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Reacquisition of citizenship

Conversion Law No. 74/2025 of  Decree Law No. 36/2025 amended Article 17, Paragraph 1, of Law No. 91/1992, allowing former citizens residing abroad, in specific cases and for a limited period of time (between July 1, 2025 and December 31, 2027), to reacquire Italian citizenship by personally signing a declaration before the competent consular officials.

EFFECTS OF REACQUISITION

The declaration of reacquisition has no retroactive effect: the former citizen reacquires Italian citizenship starting from the NEXT day after signing the declaration.

TRANSMISSION OF CITIZENSHIP TO DESCENDANTS

With the entry into force of the new legislation, the re-acquisition of citizenship DOES NOT ALLOW the automatic acquisition of citizenship by children, even if they are minors (obviously this applies to adults as well) and living with the parents, if they reside abroad.

LIMITED TEMPORAL WINDOW FOR REACQUISITION

The declaration of reacquisition by the former citizen must be submitted, together with the necessary documentation, between July 1, 2025 and December 31, 2027.

ELIGIBILITY

To be entitled, the following requirements must be met:

  1. The applicant must have been born in Italy or, if born outside Italy, must have been resident in Italy continuously for at least two years;
  2. The applicant lost their citizenship before August 16, 1992.

DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED FOR RE-ACQUISITION

BEWARE: The Embassy does NOT return the documentation submitted.

  1. Application for reacquisition, filled out;
  2. If born in Italy:
    1. Extract of the birth certificate (NOT a simple birth certificate) issued by the Italian Municipality (Comune) of birth. (1)
  3. If born abroad:
    1. Extract of the foreign birth certificate (2), apostilled and translated (click here) and
    2. Historical certificate of residence issued by the last Italian Municipality (Comune) of residence (1).
  4. Historical certificate of citizenship (1) issued by the Italian Municipality (Comune) of last residence in Italy.
  5. Foreign naturalization certificate. If the applicant was a minor at the time of naturalization, they must ALSO submit the naturalization certificates of their Italian-born parents. Please note that until March 09, 1975, in Italy coming of age was at age 21.
  6. Payment of the consular fee (Art. 7C): 250 Euros. Cash payments are accepted only in Canadian dollars. To verify the exact amount, check the dedicated section.
  7. Copy of the Canadian driving licence (or Canadian passport) and any Italian documents in your possession, even if expired.

Pursuant to Law 74/2025, it is upon the applicant to submit the necessary documentation: the list is detailed in these pages and the applicant must refer solely to these pages.

The Embassy, therefore, DOES NOT reply (except by means of automatic informative replies that refer to the official website) to any requests for information or consultation. The only e-mails that will be replied to will be those regarding the request for an appointment (see “HOW TO SUBMIT THE DECLARATION OF REACQUISITION“).

NOTES

(1) For requesting Italian certificates, this form may be used and sent, by the applicant, to the Italian Municipality (Comune).

(2) The Canadian (or anyway foreign, for those born elsewhere) birth certificate must be in “Certified Copy of Registration” format. Please note that the “wallet size” format of certificates is NOT valid for registration and therefore cannot be accepted. Canadian or foreign certificates must be apostilled and translated into Italian (click here for more information).

PLEASE NOTE: for WOMEN, if instead of the maiden name the married name appears, a marriage certificate in “certified copy of registration” (long form) format (or similar foreign document), apostilled and translated (click here for more information) must ALSO be submitted. Marriage certificates issued by religious authorities CANNOT be considered.

HOW TO SUBMIT THE DECLARATION OF REACQUISITION

Once you have ALL the documents to be submitted, you should send a request for an appointment to the email address: ambottawa.cittadinanza@esteri.it attaching

The appointment and the procedure for submitting the application for reacquisition and the delivery of the original documentation will be notified by this Embassy to the e-mail address you have provided.