Italy Slams Door on Citizenship Claims Through Great-Grandparents

 

Italy has recently changed its citizenship laws, affecting those who want to claim citizenship through their great-grandparents. Previously, Italy allowed citizenship by descent, or "jure sanguinis," which enabled individuals to claim citizenship if they had Italian ancestors.

However, the new law imposes stricter rules, making it more challenging for people to claim citizenship through their great-grandparents. The law requires that the ancestor through whom citizenship is being claimed must have been an Italian citizen at the time of the applicant's parent's birth.

Additionally, the law stipulates that if the ancestor is a female, the applicant's parent must have been born after January 1, 1948. This means that many people who were previously eligible for citizenship through their great-grandparents may no longer qualify.

To apply for Italian citizenship, individuals must gather extensive documentation, including birth and marriage certificates, naturalization records, and death certificates (if applicable). These documents must be apostilled and translated into Italian.

It's essential for those interested in claiming Italian citizenship to consult with experts and review the new laws carefully to determine their eligibility.