Italian Citizenship Assistance
We are an Italian law firm, and Italian citizenship — by descent, through the 1948 line, before the tribunals, and by marriage — is the largest part of what we do. This page explains how a file works with us from the first message to the passport: what we check, what you do, what we do, what it costs, and the things we will not promise because no honest lawyer can.
Page verified on 14 September 2026 · Law 91/1992 as amended by Law 74/2025 · Legislative Decree 150/2011, art. 19-bis · Decree-Law 13/2017, art. 4(5) · Law 11/2026
A case filed after the 2025 law and won in court, explained by the lawyer who argued it.
What Italian citizenship assistance means here
Four kinds of file, each with its own page where the law is set out article by article. Everything below applies to all four.
Citizenship by descent
Eligibility under article 3-bis, the document chain from the Italian birth record to yours, the choice of route, and the file itself. Where the consulate cannot give a date, or the law leaves a question open, the case goes to the tribunal.
Read the page →1948 cases
Lines that pass through a woman before 1 January 1948. Only a tribunal can recognise them. Thirty decisions on these lines are in our public register, with what each court required.
Read the page →Court cases and appeals
Consular-delay cases, post-reform cases under article 3-bis, minor-issue re-examinations after Cassation 24045/2026, and appeals. Filed by power of attorney: you do not travel.
Read the page →Citizenship by marriage
Article 5 applications for the spouse of an Italian citizen: marriage transcription, B1 certificate, document review, the file, and the challenge of an unfounded refusal.
Read the page →Not citizenship but residence? We also handle the Investor Visa, the Elective Residence Visa, the flat tax regime and property purchases for clients moving to Italy.
How a file works, in five steps
The order matters. Most of the time lost on citizenship files is lost between step 2 and step 4 — documents requested in the wrong form, checked too late, or filed with a gap a judge will notice. We front-load the checking.
Free eligibility check
You send us your family line: who was born where and when, and whether anyone naturalised. A lawyer answers, in writing, with which condition of the law applies to you, which route is realistic, and what the file will need. If the answer is that it will not work, you get that answer too.
Engagement and document plan
If you go ahead, you choose a package, sign the engagement letter and receive a document plan: every record we need, from which authority, in what form, and who obtains it (you or us, depending on the package).
Records, apostilles, translations
Italian records are requested from the municipalities and parishes; foreign records are apostilled and translated. We check every date, name and spelling against the chain before anything is filed, because a mismatch found by a judge costs months.
Filing
Consulate or municipality where the law allows it and the office can act; otherwise the tribunal of the district where your ancestor was born, with the burden of proof that article 19-bis now puts on the applicant met on paper, in the first filing.
Decision, registration, passport
Once the decision is final we obtain its registration with the Italian municipality, which is what makes you a citizen in the records, and guide you through the consular registration and the passport.
Who does what
- Tell us the family line, as completely as you can, in the first message.
- Sign a power of attorney (notarised and apostilled in your country) if the case goes to court.
- Obtain the foreign records we list, or let us obtain them (Platinum and Enterprise).
- Answer our questions within a few days when we ask: a file waits for the slowest document.
- Nothing else. No travel, no hearing to attend, no Italian to speak.
- Verify eligibility against the law as it stands, not as it was.
- Design the document chain and check every record before filing.
- Choose the route and, for a court case, the competent tribunal.
- Draft and file; attend the hearing; answer the court and the Ministry.
- Obtain the registration of the decision and follow the passport.
- Tell you, at every step, what has happened and what happens next.
Outcomes. A citizenship file is decided by a consulate, a municipality or a judge, not by us. We tell you the probability as we see it, in writing, before you engage; we do not use the words “guaranteed” or “100% success”, and we would advise you to leave any site that does.
Times. No consulate publishes its waiting times and no tribunal commits to a calendar. We publish the terms the law sets and tell each client what we have seen in their office or court. A number on a website becomes a promise; we do not make it.
A file we think will fail. If your line does not qualify under the law as it stands and none of the questions still open before the courts helps you, we say so in the first reply, and we do not take the engagement.
What it costs
Flat professional fees for a family group filing through the same ancestor, in four packages that differ in how much of the document work we take on. Every figure, every exclusion and every state fee is on the cost page; this is the summary.
You have gathered and checked every record; we verify the chain, prepare and file. Up to four applicants.
Everything in Silver, with the Italian records obtained by us. Translations arranged by you.
