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Citizenship By Ancestry Eligibility

No residency requirement: You can complete the entire process without living in Italy.

As of March 28, 2025, only applicants with a parent or grandparent born in Italy can apply for citizenship by descent.

According to Italian consular services, the main Italian ancestor who emigrated abroad must have been born in Italy after March 17, 1861 (date of the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy). Exceptionally, applications for citizenship by descent will be accepted even if the Italian ancestor was born before 17 March 1861, provided they died after that date.

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Who can you include on your application:

Main applicant, his/her children, and siblings.

Application Processing Time:

~2-3 years from beginning collecting your documents until you have your Italian passport in hand.

Documentation Requirement:

Applicants must provide a chain of vital records (birth, marriage, and death certificates) linking the applicant to the Italian ancestor.

Language Requirement:

There is no Italian language requirement for Italian citizenship by descent applicants. There is a basic language requirement, however, if the applicant is applying for Italian citizenship by marriage.

Everything You Need to Know about Italy

Thinking about relocating to Italy? We have a full breakdown of what moving to and living in Italy is like. Keep in mind, your Italian citizenship will give you access to the whole Schengen zone.

Read Our Guide: Life in Italy

Recent governmental decrees are still being fleshed out in Italian law, so expect updated regulations in the near future. One thing that history shows us is that citizenship by descent rules can change quickly, without warning. The best time to begin your Italian citizenship by descent inquiry was yesterday. The second best time is today.

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Are you ready to reestablish your connection to the country of your ancestors?

We simplify the complex Italian citizenship by descent process, giving your case expert attention from our U.S. team and partners. Book a free consultation to start the journey to your Italian passport.

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Who all can be included

Extend your benefits to your spouse, dependent children, and dependent parents.

Residency Requirement

The Portuguese golden visa residency requirement is very flexible, making it an attractive investment migration option for Americans. You can maintain your residency with just an average of seven days per year in Portugal.

When some countries require investors to stay in the country at least six months per year, Portugal only requires seven days. This allows you to maintain your current lifestyle in the United States while fulfilling the golden visa requirements and working towards citizenship by essentially taking a week-long vacation to Portugal once a year!

Citizenship Requirement

After five years of legal “residency” under the golden visa program, applicants may apply for Portuguese citizenship or permanent residency.

To qualify for citizenship, in addition to fulfilling the five years of investment, applicants must also learn basic Portuguese to an A2 level. However, in lieu of a language test, applicants may also attend 150 hours of virtual Portuguese language lessons from a government-approved language school. Upon completion of the 150 hours, the applicant is considered to have satisfied the language requirement.