GENERAL PRINCIPLES
The Italian law regulating citizenship is n.91 of 5th February 1992. In contrast with the previous law, the current law reassesses the importance of individual intention in the acquisition or loss of citizenship and admits the right to holding more than one citizenship simultaneously, subject to the provisions of international agreements.
VERIFICATION OR ACQUISITION/RECOGNITION OF ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP
The competent authority to carry out the verification or to receive applications for the acquisition of citizenship is determined based on the place of residence of the applicant:
- For residents living abroad, it is the territorially competent diplomatic-consular authority;
- For residents in Italy, it is the civil status officer of the Municipality of residence.
The Consulate General of Italy in Sydney is competent for processing citizenship applications presented ONLY by Australian citizens and foreigners who are residents of NSW. Foreign citizens (non-Australian) must be “permanent residents” in Australia. Proof of residency is required at the time of application.
Note: the towns of Queanbeyan and Cooma are under the jurisdiction of the Italian Embassy in Canberra.
For more information, please consult the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
The most common procedures relating to Italian citizenship are the following:
- Grant of Italian citizenship by descent (applies to persons who were born at a time when one or both parents were Italian citizens).
- Grant of Italian citizenship as a spouse of an Italian citizen (citizenship through marriage).
- Application to have the Italian citizenship reinstated (this applies to Italian born persons who have subsequently lost their Italian citizenship due to the acquisition a foreign nationality before 15/08/1992).
- Renouncing the Italian citizenship.
