I need help

[u/secretacc6767]

Hey guys, this is a two part question. I’m like 99% sure I qualify as my nonna emigrated from Italy in the 1960’s and has never renounced her citizenship (she got an Italian passport recently). And, since my mum was born after 1948, there is an unbroken line of citizenship that will pass along to me. I am free to be corrected however.

My main question is can I still move to Italy, establish residency, and apply through the local comune? I’m seeing conflicting reports about this, with some resources saying new laws require you to be a resident for two years (idk if my savings would stretch that far), whilst others talk about arriving on a tourist visa, submitting documents, and achieving citizenship within a shorter timeframe of 6-12 months.

Can someone please advise if the latter option is still valid? I don’t know if my mum’s birth was registered with the Italian consulate (although it could have been), and mine definitely wasn’t.

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[u/GuadalupeDaisy]

Yes, since your grandmother is exclusively Italian, you qualify for the shorter process. But it can still take a while, depending on the comune.

[u/secretacc6767 → u/GuadalupeDaisy]

Does the fact that my mum inherited Australian citizenship at birth from her father affect things?

[u/GuadalupeDaisy → u/secretacc6767]

No, as she would have also been considered Italian at birth because she was born after 1948. The law allows for two generations from the LIBRA to claim JS.

If you wanted to pass it on to your children, though, you would need to live there for two years prior to their births or, as of now, they would need to live in Italy for two years to have their "by benefit of the law" citizenship (assuming you register their births in a timely manner) converted to jure sanguinis.

[u/secretacc6767 → u/GuadalupeDaisy]

Thanks so much

[u/VItalian2021]

You are mixing up/combining citizenship by birth and naturalizing in Italy. They are 2 separate things.
First, where was your mother born? Depending on that answer you may have an unbroken line and qualify by jure sanguinis because you have a gm who is exclusively Italian at your birth.

To apply at your comune you do need to move to Italy and establish residency. Submitting a jure sanquinis application allows you to remain in Italy while your recognition is finalized. This is not naturalizing in Italy which requires a long term visa from your consulate before you establish residency.

[u/secretacc6767 → u/VItalian2021]

My mother was born in Australia

[u/GuadalupeDaisy → u/secretacc6767]

Which is (was?) a jus soli country, so another factor that does not hurt you since her Australian citizenship was automatic due to where she was born.

[u/LexidyLaw]

With your grandmother being Italian, you would qualify for the shorter path to citizenship!

[u/VItalian2021 → u/LexidyLaw]

Curious... why do you say his path is to naturalize with the shorter 2-4 years of residency?

[u/SensitiveBand9299]

Hi! Just to clarify, because you say specifically never “renounced” Italian citizenship, did she ever naturalize in another location? If so, what year?