The law that currently governs Italian citizenship recognition and acquisition is the legge 5 febbraio 1992, n. 91 (and subsequent addendum DPR 12 ottobre 1993 n. 572 and DPR 18 aprile 1994 n. 362). In contrast to the previous law, the current law acknowledges the importance of individual intention in the acquisition or loss of citizenship and allows the right to hold more than one citizenship simultaneously, subject to the provisions of international agreements. Italian citizenship was exclusive prior to August 16th 1992, when becoming a citizen of another country implied the automatic loss of Italian citizenship.
You can apply for Italian citizenship if any of the following applies to you:
- Your parents, grandparents or great-grandparents are/were Italian citizens who never naturalized as citizens of another country before August 16th 1992 (citizenship by descent-based on the principle of jure sanguinis, meaning “the right of blood”);
- You are married to, or in a civil union with, an Italian citizen (citizenship by marriage/civil union, jure matrimonii);
- You fulfill residency requirements in Italy;
- You fulfill the requirements of law no. 124 of 8 March 2006, which provides for recognition of Italian citizenship to Italian national resident in Istria, Fiume and Dalmatia between 1940 and 1947 – whose property was confiscated and ceded to the Yugoslav Republic by the Treaties of Paris of 10 February 1947 and Osimo of 10 November 1975 – and their descendants.
- Acquisition of Italian citizenship for minor children.
Please carefully check the section that is relevant to your case and read the specific legal requirements.
Applications for citizenship by descent must be submitted in the applicant’s country of residence at the Italian Consulate or Embassy specifically responsible for that jurisdiction. If the applicant resides in Italy, they should contact their Comune in Italy.
The Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco is responsible for residents of the following states: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, American Samoa, Guam, the Marshall Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and California, except for the following areas: San Luis Obispo, Kern, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Imperial Valley, and Orange.
N.B. Applications for Italian citizenship by descent are subject to the payment of a fee of EURO 600.00. The payment must be made by money order in US dollars to the Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco at the applicable exchange rate for the calendar quarter. Please check the current Consular Fee. The payment must be made regardless of the outcome, and it will not be returned should your application be denied.
ALL other citizenship applications (acquisition, reacquisition and renouncing your citizenship etc.) are subject to the payment of EUR 250 as set out in art. 9-bis, Law no. 91 of 5 February 1992. The amount must be paid to the Italian Ministry Interior according to the instructions provided in the different sections of this website. SEE THE RELEVANT SECTION OF THIS WEBSITE.
N.B. Minors born to an Italian parent can automatically get Italian citizenship as long as the parents register the child’s birth certificate in Italy (see the Vital Records section of this website for instructions on how to register your child’s birth certificate).
On March 28, 2025, the Prime Minister’s Office issued Decree Law No. 36 on urgent provisions on citizenship. This decree amends Article 3 of Law 91/1992 by introducing, in Article 3-bis, the conditions for which an application for citizenship is currently processed, such as:
(a) the citizen status of the interested party is recognized, in compliance with the regulations applicable on March 27, 2025, following the application, accompanied by the necessary documentation, submitted to the relevant consular office or mayor no later than 11:59 p.m., Rome time, on the same date;
(b) the citizen status of the interested party is judicially established, in compliance with the regulations applicable on March 27, 2025, as a result of a judicial application filed no later than 11:59 p.m., Rome time, of the same date;
(c) a citizen parent or adopter is born in Italy;
- d) a citizen parent or adoptive parent has been resident in Italy for at least two continuous years prior to the date of birth or adoption of the child; and
(e) a first-degree citizen ascendant of the citizen parents or adoptive parents was born in Italy.”
IMPORTANT PRIVACY POLICY ACKNOWLEDGMENT: In submitting documentation to the Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco, you confirm that you have read and understood the information in the Privacy Policy pertaining the processing of personal data that you submit to this office, as per/in accordance with EU regulations (RGPD).