Reacquiring Italian Citizenship

According to Article 17, paragraph 1, of the Italian Citizenship Act No. 91/1992, as amended by Law No. 74/2025, individuals may reacquire Italian citizenship if the following requirements are met:

• The applicant must have been born in Italy or must have resided in Italy for at least two consecutive years.
• The applicant must have lost their Italian citizenship no later than August 15, 1992, for one of the following reasons:
  1. They voluntarily acquired another citizenship and established residence abroad (Italian Citizenship Act No. 555/1912, Article 8, No. 1);
  2. They acquired another citizenship involuntarily, thus renouncing their Italian citizenship, and established residence abroad (Italian Citizenship Act No. 555/1912, Article 8, No. 2);
  3. They were minors residing with a parent who acquired foreign citizenship (Italian Citizenship Act No. 555/1912, Article 12);

Exclusions from Eligibility

The provisions of Article 17, paragraph 1, of Law No. 91/1992 do not apply to:

• Former citizens born abroad who have not resided in Italy for at least two consecutive years;
• Those who lost Italian citizenship after August 15, 1992, regardless of the reason;
• Those who lost citizenship due to employment with a foreign government or military service and who did not comply with an official order from the Italian government to cease such activity;

Individuals who did not exercise the option provided under Article 5, paragraph 2, of Law No. 123/1983. This applies to individuals (including adopted children) whose parent was an Italian citizen and who could have opted for Italian citizenship within one year of reaching legal age but failed to do so.

HOW AND WHEN TO SUBMIT THE DECLARATION OF INTENT

VERY IMPORTANT:

• Children (minor or adult) born before their parent reacquires Italian citizenship do not automatically acquire citizenship through the parent’s reacquisition.
• Parents who reacquire citizenship are not considered citizens by birth and therefore cannot register minor children born before reacquisition for the “benefit of the law” under Article 4, paragraph 1-bis, or Article 1, paragraph 1-ter of Law No. 91/1992.

Effects of the Declaration

Italian citizenship is reacquired the day after the declaration is submitted.

This reacquisition is not retroactive: from the date of the loss of citizenship (e.g., the day after voluntarily acquiring foreign citizenship) until the date of reacquisition, the person is considered a foreign national for all legal purposes.

Reacquisition restores the full rights and duties of Italian citizens, including:

1. Obligation to register with AIRE (Registry of Italians Residing Abroad);
2. Obligation to update civil status records (e.g., marriage, divorce, etc.) ;
3. Right to be included in electoral rolls;
4. Right to obtain an Italian passport and identity card

updated on 26.06.2025