Everything in Gold, plus certified Italian translations of all your documents.
The entire process handed over — records, apostilles, translations, filing, hearings, passports — with one point of contact. Quoted per family.
One flat fee covers a family group of up to five applicants (four for Silver); each additional applicant is €1,000. Italian legal invoices carry a mandatory 4% pension-fund contribution and 15% general expenses on top of the fee; no VAT is charged to clients resident outside the EU. Court filing fees are paid to the court and listed separately. A High Priority option (€4,000) moves a file to the front of our queue. The first check is free and commits you to nothing.
Where we file, and what the register shows
For applicants living abroad, a citizenship case is filed in the tribunal with the specialised immigration section of the district where the Italian ancestor was born (Decree-Law 13/2017, article 4(5), for cases started from 22 June 2022). That rule sends our cases all over Italy. We keep a public register of the decisions, updated as they arrive, and we include the ones that went against us.
Tribunals in the register, with the number of decisions from each: Naples (16), Palermo (10), L’Aquila (7), Catanzaro (7), Messina (4), Bologna (4), Turin (4), Florence (3), Catania (2), Bari (2), Potenza (2), Brescia (1), Rome (1), Campobasso (1), Genoa (1). Each entry gives the date, the line, what the court required as proof and how it dealt with costs, and the ruling it applied. The full register, filterable by court and outcome, is on the court rulings page; the thirty 1948 decisions and the thirty-five consular-delay decisions have their own pages.
Since March 2025 a citizenship case is decided on documents: article 19-bis of Legislative Decree 150/2011 puts on the applicant the burden of proving that no cause of loss applies, and excludes witnesses and oaths. That is why the checking happens before filing, not at the hearing, and why we do not file a case we have not first tried to break ourselves.
Your consulate: which office covers where you live
A citizenship application from abroad goes to the consulate competent for your place of residence — not the nearest one, and not the one with the shortest queue. These are the Italian consular districts in the four countries where most of our clients live, as published by the Italian embassies on 14 September 2026. Where we have a page on a consulate, the link is in the last column; the others are being added.
Full list of districts: Italian consulates in the USAUnited States
| Office | Type | Jurisdiction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | Consulate General | New York, Connecticut, New Jersey (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, Warren counties) and Bermuda | Our page → |
| Boston | Consulate General | Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont | Our page → |
| Philadelphia | Consulate General | Pennsylvania, Delaware, North Carolina, West Virginia, New Jersey (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, Salem counties), Maryland and Virginia except the counties under the Embassy | |
| Washington, DC | Embassy, consular section | District of Columbia; Montgomery and Prince George’s counties (Maryland); Arlington and Fairfax counties and the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church and Fairfax (Virginia) | |
| Miami | Consulate General | Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos, St. Maarten, St. Eustatius, Saba | Our page → |
| Detroit | Consulate General | Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee | |
| Chicago | Consulate General | Illinois, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Wyoming | Our page → |
| Houston | Consulate General | Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma | |
| Los Angeles | Consulate General | Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and the California counties of Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo and Ventura | Our page → |
| San Francisco | Consulate General | The rest of California, Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington State, and Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Wake, Midway and Johnston |
Canada
| Office | Type | Jurisdiction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | Consulate General | Ontario (except the part under the Embassy in Ottawa), Manitoba, Northwest Territories | Our page → |
| Montréal | Consulate General | Québec (except the part under the Embassy in Ottawa), Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Nunavut | Our page → |
| Vancouver | Consulate General | British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon | Our page → |
| Ottawa | Embassy, consular section | The part of Ontario and Québec excluded from the Toronto and Montréal districts (the Embassy publishes the exact boundary) |
United Kingdom
| Office | Type | Jurisdiction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | Consulate General | Southern England, Wales, Isle of Wight, Channel Islands, Gibraltar | Our page → |
| Manchester | Consulate | Northern and central England, from the West Midlands and Leicestershire to Northumberland, and the Isle of Man | Our page → |
| Edinburgh | Consulate General | Scotland and Northern Ireland | Our page → |
Australia
| Office | Type | Jurisdiction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | Consulate General | New South Wales (except Queanbeyan and Cooma) and Norfolk Island | Our page → |
| Melbourne | Consulate General | Victoria and Tasmania | Our page → |
| Brisbane | Consulate | Queensland and Northern Territory | Our page → |
| Adelaide | Consulate | South Australia | Our page → |
| Perth | Consulate | Western Australia, Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands | Our page → |
Two rules that decide more files than people expect. First, the consulate of your residence is the only one that can accept your application: a file sent to the wrong district is returned. Second, when the competent consulate cannot give a date, the alternative is not another consulate but the tribunal — and the tribunal is chosen by your ancestor’s birthplace, not by where you live.
