Italy
Italian Citizenship by Descent Documents Checklist (U.S. Consulates)
Each consulate publishes its own list, so always use the checklist from the consulate for where you live. Below is what the Boston and Los Angeles consulates list. Under the 2025 law, most people born abroad with another citizenship must also prove one of the new conditions. See the 2025 changes.
Core documents (Boston)
Following Ministry of the Interior Circular K.28.1 of April 8, 1991, Boston asks for: Source: Consulate Boston
- the birth certificate extract of the Italian ancestor who emigrated, issued by the Italian municipality of birth
- birth certificates, with official Italian translations, for every direct descendant, including you
- the Italian ancestor's marriage certificate (translated if issued abroad)
- marriage certificates of the descendants in the direct line, including your parents
- a certificate from the foreign authority, with Italian translation, confirming the Italian ancestor didn't acquire that country's citizenship before the birth of the next person in your line
- a certificate from the Italian consular authority stating that neither your direct ancestors nor you ever renounced Italian citizenship
Extra proof for the 2025 law
Where it applies, Boston also asks for proof that a parent or grandparent held only Italian citizenship (such as negative citizenship certificates, certificates renouncing foreign citizenship, or certificates of non-registration on foreign electoral rolls), or proof of a parent's two straight years of residence in Italy (a historical certificate of residence or citizenship). Source: Consulate Boston More: the "only Italian citizenship" grandparent rule.
How records must be prepared (Los Angeles)
- U.S. records for relatives in your direct line must be certified, long-form originals with an apostille and an Italian translation. Long-form certificates must be specially requested; they aren't the standard copy. Source: Consulate Los Angeles checklist
- A long-form birth certificate shows the parents' full names, dates and places of birth. Source: LA checklist
- Your own birth certificate must have been issued within 24 months of submitting. The Italian ancestor's birth certificate, from the comune in Italy, must have been issued within the 6 months before your appointment and needs no apostille. Source: LA checklist
- Court decrees (name changes, adoptions, divorces and so on) need an apostille and an Italian translation. Source: LA checklist
- Records from countries other than Italy and the U.S. must be authenticated, translated and legalized in the country that issued them. Source: LA checklist
- Names must match the birth certificates. Discrepancies must be amended, though the office decides whether anglicized names or small variations are acceptable. Source: LA checklist
- Los Angeles won't return your original documents, except original U.S. naturalization or citizenship certificates. Source: Consulate Los Angeles
Forms
Boston uses four forms: Forms 1 and 2 for you, Form 3 signed by the living ancestor in your line, and Form 4 for each deceased ancestor born outside Italy. Source: Consulate Boston
Two dates to know
- An Italian citizen who acquired a foreign citizenship before August 16, 1992 automatically lost Italian citizenship. On or after that date, it doesn't cause loss. Source: LA checklist
- Through a woman, citizenship passes only to children born on or after January 1, 1948. Cases through a mother to a child born before 1948 must go to an Italian civil court. Source: LA checklist
For finding U.S. birth, marriage and death records, see how to get old vital records.