Reacquisition of Italian citizenship: characteristics, requirements, and conditions

Italian citizenship is a privilege that grants rights and duties to those who possess it. However, it may happen that a person loses this status and later wishes to reacquire it. Below are the characteristics, requirements, and conditions for the reacquisition of Italian citizenship.

In what cases can Italian citizenship be lost?

Italian citizenship can be lost under certain circumstances, such as:

1. Voluntary renunciation: when an Italian citizen officially declares their desire to renounce citizenship

2. Acquisition of another citizenship: although Italy currently allows dual citizenship, in the past, acquiring a foreign citizenship could result in the loss of Italian citizenship

3. Revocation for sanctionary purposes: in exceptional cases, citizenship can be revoked for legal reasons, such as fraud during the acquisition process

How can Italian citizenship be reacquired?

The reacquisition of Italian citizenship is regulated by Law No. 91 of 1992 and can be achieved in several ways:

Residency in Italy

One of the most common methods is through residency in Italy. To do this:

• The applicant must reside legally in Italy for at least one continuous year

• During this period, they must meet the registration requirements in the "Anagrafe" (civil registry) of the municipality where they reside

Declaration of intent to the Italian Consulate

Those who lost their Italian citizenship upon acquiring another can reacquire it by declaring their intent to do so at the corresponding Italian consulate, if they reside abroad, prior to to moving to Italy under the same conditions set in paragraph 1 above.

Service in the Italian Government

If a person provides services to the Italian government, either in Italy or abroad, they may request the reacquisition of their citizenship.

General requirements for reacquisition

To reacquire Italian citizenship, certain requirements must be met:

Necessary documentation:

• Birth certificate

• Documents proving the loss of Italian citizenship

• Valid identity documents

• Proof of legal residence in Italy (if applicable)

Compliance with Italian laws:

• No serious criminal record that could prevent the process

• Compliance with immigration regulations if applying from Italy

Individuals who lost Italian citizenship and, for example, are residing in the United States and wish to riacquire the Italian citizenship to get an Italian passport, shall comply with the requirements set above.

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The content of this article is intended to provide general guidance on the subject matter. It is necessary to seek specialist advice in relation to your specific situation.

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