More than 80 million people worldwide could likely be eligible for Italian citizenship. Who can be eligible for citizenship? Italian citizenship is based upon the principle of “jure sanguinis”. This means that a child who is born to an Italian father or mother, is also an Italian citizen, no matter where the child is born. There is no limit to the number of generations but, Italy was unified and become Kingdom of Italy only on March 17, 1861. Thus, with some exceptions, the oldest Italian ancestor from whom Italian citizenship can be derived must have been a person who acquired Italian citizenship in or after 1861. However, demonstrating to be 100% Italian for ancestry (i.e. to have an Italian mother or father) is not enough to obtain citizenship. In fact, until 1992 Italian Law did not allow dual citizenship. Accordingly, citizenship was automatically lost if someone naturalized (i.e. become citizen) of another country.

1. More than 80 million people worldwide could likely be eligible for Italian
citizenship
Italian
diaspora
15 Million
5.6% pop.

2. Italy is one of the countries which has the most contributed international emigration, with
approximately 30 million Italians leaving from 1861 to date (14 million only in the period
1876–1915).
Italy has 60 million people
𝗕𝗿𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗹 32 million of Italian heritage (15% of its total population) 𝗔𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗮 has 25 million
(62.5% of its total population), USA has an estimated 17 to 25 million, about 6-7, 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘇𝘂𝗲𝗹𝗮
1.7 million, 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗮 1.5 million, 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮, 1 million, 𝗨𝗿𝘂𝗴𝘂𝗮𝘆 1 million

3. Pathways to Italian Citizenship
by descent
Italian citizenship is based upon
the principle of “jure sanguinis”.
This means that a child who is
born to an Italian father or
mother, is also an Italian citizen,
no matter where the child is
born.

4. What is the first generation limit to
obtain citizenship?
There is no limit to the number of
generations but, Italy was unified and
become Kingdom of Italy only on March
17, 1861.
Thus, with some exceptions, the oldest
Italian ancestor from whom Italian
citizenship can be derived must have
been a person who acquired Italian
citizenship in or after 1861.

5. Italys’ territory changed since 1861
Venetia was annexed in 1866.
The Papal States (in central Italy) and Rome were
annexed in 1870.
Trento and Trieste were annexed after WW1, together
with the cities of Pola (Istria) and Zara (Dalmatia).
The city of Fiume (in Croatia) was annexed only in 1924.
After WW2, Istria, Dalmatia and the city of Fiume were
lost to the former Yugoslavia.
Italy has also possessed for some time colonies, such
as Eritrea and Somalia (1890–1945), Ethiopia (1936–
1945) Lybia (1912–1945) and the island of Rhodes
(1924-1943).

6. DUAL CITIZENSHIP WAS NOT
ALLOWED UNTIL 1992
Demonstrating to be 100% Italian for ancestry (i.e. to
have an Italian mother or father) is not enough to obtain
citizenship. In fact, until 1992 Italian Law did not allow
dual citizenship.
Accordingly, citizenship was automatically lost if someone
naturalized (i.e. become citizen) of another country.
Naturalization in another country can happen voluntarily,
but also for other factors which can vary upon the laws of
the new country. For example, in some countries a
foreigner automatically acquires citizenship by
(i) marrying a national
(ii) being born in the country (ius soli)
(iii) serve in the State’s Army or taking a job with the
Government
(iv) taking residency and living in a country for a certain
number of years.
no

7. UNTIL 1948 WOMEN COULD NOT PASS
CITIZENSHIP TO THEIR DESCENDANTS
Under the 1912 Citizenship Law, only men were
able to transfer their Italian lineage to children.
The principles of gender equality were laid down
only on January 1, 1948 when the Italian
Constitution entered into force. The new
legislation is not retroactive and so children born
to an Italian mother before 1948 are not
automatically Italian.
The Supreme Court established however that it is
unconstitutional to discriminate between women
and men even in citizenship matters. All
descendants born anytime from an Italian parent,
irrespectively of the gender, are Italian citizens by
birth right
Unfortunately, this judgement did not have any
consequences on the Consular behaviour and if
those who fall into the “1948 cases” will need to
file a Court action in Italy to have their citizenship

8. Benefits of Italian Citizenship
1) No tax obligations unless you take residency in
Italy
2) Right to settle and work in Italy and all European
Union countries
3) Fast track lines when you enter the European
Union
4) If you choose to reside in Italy, you can register
with the Health National System (HNS)
5) HNS Registration in Italy allows the right to
emergency healthcare in all EU countries
6) Right to pass on automatically citizenship to any
of your children under the age of 18
7) Right to vote for Italian and European Parliament
elections
8) Consular protection from the embassy of any
other EU country in a country outside the EU

9. Useful resources
Italian citizenship to those with ancestors born before 1861
https://medium.com/@mm-63015/garibaldi-the-first-influencer-c87f8b0278b4?source=your_stories_page-------------------------
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Italian citizenship for those with ancestors born in Trentino, Alto Adige and Venezia Giulia
https://medium.com/@mm-63015/italian-citizenship-for-those-with-roots-in-trentino-alto-adige-and-venezia-giulia-
c1a350b747f2?source=your_stories_page-------------------------------------
1861, 1912, 1948, 1992, why exact dates are so important for Italian citizenship
https://medium.com/studiomazzeschi/1861-1912-1948-1992-why-exact-dates-are-so-important-for-italian-citizenship-
24a4bde484bf?source=your_stories_page-------------------------------------
Italian citizenship to jews expelled from Italy further to 1938 racial laws
https://medium.com/studiomazzeschi/italian-citizenship-to-jews-expelled-from-italy-further-to-1938-racial-laws-
102f66f27b5d?source=your_stories_page-------------------------------------
Italian citizenship through female ancestors
https://medium.com/@mm-63015/italian-citizenship-through-female-ancestors-6bec990613dc?source=your_stories_page---
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Marco Mazzeschi – mm@mazzeschi.it