Italy
Italy calls to those with ancestral ties: a place to rediscover your roots and reconnect with a cultural heritage shared by 17 million Americans of Italian descent.
17M
Americans have Italian ancestry.
Pathways to Italian Citizenship
By Descent
- Parent
- Grandparent
Special Cases
- Maternal-line ancestry for children born before January 1, 1948 follows special rules.
- If a naturalized ancestor became a citizen elsewhere before their child turned 21, the line breaks there.
- Marriage to an Italian citizen qualifies after two years of legal residence in Italy, or three years of marriage if residing abroad.
Disqualifications
- Explicit renunciation, or naturalization elsewhere before the child's 21st birthday.
- Serious criminal offenses or security concerns.
- Inability to document an unbroken line of descent with official records.
Golden Visa
Italy's investment pathway leads to citizenship after 10 years of residency.
Investment Options
- €2 million in Italian government bonds.
- €500,000 in an Italian innovative startup.
- €1 million in an Italian company.
- A €1 million donation to a public interest project.
Life as an Italian National
Property in regions like Puglia and Sicily has appreciated 5 to 10% annually, priced around €1,500 to 2,500 per square meter, though central Milan runs closer to €4,500/m² against €1,200/m² in Bari's historic center.
Village homes in restoration programs can start around €70,000, and hill-town apartments from €150,000.
Public healthcare runs about €380 a year in contributions, with private specialist visits around €60 to 80.
Southern regions offer a 7% flat tax rate, and professionals can access a 70% tax exemption.
Benefits of Italian Citizenship
- An Italian passport offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 180 countries.
- Comprehensive healthcare coverage.
- Local tuition rates at Italian universities.
- Property ownership without restrictions.
- The right to work anywhere in Italy without authorization.
Benefits of EU Citizenship
- Freedom to live, work, study, and retire anywhere within the EU.
- Healthcare access across the EU through the EHIC system.
- Voting rights in European Parliament and municipal elections.
- Business operations across the EU single market.
- Consular protection from any EU member state.
- Local tuition rates at universities across the EU.
Next Steps
Take the Second Pass eligibility quiz for a personalized assessment.
Trace your ancestry through Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.org.
Gather birth, marriage, and death certificates.
Build a family tree focused on your Italian lineage.