Several years ago, when I worked in an office, a coworker stopped by my desk to show me his newly minted Italian passport. I was shocked. When I told him I didn’t realize he was from Italy, he told me he wasn’t. He was from Jersey. He then filled me in on the details of the jure sanguinis (right of blood), claiming Italian citizenship through descent. He also provided the name of his lawyer, who could help me through the process. Wow, I thought, I could be an authentic, bona fide eye-talian, just like the Calabrian grandfather I had never known. At least, that is what I thought at the time; things didn’t quite work out that way.
In the past, Italy did not recognize dual citizenship. You were exclusively a citizen of Italy. Becoming a citizen of another country was considered a renunciation of Italian citizenship. This also meant that children born in the United States were American citizens, not Italian, regardless of their parents’ status. Then, in 1992, things changed. The Italian government revised its position, which allowed Italian Americans the right to Italian citizenship through descent. The requirements were relatively simple. The applicant must be a direct descendant of someone born in Italy after unification in 1871. The ancestor could be many generations back, as long as they did not become a citizen of another country before the birth of any child in the applicant’s bloodline.
However, in 2022, Giorgia Meloni became Italy’s Prime Minister, running on an anti-immigration platform. The Meloni government recognized that the 1992 modifications were being abused. Many, without any substantive ties to Italy, sought citizenship for reasons other than familial affection for Italia. For example, part of the sales pitch for Italian citizenship included access to free Italian higher education and socialized medicine. Some even saw Italian citizenship as helpful in making travel and shopping more convenient. Some just thought it would be cool to have an Italian passport. Many, like my work acquaintance, could not even speak the language or had been to Italy.
As a result, earlier this year, significant changes were made to the Italian law regarding birthright citizenship. Although in the past one could go back many generations, the new rules limited the right only to those who have at least one parent or grandparent born in Italy. Additionally, you could no longer file your claim with the consulates; instead, you would go to a specialized office within the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Considering that it was nigh on impossible to get an appointment at a consulate, this was a welcome change.
There is considerable hype surrounding Italian citizenship. One of the many selling points is that Italians will welcome you as one of their own. This is patently false. Many Italians resent people of Italian descent who claim to be Italian, especially those who cannot speak the language. In addition, many critics of the previous system objected to the idea that foreigners with distant Italian ancestry were able to call themselves citizens. At the same time, immigrant children born and raised in Italy had to wait until they were 18 to apply.
If, despite the changes, you still believe yourself to be eligible, be forewarned. It is a lengthy, complicated, and expensive process with numerous pitfalls along the way. I especially want to emphasize the expense. Expect to spend thousands, yet end up with nothing. In my case, after several years and nearly $20,000, I ended up with little more than a lot of regret. If you do not speak Italian well and plan to buy property to relocate to Italy, I would strongly advise against seeking citizenship.
You may think, as I did, that citizenship would be a great way to reconnect with your Italian heritage. My experience, however, has taught me that being Italian is not carrying around a passport in your pocket. If you genuinely desire to recapture your Italianità, read the literature, study the history, and learn authentic Italian – not Italian American – cuisine. But most importantly, if you have the time and patience, learn to speak the language well. In this way, Italianità will flower in your heart and mind, truly connecting you with your ancestral past.
