Renouncing Italian citizenship: what is the procedure?

While many people wish to acquire Italian citizenship, there are also those who, for various personal, legal, or practical reasons, choose to renounce it. Renouncing Italian citizenship is a voluntary procedure regulated by Italian law, which requires meeting specific requirements and submitting precise documentation to the relevant consular authority.

Who can renounce italian citizenship?

According to Article 11 of Law no. 91/1992, Italian citizens residing abroad who hold another citizenship may submit a formal declaration of renunciation of Italian citizenship. Since renunciation can only be submitted by a person residing abroad, the procedure must be carried out at the Italian Consulate that has jurisdiction over the applicant’s place of residence. The applicant must be of legal age and already possess citizenship of another country—it is not possible to renounce Italian citizenship and become stateless.

Requirements and necessary documentation

Anyone intending to renounce Italian citizenship must gather and submit the following documents:

• Certified excerpt of the Italian birth certificate: original copy issued by the Italian municipality of birth
• Proof of possession of another citizenship, such as a valid foreign passport (e.g., U.S. passport)
• Certified copy of the foreign naturalization certificate (e.g., U.S. naturalization certificate), issued by the competent authority (USCIS), notarized, legalized with an apostille, and translated into Italian with a certified or sworn translation
• All valid Italian identification documents in the applicant’s possession (passport, ID card, etc.)
• Proof of payment of the required fee (currently €250), to be made via international bank transfer to the Italian Ministry of the Interior

Special cases: citizenship acquired during minority and renunciation in Italy

Those residing in Italy may submit their renunciation of citizenship to the local municipality in the following cases:

• In the case of a foreign minor adopted by Italian citizens, once they reach legal age
• In the case of revocation of adoption for reasons beyond the person's will
• In the case of automatic reacquisition of citizenship after one year of residence in an Italian municipality

In all cases, individuals will always have the option, without time limits, to renounce Italian citizenship, provided they hold another citizenship.

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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.