Applying for Italian Dual Citizenship by Descent (Jure Sanguinis) requires a careful document package. Most applicants need US vital records, apostilles, and certified Italian translations before the consulate or Italian municipality will review the file.
If your appointment is with an Italian consulate, including the Consulate General of Italy in New York, confirm the current document checklist before ordering records. Requirements can vary by jurisdiction, but marriage certificates, birth certificates, death certificates, and divorce records are common parts of a Jure Sanguinis file.
Step 1: Gather Your Lineage Documents
You will usually need birth, marriage, and death certificates for every person in your direct Italian lineage, starting from your Italian-born ancestor down to yourself. Marriage certificate apostille and translation issues are especially common because names, dates, and places must match the rest of the family line.
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 where they were issued. If your grandfather was born in New Jersey, married in New York, and passed away in Florida, you must obtain separate apostilles from separate Secretary of State offices. Do not notarize certified vital records. Certified copies issued by the proper agency go directly to the correct apostille authority.
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, documents commonly need certified translation into Italian. Translation requirements can differ by consulate, so review the applicable instructions before submitting your package.
Need Help With Apostille and Translation?
Mila Notary & Wedding Solutions helps clients coordinate apostille and certified translation steps for Italian document packages. Start with our Apostille for Italy service page, request help through contact, or review local apostille services in Jacksonville.