How we work, on video
A case won in court under the new law, what actually decides how long a file takes, and how the documents are gathered. Two of the three were recorded before the 2025 reform: where a video and this page differ, the page is current.
Italian Citizenship by Descent: How We Won in Court Under the New Law (2026)
A real case filed after Law 74/2025 and won in court: how the file was built and what the judge decided.
Waiting Time For Italian Citizenship: How Long Does It Really Take to get the Italian Passport?
Realistic timelines for citizenship by descent and by marriage, route by route.
How To Easily Secure All Documents For Your Italian Citizenship Application!
Which documents an Italian citizenship by descent file needs and how to obtain them.
More than a hundred videos on Italian citizenship, visas and living in Italy on our YouTube channel.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a lawyer, or can I apply for Italian citizenship by descent myself?
You can apply at a consulate or municipality yourself, and many people do. A lawyer is needed when the route is the court (1948 lines, consular delay, questions left open by the 2025 reform), and useful when the document chain has a break, a name discrepancy or a naturalisation date to prove. The free check tells you which of the two you are.
What does Italian citizenship assistance cost?
Our professional fees are flat: four packages from €12,900 for a family group, differing in how much of the document work we take on. Court fees, the statutory 4% and 15% additions on Italian legal invoices, and services listed as excluded are set out on the cost page before you sign. There is no percentage fee and no fee for the first check.
Do I have to travel to Italy?
No. A court case is filed by power of attorney and the hearing is attended by us. Consular applications are filed at your consulate. The only reason to come to Italy is if you want to.
How long does it take?
The law gives terms: thirty-six months for a consular application for citizenship by descent (Law 11/2026), and twenty-four months extendable to thirty-six for citizenship by marriage (article 9-ter). Court timing varies by tribunal and is not fixed by statute. We do not publish estimates, because none is reliable and a figure on a website becomes a promise. We tell each client what we have seen in their tribunal, in writing, before they engage.
My consulate has no appointments. What can you do?
Document what you have attempted, and file in the tribunal competent for your ancestor’s birthplace. The courts have accepted for years that a citizen who cannot obtain a reasonable appointment may ask the judge directly; thirty-five of those decisions, and what each court required as proof, are on our consular-delay page.
Do you take 1948 cases?
Yes; they are a large part of our court work. A 1948 case is a lawsuit, not an application, and the 2025 reform applies to it like any other line. The page on 1948 cases explains the scenarios and the thirty decisions we have collected.
Do you work with clients in Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia?
Yes. The law is the same wherever you live; what changes is the consulate, the apostille authority and the format of your civil records. We have clients in all three, and dedicated pages for the consulates we deal with most.
What do I need to send for the free check?
Names, dates and places of birth down the line from the Italian ancestor to you, and, if you know them, the dates of any naturalisation. No documents yet: if the line works, we will tell you exactly which records to gather. It is answered by a lawyer, not by a form.
What this page is based on
- Law no. 91 of 5 February 1992, as amended by Decree-Law 36/2025, converted by Law 74/2025 (article 3-bis), and Law 199/2025 (article 4(1-bis)).
- Legislative Decree no. 150 of 1 September 2011, article 19-bis, paragraphs 2-bis and 2-ter (burden of proof; no witnesses).
- Decree-Law no. 13 of 17 February 2017, article 4(5), as amended by Law 206/2021 (competent tribunal for applicants abroad).
- Law no. 11 of 19 January 2026 (consular applications: annual caps, thirty-six-month term, centralisation from 1 January 2029).
- Court of Cassation, Sezioni Unite, judgment no. 24045/2026; Constitutional Court, judgment no. 63/2026 and order no. 147/2026.
- Our register of tribunal decisions, 65 entries as of 14 September 2026, read in full from the original texts.
- Our published fee schedule, in force on 14 September 2026.
Send us your line. A lawyer will tell you where you stand.
Names, dates and places from your Italian ancestor down to you, and any naturalisation you know of. No documents yet. You will get a written answer: which condition of the law applies, which route is realistic, what the file needs and which package fits — or, if that is the honest answer, that it will not work.
