Did you know that every year over 400 Americans from the North-West Pacific Consular jurisdiction are granted Italian citizenship at the Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco? Most were claimed through lineage, but a small portion were also granted citizenship through marriage. Recent entries to Italian citizenship include Francis Ford Coppola, Rick Belluzzo, Mario Rosati (WSGR), Robert Mondavi of Mondavi Wines and many more.
Could you also qualify? Let’s find out. See here the summary of qualifications and requirements for attaining Italian citizenship. Many documents are required, but don’t despair: when that day comes, it will be full of joy! Just look at those smiles below.
First off, consider where you are a resident. In order to apply for citizenship at the Consulate in San Francisco, you must be a resident of CALIFORNIA (except San Luis Obispo, Kern, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Imperial Valley, Orange Counties), ALASKA, HAWAII, IDAHO, MONTANA, OREGON, UTAH, WASHINGTON STATE or the Administrative Territory of the Islands of Marianne. If you’re not a resident these areas, you can apply to the Consulate under whose jurisdiction you reside.
Second, see if your family tree matches requirements to claim citizenship. To demonstrate you have a right to citizenship, you must show that citizenship was transmitted from your Italian-born ascendant to you. Italian citizenship was exclusive until 15 August 1992; so, until that date, the voluntary acquisition of any non-Italian citizenship meant the automatic renunciation of one’s Italian citizenship for people who were born with Italian citizenship. However, children born to Italian citizens in the United States or other countries with jure solis – meaning you are a citizen automatically if you are born within the national boundaries – acquired their foreign citizenships involuntarily because of their birthplaces. Therefore, these children can claim citizenship by descent if and only if they can prove that their Italian-born ascendant was an Italian citizen at the moment of their births. Subsequently, they can pass citizenship onto their children, grandchildren, and so forth – barring a loss of citizenship somewhere along the line.
Confused yet? Don’t worry, here is an example.
Mario’s grandfather Luigi emigrated to the States in 1900. His father, Pietro, was born in 1912, and Luigi naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 1925. Pietro inherited citizenship because Luigi was a citizen at the moment of his birth. Mario, born in 1950, inherited citizenship from Pietro, unless Pietro renounced his right to Italian citizenship (for example, by acquiring a third citizenship prior to Mario’s birth or by a declaration before an Italian authority).
Got it? The real crux is really whether your Italian ascendant still had Italian citizenship at the moment his or her child was born in the United States. Take a look at your family tree. Any luck?
Third, if you qualify for citizenship, you need to submit a list of documents proving your right to get it. These documents include things like birth, death and marriage certificates of your Italian-born ascendants, intermediate ascendants and your similar documents. For a full list, please check the list in this webpage. You will need to get these documents translated and a list of recommended translators are on the Consulate’s website.
Finally, you get to schedule an appointment at the Consulate by using our “book-online system”. After the Consulate processes your successful application, you will then receive a Letter of Recognition paired with an attestato di riconoscimento.
From there the next step is…nothing! You are now an Italian citizen and enjoy the full rights and privileges afforded to any citizen of the Bel Paese. Here is information on what that means. Way to go!