2025 UPDATE: In an effort to keep you informed, we are providing a breakdown of the recent law changes that have been made to the process of applying for Italian citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis) through the Italian consulates, communes, and courts for applicants over the age of 18. These updates are specifically affecting the fees paid to the Italian government for all adult applicants.
On December 28, 2024, the Italian Parliament approved an amendment to the budget law, which updated the fees paid to the consulates, communes, and courts for those applying for Italian citizenship.
ITALIAN CONSULATE APPLICATIONS
Articles 634-641 of this law implemented a non-refundable consular application fee of €600 per applicant, effective from January 1, 2025. This fee applies to all citizenship applications that are being submitted specifically through Italian consulates worldwide. Italian consulates and embassies have also since updated their websites to reflect these updates in the consular fee. For applicants applying in the USA, the fee must be paid in US dollars, with exchange rates established and updated quarterly by the consulates. Minor children can still be included under their parent’s application without additional charges.
ITALIAN COMMUNE APPLICATIONS (IN ITALY)
If you are applying for citizenship through an Italian commune in your local Italian municipality, the recent amendment permits a fee of up to €600 per adult applicant paid in Euros. This is different from the consular fee as the commune fee is capped but not fixed. This allows local Italian municipalities to set a fee which does not exceed €600. Just like the consulates, minor children can still be included without extra cost.
ITALIAN COURT APPLICATIONS
Regarding court applications for Italian citizenship and “1948 cases,” Article 814 outlines a court filing fee (contributo unificato) of €600 per petitioner. This is a significant increase from the previous €545, which was charged per case rather than per individual. Now, if multiple family members file together for recognition of citizenship through the same ancestor in a joint legal proceeding, each petitioner must pay the €600 fee to their local Italian court.
OTHER COURT FEES
Additionally some court-related expenses will often include a revenue stamp fee of €27 and a ruling registration fee (passaggio in giudicato) which can range between €100 and €200 depending on the local “Agenzia delle Entrate.” Attorney fees also vary depending on the professional who is representing their case.
ITALIAN VITAL RECORD DOCUMENTS
Additional fee updates made by the Italian government also now affect the retrieval of historical documents. Local Italian municipalities can charge up to €300 per vital record for documents older than 100 years if they do not pertain directly to the applicant. However, if you are able to supply specific identification details such as your ancestor’s name and year of birth, the fee may be reduced by the clerk because less effort will be required to complete the record search.
All applicants for Italian citizenship are also required to gather all certified copies of U.S. vital records, which may involve additional costs depending on the number of documents and issuing agencies. Each document must meet the current requirements of the Italian government, be apostilled, translated, and have certified translations necessary for court submissions in 1948 cases. Translation certifications through the court can cost €16 for every four pages, while notary fees for certification vary based on the individual notary’s pricing.
Summary of 2025 Fee Increases:
· Court filing fee per petitioner increased from €518 to €600.
· Consular application fee increased from €300 to €600 per adult applicant.
· Commune application fees capped at €600 per adult applicant.
Please keep in mind that the updated fees apply only to applications and cases submitted from January 1, 2025, forward. Applications filed before this date will not incur the additional charges noted above.
This summary covers significant updates to the costs associated with Italian citizenship applications which are charged by the Italian government. Further updates will be provided as they become available so please check back with us. If you need additional information please feel free to contact us directly, and our experienced professionals will be happy to assist you.
This page was last updated by Marco Permunian
