Federal Express, United Parcel Service, or Airborne Express that the submitted documents may be returned in that manner.

Document 8. Your birth certificate ("certified copy of the "full/long form" with APOSTILLE from the Secretary of State in which it was issued; TRANSLATED)

Step 1. Request birth certificate

You must request the birth certificate from the county or state in which you were born.

Here is the link for Illinois. Cost is $15 and $2 for each additional one. There is an application form on the website.

Be sure to request an “authorized, certified copy” in “long-form.” You must include a notarized certificate of identity available on the website.

I sent the following letter with my request (to the County Clerk in Los Angeles):

Dear Sir or Madam,

Enclosed is my request for two authorized, certified copies of my birth certificate and a check for $34.

IMPORTANT: The birth certificates will need the original signature of the County Clerk.

I will be getting an apostille on the birth certificates.

Please return at your soonest convenience to me. I have provided a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to email me or call.

Thank you for your assistance!

Sincerely,

my_name
my address
my_phone
my_email

Step 2: Get apostille

Request it from the Secretary of State.

Here’s a link to the Illinois Secretary of State website with info on obtaining an apostille. You may also call 800-252-8980.

Send your written request for the apostille to the Department of Index:

Department of Index
111 E. Monroe
Springfield, Illinois 62756
(217) 558-2972

Include:

• The original document(s) to be certified, which have already been signed by a certified public official.
• The identity of the country to which the document is to be sent.
• A $2.00 fee per document made payable to the Secretary of State.
• A self-addressed stamped envelope.
• You may also submit pre-paid and prepared express mail, priority mail, Federal Express, United Parcel Service, or Airborne Express that the submitted documents may be returned in that manner.

Document 9. Death certificates relating to Italian born ascendants only (APOSTILLE from Secretary of State in which the document was issued)

Step 1. Request death certificates

I requested a certified copy of our Italian grandfather’s death certificate with an original signature from the Vital Records Department of the Indiana State Department of Health. (You would also need to obtain your mother's death certificate.)

In Indiana, an apostille may only be obtained for certificates obtained from the State Department of Health, not from the county.

I completed the request form available here.

The cost is $8 for the first certified copy and $4 for each additional copy. Sending a check was fine. You must include a copy of your driver’s license or other ID as specified on the form. I also included a SASE (since it’s required for apostille and I thought they might take care of the apostille since it’s free and also part of the Indiana state government).

Here’s the cover letter I enclosed:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Enclosed is my request for 4 authorized, certified copies of my grandfather's death certificate and a check for $20.

I am also requesting an apostille on the 4 death certificates as part of the process of applying for Italian citizenship. The documents will be sent to Italy.

IMPORTANT: The death certificates will need an original signature

Please return at your soonest convenience to me. I have provided a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to email me or call.

Thank you for your assistance!

Sincerely,

my_name
my address
my_phone
my_email

Mailed it to:

Vital Records Department
Indiana State Department of Health
6 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 233-2700

Step 2. Obtain an Apostille

If an apostille is not provided automatically with the death certificate request, follow the instructions on this website.

In order to obtain an apostille, you must send the following information along with the document(s) to be authenticated. The documents to be authenticated must have an original signature of the Indiana State Notary Public or records custodian.

• Cover Letter, which must include the following:
• The name of the country where the documents will be sent. (Different countries require different certifications, and the documents cannot be certified without this information.)
• A daytime phone number where you can be reached for questions.
• Information as to where the documents should be mailed after processing.
• POSTAGE PAID ENVELOPE FOR DOCUMENT RETURN.
• There are no fees for apostille services.

Document 10. Your application and declarations that you and your ascendants never renounced Italian citizenship before any Italian authority.

These forms are available on the consulate website.

Document 11. Your passport and driver's license

Additional Documents
There are two additional documents that are helpful to include:

• A list of discrepencies
• Cover letter
  

A list of discrepencies: This is a list of any inconsistencies in the documents. The consulate will be happy if you include it. The discrepencies I saw that also apply to you are:

List of Discrepencies

1. ITALO CARLASSARE's birthday is 1 February 1910 on his birth certificate. His birthday is 2 February 1910 on his death certificate and declaration and petition for naturalization.

2. DOMENICA CARLASSARE is the married name of Italo Carlassare's mother. Her maiden name was DOMENICA MAZZACAVALLO. Her maiden name appears on Italo Carlassare's death certificate. Her married name appears on his birth certificate.

3. GIUSEPPE CARLASSARE is the name of Italo Carlassare's father. His name appears as GIUSEPPE CARLASSARE on Italo Carlassare's birth certificate and as JOSEPH C. CARLASSARE on Italo Carlassare's death certificate.

Cover letter: It's a good idea to include a cover letter. The documents will be registered in Italy in the commune you specify, so it's helpful to provide the commune in the cover letter. Here is the cover letter I included:

my_name
my_address
my_phone
my_email

June 1, 2008

Dear Sir or Madam,

Please accept this completed packet of documents and affidavits. All have been properly notarized, translated and affixed with apostilles. I would like to register my civil status documents in the comune of my Italian ancestor:

Comune di Cogollo Del Cengio
Provincia di Vicenza
Piazza della Liberta
36010 Cogollo Del Cengio
Tel: (+39) 0445-805000
Fax: (+39) 0445-805080

Thank you for your prompt attention to my application.

Sincerely,
my_name

That’s it. Those are all the documents needed for a complete Italian citizenship application.


How to Get Documents Translated

The Italian Consulate can provide contact information for translators.

This service provides translations.

For me, the combination of an initial translation from a family friend plus some finessing with Google translate and Babelfish produced translations that were acceptable. (I did not tell the Consulate that I did not get professional translations and they did not ask.)