Obtaining Italian Citizenship by Descent in Australia

Applying for Italian Citizenship in Australia

When it comes to applying for Italian dual citizenship from Australia, the rules and obligations are much more lenient in Italy than almost any other country in Europe. However, several documents are required, and the process can be quite complex and lengthy.

The first step is to determine if you qualify for Italian citizenship by descent from Australia. There are several circumstances that allow you to immediately qualify, however, there are also other situations that are not as clear in which you may also qualify for Italian citizenship. For this reason, the team at IDC offers a free consultation free of charge and obligation in which we will do all of the research to determine if you are eligible for Italian citizenship.

What else do you need to know about applying for Italian dual citizenship from Australia?

What You Should Actually Know About Applying for Italian Dual Citizenship

Most people are pleasantly surprised to learn that Italy has laws in place that allow them to qualify for an Italian passport simply by having ancestors of Italian descent.

Italy employs a principle called “jure sanguinis (by descent)” that allows any individual with specific ancestral ties to apply for and potentially obtain dual citizenship in Italy. For this reason, Italian citizenship jure sanguinis in Australia is often the reason why most people become interested in the process as it opens up a straight path to obtaining dual citizenship and restoring your families heritage..

Dual citizenship not only enables the individual to work and live in Italy but also anywhere else in the EU. Needless to say, this also allows for freedom to travel Europe without limitations and Australians do not have to renounce their original citizenship in order to obtain this privilege. As if that’s not enough, dual citizens are fully entitled to the same healthcare and educational opportunities as Italian citizens.

Ancestral Ties and Italian Citizenship by Marriage in Australia

If you determine you qualify for dual citizenship, the next step is to start gathering all the necessary documentation to provide evidence of legitimate ancestral ties or rights to dual citizenship. You will need birth certificates, marriage certificates and death certificates of each person starting with your ancestor born in Italy along with other relevant documentation required for your application for dual citizenship.

However, certain restrictions and stipulations apply depending on the circumstances. For instance, the relevant ancestor must not have renounced their right to citizenship in Italy and a female (who has not renounced her Italian citizenship voluntarily) cannot pass her citizenship on to her children born before 1948. This ancestor must not have become naturalized before the date of birth of the applicant. However, many of these stipulations have been successfully challenged in Italian courts and have opened the doors for many more people of Italian descent to qualify.

If you are unsure if you qualify, please feel free to reach out to us for advice. We can simplify the process and help you obtain Italian citizenship as quickly as possible.

Individuals who wish to apply for Italian dual citizenship through marriage in Australia will need to be married for at least three years before they can qualify. That being said, these applicants can start the process after just eighteen months of marriage which will help expedite the process.

How to Obtain Italian Dual Citizenship from Australia

Qualifying for Dual Citizenship through Ancestral Ties

For some applicants, the process is made even easier for the fact that their parents are Italian. For others, some research is needed to identify their most recent ancestor in Italy. Asking around the family or getting in touch with relatives in Italy is a good place to start. When it comes to the application, you must prove these ties and the Italian consulate is not responsibility for providing any information in this respect.

Contacting the Italian Consulate

It can sometimes take several months to over a year to get an appointment for dual citizenship at your local consulate, so it’s always best to contact your local consulate right away. You can make an appointment first and then spend the time in between searching for documentation and compiling your application.

Documentation and Supporting Evidence

Aside from the actual application form, you will need to present several supporting documents at your appointment. Although each circumstance is different, birth certificates and marriage certificates for your ancestors are typically required. Please understand several forms will be required, but the specific forms will depend on the type of application you are providing and your specific situation. Each persons case is unique to their families ancestry.

Apostilling and Translation

Google translate is not good enough in terms of translation and you will need to contact an approved (by the consulate) translator to ensure 100% accuracy. Also, these documents will need to be apostilled which is essentially a rubber stamp from Australian authorities to further legitimize your application.

Applying for Italian Dual Citizenship

Any discrepancies with your documents or application will result in delays or a rejection. For this reason, you should make every effort to ensure that every document and part of the process is done properly. After attending an interview at your local consulate, you will need to wait several weeks for this application to be reviewed.

We understand that you may feel overwhelmed by the procedure and this is precisely why our clients entrust us with the process. We can help you apply for Italian dual citizenship in Australia and keep you informed throughout each step of the process.