If your Italian Female Ancestor became a citizen of another country BEFORE his next of kind was born (in another country) and/or BEFORE July 1, 1912, unfortunately you do NOT qualify. Why is that? By becoming a US citizen, your Italian Female Ancestor renounced to his Italian citizenship; therefore, his children born after his oath date were born to a US Citizen and not longer to an Italian citizen.

In addition, if your Italian Female Ancestor naturalized before July 1, 1912, you do not qualify for Italian citizenship even if his child was born before this individual naturalized. Prior to that date, when a native-born Italian naturalized in another country, he gave up not only his own Italian citizenship but also that of all his minor children, regardless of where they were born.

The good news is that there are other ways to become an Italian citizen. If you are living now, or plan on living in Italy (through work visa’s, etc.) you may qualify in the following ways:
 

 

• Reside one (1) year in Italy, if you are formerly an Italian citizen

• ​Reside three (3) years in Italy, if you are a foreigner with native-born Italian parents or grandparents

• Reside four (4) years in Italy, if you are a citizen of another EU country

• Reside ten (10) years in Italy, if you are a citizen of a non-EU country