Getting an Italian American passport, more commonly referred to as dual citizenship, is a rigorous process but full of benefits like free movement, employment, and improved education. The applicants are required to provide documents in person, including birth, marriage, and death certificates, official translations, and legalization.
You will also have to make an appointment with the nearest Italian consulate, where your documents will be reviewed. Although it takes a long time, dual citizenship offers you cultural and legal experience of the native country as well as improved opportunities for travelling and living in the EU countries.
Reach out for more help with Italian citizenship.
Determine Your Eligibility
As a first requirement to get an Italian American passport, one has to ascertain his/her qualification. Italy has the “jus sanguinis” citizenship, which simply means that one is given citizenship if they have Italian blood in them.
You must have a direct ancestor born in Italy who has not relinquished one’s Italian citizenship before the birth of his or her children. Also, you can apply if one of your parents was an Italian citizen at the time of your birth.
Collect Necessary Documents
There is a set of documents that are deemed necessary so as to make the application successful. Original and photocopies of birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates (in case the person died in America), and records of naturalization of the Italian ancestor(s) are necessary for approval.
Photocopies of any document must be certified and translated into the Italian language by a legal translator. When documenting your Italian lineage, make sure there are records for each generation from you to your ancestors; you will also need your personal identification, such as a photograph, recent U.S. passport, birth certificate, and marriage certificate, if any.
Make an Appointment to the Italian Consulate
Requirements and procedure to obtain an Italian passport must be filed at the Italian consulate that operates in your state in the United States. The consular services of the Embassy require you to book your appointment through an online booking tool. Remember, demand for the consulate’s services is high, and an appointment can take several months to be arranged; therefore, arrange far earlier than needed time.
When you visit the consulate for your interview, the officials will go through your documents before they declare your admissibility to Italian citizenship. Be ready to give any other information they may want or ask you to give them more information about or clarify some of the information they already received.
Fill out the Form and Endorse the Fees
This can only be done after the consulate approves your eligibility to apply for an Italian passport. You will have to complete questionnaires and pay some charges, which include the passport fee and that for the acceptance of your citizenship application.
You will then submit documents and your application for an Italian passport to the Consulate, and your will be issued within a few weeks to several months.
Conclusion
To apply for an Italian American passport, one needs to check the qualification, assemble the needed papers, arrange an appointment with the Italian consulate, and then follow the application procedure.
If an individual has to undergo the general procedure for application, the above steps can help make the process as smooth as possible. This will make you enjoy your citizenship of both America and Italy.
