Reclaiming Lost Italian Citizenship

If you previously held Italian citizenship but lost it after naturalizing as a citizen of another country (such as Canada, the US, or Australia), a temporary legal window now allows you to get it back.  

Historically, reclaiming a lost Italian passport required relocating to Italy and establishing legal residency there for at least one year. Under a temporary amendment to Italian citizenship law, eligible former citizens can now complete the entire process directly through their local Italian consulate, without having to move back to Italy.  

This measure is temporary and is only available until December 31, 2027.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for this specific pathway, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must be a living applicant: This law is designed only for living individuals who personally held and lost their own citizenship. It cannot be used to claim citizenship through a deceased relative.  

• The 1992 Cutoff: You must have lost your Italian citizenship before August 16, 1992 (the date the modern citizenship law took effect). This usually occurred when you became a citizen of another country at a time when Italy did not permit dual citizenship.  

• Connection to Italy: You must have been born in Italy, or have lived in Italy legally for at least two consecutive years before moving abroad. 

The Process

Applying for reacquisition requires submitting a formal application to the Italian consulate that has jurisdiction over your place of residence. The application must include:  

• Proof of your previous Italian citizenship (such as official vital records retrieved directly from the town in Italy where you were born or last resided).

• Proof of your foreign naturalization, demonstrating the exact date you acquired your other citizenship.

• Consular-compliant formatting, which requires obtaining official certified copies, legalizations (Apostilles), and certified Italian translations of all foreign documents.

Gathering historical municipal records from Italy and preparing a compliant consular file typically takes several months. Because of this, we recommend beginning the process well in advance of the December 2027 deadline.

How We Can Help

The team at BecomeItaliani provides support to help you navigate the process clearly and accurately. We offer two levels of service:

Preliminary Attorney Consultation ($99)

If you want to verify your eligibility, review your specific family timeline, or clarify the exact documents you need before starting, you can book a private video consultation with our legal team.

• Note: The $99 consultation fee will be fully credited toward our full-service assistance package if you decide to work with us.

• Book a consultation here

Full-Service Assistance ($3,000)

For those who want full support from day one through application submission.

• Complete Guidance: We guide you through every step—from document collection to final submission.

• Strategic Oversight: Strategic oversight of your entire case—we don’t just guide you, we design the right approach based on legal nuances, consulate expectations, and potential roadblocks.

• Consulate-Specific Guidance: Tailored support matching the exact expectations of the consulate where you are applying.

• Document Preparation: Sourcing of required Italian certificates, along with translation and apostille coordination for your foreign documents.

• Direct Access: Ongoing access to our team for questions, updates, and document reviews.

• Discounts: Family and minor discounts are available if multiple family members apply together.

• Ideal if you don’t have the time—or desire—for a DIY approach.

To learn more or get started, you can contact us at contact@becomeitaliani.com.