Documents you need to apply for Italian Citizenship by Descent

Ciao everyone!

One of the most common questions I get is: “What documents do I need to apply for Italian citizenship by Descent?”.

To qualify for Italian citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis), you only need one Italian-born ancestor. This right is passed down from generation to generation — and your job is to document that connection — linking yourself (the applicant) to that original Italian citizen, known as your “dante causa” (the Italian ancestor who was born in Italy and immigrated).

To prove this connection, you’ll need the following documents.

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CHECK-LIST - DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP BY DESCENT

• Birth and Marriage Certificates – for every generation, from you all the way back to the Italian ancestor;
  

• Negative naturalization certificate of the Italian ancestor;
  

• All documents must be officially translated and legalized (apostille) for them to be valid in Italy during the citizenship recognition process. Even though death certificates are not officially required, many comuni (Italian municipalities) now request them during the process — to verify information, ensure consistency, or confirm whether the ancestor ever became a naturalized citizen. So, it’s always a good idea to gather those as well.

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HOW TO REQUEST CERTIFICATES

To request certificates, simply contact the registry office in the city where the event (birth, marriage) was registered. If you already have a copy, you can provide the registration number or other details such as the date, record number, or book and page.

For Italian certificates (birth or marriage), the fastest and most reliable way is to hire someone to get them for you directly in Italy. I also offer this service — feel free to reach out if you need help!

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SWORN TRANSLATIONS AND LEGALISATION REQUIREMENTS

Before translating or legalizing your documents, carefully check for inconsistencies in names, dates, and places. Mistakes can cause delays or rejection by Italian authorities. The safest way to do this is to work with a consultant in Italian citizenship jure sanguinis — like myself —who can review your documents and tell you exactly what (if anything) needs to be corrected.

The next step is to choose an officially appointed translator in your country. The fee is set by law and varies based on the length of each document.

Then, find the office responsible to do the apostille (legalisation) in your region and you’re all set! Your documents will be ready for your journey to the Old World!

Need Help with the Documents?

As a citizenship consultant based in Italy, I can help you verify, locate, translate, and legalize all the necessary paperwork for your Italian citizenship application. 📩 contato@buonvento.com.br

Arrivederci!