- No cost, no obligation
- Read by an Italian lawyer
- Every message is answered
Married to an Italian citizen? See citizenship by marriage. Want the figures first? The cost page has all of them.
Other Frequently Asked Questions about our Italian Citizenship assistance.
Do you provide Italian Citizenship assistance?
Yes.We provide qualified Italian Citizenship assistance in each program.So, Italian Dual Citizenship by Descent.vOr through Marriage.vOr because of your long-term residency in Italy.Our Immigration Law Firm has more than ten years of experience in Italian Dual Citizenship. Navigating the Italian Citizenship Law can be challenging, so requiring Italian Citizenship assistance is certainly worth the cost.
Do you assist with Italian Citizenship Jure Sanguinis?
Yes.
We provide qualified Italian Citizenship assistance in each program.
So, Italian Dual Citizenship by Descent, well-known as Jure Sanguinis Italy.
Our Immigration Law Firm has more than eight years of experience.
Both in Jure Sanguinis applications for Italy and Italian Citizenship by marriage.
Do you assist with Italian Citizenship by Marriage?
Yes.We provide qualified Italian Citizenship assistance in each program.So, also on Italian Dual Citizenship through Marriage (called Italian Citizenship Jure Matrimonii) .Our Immigration Law Firm has more than eight years of experience in Italian Dual Citizenship by Marriage. Navigating the Italian Citizenship Law can be challenging, so requiring Italian Dual Citizenship assistance is certainly worth the cost.
Do I need a Lawyer for assistance with Italian Citizenship?
Yes, it’s almost mandatory to hire an Italian Citizenship lawyer to assist you.The motivations are different.In most cases, you have to handle the Italian language application.Or, it’s impossible to file a correct application through the Italian Consulate.It happens because the Italian Consulate rejects your application.Or because you cannot book an appointment with them. Or, simply, an Italian Citizenship Lawyer can assist you on getting all the required Vital Records for accomplish all the requirement of the Italian Citizenship application process.
Which Italian Court will be involved in my Italian Citizenship?
There will be a new rule from June 2022.
You can apply for the 1948 Case through the local Italian Immigration Court.
Based on where your Italian ancestor was born.
The Italian Government introduced this new rule in November 2021.
Law 26 November 2021, n. 206, has provided (with art. 1, paragraph
37) the following new rule.
“When the plaintiff resides abroad, disputes regarding the ascertainment of the status of Italian Citizenship are assigned having regard to the municipality of birth of the father, mother, or ancestor of Italian citizens.
Until June 2022, the competent Court will remain the Italian Tribunal of Rome.
How much does Italian citizenship cost?
Italian Citizenship costs between 1,500 – 4,000 Euro for just the expenses you need to face, like getting certified copies of all certificates, getting the Apostille, etc.As a general standard, the dual Italian citizenship process can cost between $10,000 – $16,000.Legal costs may vary too, starting from around 9,000-14,000€, if you want to be assisted by qualified and expert Law Firms like we are. As each Client’s case is different, we will provide a tailored pricing strategy according to your needs.
Who can help me get Italian citizenship?
Bersani Law Firm&Partners can help you get Italian Citizenship.
Our Law Office has more than ten years of expertise in Italian CItizenship by descent, Italian Citizenship by Marriage, and the Italian Dual Citizenship program.
How can I speed up my Italian citizenship?
Making your application for Italian citizenship by descent through an Italian Court may be one of the fastest ways to apply for Italian Citizenship by Descent.
In many consulates around the world, the waiting time for the initial appointment can be several months if you’re lucky.
As many Italian Consulate is facing a lack of appointments, the faster way to apply for Italian Citizenship by descent is by filing your petition through us into an Italian Immigration Court.
Check our YouTube videos for a better understanding of how it works.
Can you get Italian citizenship without speaking Italian?
You can get Italian Citizenship by Descent without speaking Italian.
Knowledge of Italian is not required to apply for Italian Dual Citizenship Jure Sanguinis.
But suppose you are applying for Italian Citizenship by marriage.
In that case, you must speak Italian and show adequate knowledge of the language (passing the level B1 test of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages – CEFRL).
What are the Eligibility Requirements for Obtaining Italian Citizenship?
Obtaining Italian citizenship can open up a world of opportunities, and understanding the eligibility requirements is the first step in the application process. There are several pathways through which you can acquire Italian citizenship, each with its own specific criteria.
