This article predates a change in the law and is awaiting an update. For a specific case, the Firm should be consulted.
Machine translation awaiting review.
If my great-grandfather was Italian, do my grandfather and my father also have to apply for Italian citizenship for me to be able to apply as well?
The application for Italian citizenship is something personal and is valid only for the person who applies for it. This means that not all your ancestors need to apply for Italian citizenship for you to be able to obtain it. Nor is the consent of the ancestors required.
What happens if my grandfather is deceased?
It does not matter whether they are deceased or alive.
A relative has carried out the Italian citizenship process. Can I apply for citizenship by adding my records to my relative's file?
As we have answered before, each process is personal, so each document that has been submitted to the Consulate or to the Italian Comune remains in the file of the person who applied for the Italian citizenship process. Therefore, no document submitted by a relative can be used. The Consulate or Comune that holds the file with the originals may allow a document from another family member to be added, only in the case that this person is a resident in the same jurisdiction of the Consulate or Comune.
Can I go to Italy, take up residence in a Comune and start the recognition process and then travel to another country to wait to be called?
Being a resident in an Italian Comune implies being domiciled and registered (empadronado) in that Comune. No one can tell you not to travel, but no doubts should arise that the declared address is genuine. If the Comune began to have doubts in this regard, it could ask the Police to review and check in order to verify the presence at the address of domicile. The check includes asking the neighbors and checking the presence at the address at various times of the day. In the event that they certify that the person is not resident in the Comune, the Italian citizenship process is dropped. It is essential to maintain residence in the Comune from the beginning to the end of the process.
Is it mandatory to speak Italian to apply for Italian citizenship?
No. But it is better if you know how to speak a little. It would also be useful to know a bit more about the culture and the country for which you are requesting citizenship. In the case of an application for Italian citizenship by residency, current law does require passing an exam on the Italian language and culture. If you do not speak Italian, it is best to always be accompanied by a person who can help you understand all the steps of the procedures you need to carry out, so as not to make mistakes and to properly understand what is written in the documents and the requirements for Italian citizenship.
