Applying for recognition of Italian Citizenship by descent through an Italian municipality: stages of the procedure

Submitting an application for the recognition of Italian citizenship by descent through an Italian municipality is one of the procedures available to foreign nationals who are lawfully residing in Italy and believe they can demonstrate the transmission of Italian citizenship from one of their Italian ancestors. This is an administrative procedure that requires a careful reconstruction of the applicant's family lineage and a thorough examination of the supporting documentation by the Civil Status Office.

Since 2025, the legislation governing the recognition of Italian citizenship has undergone significant amendments, introducing stricter requirements for certain categories of applicants born abroad. Before initiating the application, it is therefore advisable to verify that your circumstances fall within those provided for under the current legislation, in particular Law No. 91/1992 as amended by Law No. 74/2025, in order to avoid commencing a procedure without meeting the legal requirements.

For those intending to obtain Italian citizenship by descent in Italy, the first step is to establish legal residence in the municipality where the application will be submitted. Non-EU citizens must first apply for a residence permit for pending citizenship ("permesso di soggiorno per attesa cittadinanza") at the territorially competent Police Headquarters (Questura) in order to register their residence. Only after completing the municipal residence registration will it be possible to file the application with the competent office of the municipality of residence.

Once the application has been received, the municipality initiates the administrative review, during which it verifies that Italian citizenship has been transmitted without interruption throughout the entire line of descent. The examination covers the complete genealogical documentation, beginning with the ancestor born in Italy and continuing through each generation to the applicant, with particular attention paid to the consistency of the personal details appearing in the various civil status records.

For this reason, it is essential to prepare a complete and consistent application file. In addition to a valid identity document, applicants are generally required to provide the birth record of the Italian ancestor, as well as the birth, marriage, divorce (where applicable), death, and any other relevant civil status records relating to all direct-line descendants. When documents originate abroad, they must be submitted in the form required by Italian law, including certified translations and legalization or any other formalities prescribed by the applicable regulations. It is also always necessary to provide certificates confirming that the Italian ancestor was never naturalized as a foreign citizen (or that such naturalization occurred only after the birth of the relevant descendant), in order to properly demonstrate the uninterrupted transmission of citizenship.

The municipal administration carries out thorough checks on the authenticity and validity of the documentation. If discrepancies are found in names, surnames, dates, or places indicated in the certificates, the office may request additional documents or further evidence before continuing the review. It may also request information from other Italian municipalities or the competent Italian consulates to verify specific aspects of the application, including any renunciation of Italian citizenship by the applicant's ancestors or by the applicant.

Although the law establishes an ordinary deadline for concluding the procedure, processing times may be extended whenever it becomes necessary to obtain documentation from other public authorities or await responses from Italian or foreign institutions. For this reason, it is advisable to submit, from the outset, a dossier that is as complete and free from inconsistencies as possible.

If, at the conclusion of the review, all legal requirements are found to have been satisfied, the municipality will formally recognize the applicant's Italian citizenship. From that moment, the new citizen will be entitled to register with the relevant public registers and subsequently apply for an Italian passport, thereby enjoying all the rights associated with Italian citizenship.

Carefully preparing the documentation, verifying the accuracy of the genealogical line in advance, and ensuring that all civil status records comply with the applicable legal requirements are the factors that contribute most significantly to making the citizenship-by-descent recognition procedure smoother and more efficient.

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The content of this article is intended to provide general information on the topic. For doubts or specific cases, it is advisable to seek specialized legal advice tailored to your particular situation.

Article written by Alessia Ajelli, Managing Associate of LCA Studio Legale, Italian lawyer specialized on Italian immigration and citizenship law, and Paolo Grassi, Trainee of LCA Studio Legale.