How to get your American Italian dual citizenship

Acquistion of Italian citzenship by marriage to an Italian citizen

• Acquisition of Dual Citizenship
• Acquisition of Italian Citizenship by Birth
• Acquisition of Italian Citizenship by Marriage to an Italian Citizen (you are here)
  
• Reacquisition of the Italian Citizenship
• The process
  

The foreign spouse of an Italian citizen can apply for the Italian citizenship to the competent "Prefettura" after 6 months of legal residence in Italy or, if residing abroad, to the competent Consulate after 3 years from the date of the marriage.

The first formal qualification in order to apply is the registration in Italy of the marriage certificate.

The application will have to be filled at the Italian Consulate prior appointment accompanied by the following documents:

(A) Your responsibility

• valid passport of both spouses
• proof of residency (ex. Driver’s license and/or utility bill)
• birth certificate with all information concerning the father and the mother, issued by the competent authorities of the Country of birth and legalized according to the rules established by the competent Italian Consular authority (individuals born in the USA shall bring the “Long Form” or “certified copy” of birth record, legalized with Apostille)
• criminal records issued by the Police Authorities located in the applicant's:
  • place of birth
  • places of residence where one has resided after the age of 14.
    • If place of residence was abroad you must contact the local Italian Consulate
    • To get the criminal record: background check issued by Federal Bureau of Investigation, CJIS Division – Attn. SCU-MOD/D2 – 1000 Custer Hallow Road, Clarksburg, West Virginia 26306 – Tel (304) 625-3878, http://www.fbi.gov/, and by the Central Police Office of each State of residence. Contact your local police station
• Those who have lived for at least six months in Italy will also have to submit:
  • Certificato Generale del Casellario Giudiziale (Tribunale di Roma)
  • Certificato dei Carichi Pendenti (Procura della Repubblica presso il Tribunale competente per il territorio di residenza)
  • Marriage certificate (estratto di matrimonio to be issued by the City in Italy where the marriage was registered)

(B) Provided by the Consulate of Italy)

• Certificate of citizenship for the Italian spouse
• Declaration signed by the Italian spouse about residency and family status

Please note: any document (originals and/or certified copies thereof) in a language other than Italian must be accompanied by a certified (notarized) translation into Italian, authenticated by a Diplomatic or Consular Authority of the Country where the certificates were issued.

Furthermore, the certificates of good conduct must be certified with an Apostille.

All original documents have to be submitted along with three copies of each.

From: Italy-America Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia