Applying for Italian Dual Citizenship by Descent (Jure Sanguinis) requires a massive amount of paperwork. Every US vital record you submit must be authenticated with an apostille. Here is your step-by-step guide.
Step 1: Gather Your Lineage Documents
You will need birth, marriage, and death certificates for every person in your direct Italian lineage, starting from your Italian-born ancestor down to yourself.
Step 2: Check for Discrepancies
Before requesting apostilles, ensure all names and dates match perfectly across the documents. Italian consulates are notoriously strict about discrepancies. You may need to formally amend records first.
Step 3: Obtain Apostilles from Each State
Documents must be apostilled in the state they were issued. If your grandfather was born in New Jersey, married in New York, and passed away in Florida, you must obtain three separate apostilles from three different Secretary of State offices. Do not notarize these vital records.
Step 4: The FBI Background Check
If you are applying for citizenship via marriage, you will need an FBI background check. This requires a federal apostille from the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., which takes significantly longer than state apostilles.
Step 5: Certified Translation
After the apostilles are affixed, all documents must be translated into Italian. The consulate requires certified translations that they recognize.