1. Citizenship by Descent (Jure Sanguinis)
If you have Italian ancestors, you may qualify for citizenship by descent. This pathway allows individuals to claim citizenship based on their lineage. The eligibility requirements include:
Proof of an unbroken chain of Italian ancestry, which can be established through birth certificates, marriage certificates, and other vital records.
Documentation showing that your Italian ancestor was a citizen at the time of your birth and did not renounce their citizenship.
No generational limit for eligibility, as long as you can prove your lineage.
2. Citizenship by Marriage (Jure Matrimonii)
Foreign spouses of Italian citizens can apply for citizenship after a certain period of marriage. The requirements are as follows:
You must have been married to an Italian citizen for at least three years if living abroad, or two years if residing in Italy.
If you have children together, the required duration of marriage is reduced by half.
You must demonstrate an adequate knowledge of the Italian language (at least level B1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
3. Citizenship by Residency
Individuals who have legally resided in Italy for a significant period may be eligible for citizenship by residency. The criteria include:
A minimum of ten years of legal residency in Italy for non-EU citizens; four years for EU citizens; and three years for those with Italian ancestry.
Proof of economic stability and integration into Italian society, which may include employment, housing, and local community ties.
An adequate understanding of the Italian language (B1 level) is required.
4. Citizenship through a Female Ancestor
Under Italian law, citizenship transmission can be affected by gender. If you have a female ancestor who was born in Italy, you may be eligible for citizenship through her lineage, provided that you can demonstrate:
The female ancestor was an Italian citizen at the time of your birth.
The application pertains to individuals born after January 1, 1948, as Italian law previously restricted female citizenship transmission.
Additional Considerations
Dual Citizenship: Italy allows dual citizenship, meaning you may retain your original nationality while also becoming an Italian citizen.
Documentation: Regardless of the pathway, all applicants must provide necessary documentation, including birth certificates, marriage records, and, if applicable, proof of residence and language proficiency.
Navigating the requirements for Italian citizenship can be complex, but understanding these pathways will help you determine your eligibility and prepare for a successful application. For a personalized evaluation of your case and assistance with the documentation process, consider reaching out for a consultation.
How can I find an Italian citizenship assistance service or lawyer?
Navigating the process of obtaining Italian citizenship can be complex, especially for those seeking citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis), marriage, or residency. Fortunately, there are several avenues to explore when searching for an Italian citizenship assistance service or lawyer who can guide you through the application process.
1. Research Online
Start by conducting an online search for Italian citizenship assistance services or immigration lawyers specializing in Italian law. Look for firms that specifically advertise services related to dual citizenship and have a strong focus on the Italian citizenship process. Websites should provide detailed information about their services, fees, and the expertise of their staff.
2. Check Reviews and Testimonials
Before committing to a service, take the time to read reviews and testimonials from previous clients. Look for feedback that highlights the quality of service, customer support, and successful outcomes. This can provide insight into the firm’s track record in assisting clients with Italian citizenship applications.
3. Consult Community Resources
Reach out to local Italian community organizations or cultural associations, such as the Italian Community of St Louis. These organizations often have partnerships with legal services or can recommend reputable citizenship assistance firms. They may also host informational sessions about the citizenship process where you can gain additional insights.
4. Utilize Social Media and Online Forums
Social media platforms and online forums can be valuable resources for finding recommendations for citizenship assistance services. Join groups focused on Italian citizenship or expatriate communities, where you can ask for suggestions and share experiences with others who have successfully navigated the process.
5. Consider Local Consulates or Embassies
Local Italian consulates or embassies can also provide guidance on the citizenship application process. They may have a list of authorized service providers or lawyers who specialize in Italian citizenship matters. It’s advisable to contact your local consulate for any specific requirements or recommendations they may have.
6. Schedule Consultations
Once you have identified a few potential services, schedule consultations to discuss your specific situation. During these consultations, ask about their experience with cases similar to yours, their fee structure, and how they can assist you throughout the application process. A good lawyer or service will take the time to answer your questions and provide clarity on the next steps.
7. Evaluate Credentials and Qualifications
Lastly, ensure that the lawyer or service you choose is qualified and recognized within the field of immigration law. Check for any professional affiliations, bar memberships, or certifications that demonstrate their expertise in handling Italian citizenship cases.
By following these steps, you can effectively find an Italian citizenship assistance service or lawyer who is well-equipped to support you in your journey toward obtaining Italian citizenship. Remember, seeking professional assistance can make a significant difference in ensuring a smooth and successful application process.
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