Do you want to be a part of an architectural marvel? Who doesn’t? Being a part of a culturally rich heritage and breathtaking views is a dream come true. But can your current passport give you that liberty to experience this mesmerizing place? Unfortunately no!
But there is something that actually can allow you to live in the Italian countryside. It is by obtaining Italian citizenship. Does that sound intriguing? I bet it does. In fact, more than 30% of high-net-worth individuals already have dual citizenship. In fact, having second citizenship is more than a trend now.
Does that feel a bit overboard? Well! What if we tell you that more than 60% of countries maintain a tolerant approach towards dual citizenship? It’s great, isn’t it? But, of course, these facts alone won’t make you look for ways to become an Italian citizen, right?
In this article, we’ve rounded up all the aspects of dual citizenship and why you should opt for one. So, let’s get started!
Italian Citizenship: Different Ways to Obtain it
Getting dual citizenship is more about expanding your reach and finding new opportunities to lead a successful and happy life. Definitely, you would want to know about the ways to get hold of such an opportunity.
So, let’s begin learning all the ways to become an Italian citizen.
Citizenship by Descent
It is the simplest way to be a part of this mesmerizing country. But this is only possible if your parents or grandparents held Italian citizenship. But to obtain citizenship via this method, you need to locate and obtain all the documents and certified copies to complete the application process. The length of the process ultimately depends on the complexity of your case. But before that, you need to qualify for conditions. For instance,
- You can only move forward with the application if one of your parents or grandparents had Italian citizenship.
- You can only qualify if the ancestor did not naturalize. It will only be effective if the child was born before August 16, 1992.
But if your Italian ancestor renounced citizenship before August 15, 1992, or left the country before June 14, 1912, you won’t qualify for one. Also, if your ancestors are from the maternal side, it might be helpful if the child was born before January 1, 1948. And lastly, it won’t mean anything if the ancestor died before March 17, 1861.
So, if that’s the case, you can opt for other methods.
Citizenship By Naturalization
If you don’t have anyone in your family tree, you can go for this option. In this case, all you have to do is live in Italy using a visa. If you stay there a minimum of 10 years, you can get access to all the benefits of living in Italy. Of course, this is quite a lengthy process. But it’s worth it in the end. If you don’t want to take this lengthy route, the next one might be something worth knowing.
Citizenship By Investment
If you are looking to be a part of this country, you can do it even through investment. But you need to meet some eligibility criteria. Here are some of those:
- You need to be around 18 years of age if you want to start with an application procedure.
- Your state of health must be at the top and well-documented.
- You must never have any criminal record.
Besides, as per the new amendments to this program, here’s what you need to invest in getting into the “Golden Visa Program.”
- €250,000- Novel startup idea
- €500,000- If you invest in an Italian Company
- €2 million- Government bonds
- €1 million- Philanthropic donations in different niches like culture, education, research, and similar areas.
The processing time for this application is approximately 30 days. But you need to specify where you will be using those funds to improve your chances of application acceptance.
Citizenship By Marriage
What if you fall in love with an Italian partner? Isn’t that amazing? But the same process will help you become an Italian citizen as well. Yes, you heard it, right? In this case, you can obtain citizenship after two years of marriage. And if you happen to live outside the country, you’ll have to wait for three years at least.
Now that you know how to become an Italian Citizen, the next step is to understand the application process.
Italian Citizenship- Application Process
Depending on your circumstances or the method you choose, you’ll have to get hold of documentation and certified copies to get started with this process. The list of documents is usually long. Also, you need to translate all these documents into the Italian language.
You need to submit the application addressed to the President of the Republic. For adults, the price is around €300. It is applicable for all types of the application process. But if you want to succeed, your paperwork must be apt and on point. To learn more about it, this Bersani Law Firm website provides a great guide that will help learn about the nitty-gritty details about this.
But let’s not forget that there are so many rules and laws here. Isn’t it? So, why not take help from the professional Italian citizenship lawyers rather than going through all the files alone.
Still, thinking why you should hire one? Keep reading, and you’ll have your answers right away!
Why Should You Receive Assistance For the Italian Citizenship Process?
If you are starting your process of becoming an Italian citizen, things might seem a bit daunting for you. But if you want to cross the “finish line,” it would be great to use help from someone who specializes in this aspect.
But why should you have one? Is that what you are thinking? Let’s find out now!
- Remember, every application is different, and situations are unique. So, hiring a lawyer will allow you to navigate both the laws, your current one and the Italian one, easily. And why not have years of experience in doing that. They will know whether you can qualify or not.
- As we already mentioned, you’ll require tons of documents to prove your eligibility. But not every time you’ll know what document is essential. The lawyers will help you procure and amend the vital records to increase your chances of acceptance.
- Since they know all the nitty-gritty details about the application procedure, you won’t have to waste time running around. Instead, they will speed things for you.
All in all, they will help you navigate the challenges and proceed to the next steps quickly. And if you happen to obtain one for yourself, you can enjoy the following benefits like any other Italian citizen.
Benefits of Italian Citizenship
If you are opting for dual citizenship, you can experience the fascinating privileges listed down below.
- You’ll have access to two different social service systems. Who knows, you might even run for office? Of course, that’s not the reason to look for Italian citizenship. But if you have one, you won’t have to look for a work permit anymore. Your children can attend colleges in this country at the same fees as granted to Italian citizens.
- Naturally, if you are a citizen of any country, you don’t need any visa, right. And if you have Italian citizenship, you can freely roam in any of the 28 EU countries, whether it’s for work or pleasure. You can stay in the country for any amount of time without being questioned regarding your purpose of stay. Isn’t that amazing?
- You can purchase land in this country like any other citizen. This will be a good option if you are planning to settle here. Or wish to stay for business purposes frequently.
- Besides being a cost-effective country in terms of healthcare, you can even benefit from tax-free import of vehicles and get access to quality education.
And guess what? If you have children under 18 years of age, they will automatically get citizenship by descent. And you don’t have to file for any extra paperwork.
Final Takeaways
Did you know that not all passports hold the same ranking? The ranking is usually based on the fact of the power of any passport letting its citizens get into the maximum countries without any need for a visa. Of course, having a US passport is powerful enough. But you can’t enter European Union with this passport without a visa.
That’s where having Italian citizenship helps a lot. With this, you can expand your reach to more visa-free countries. Plus, you will get hold of all the benefits that Italian citizens are enjoying. But you can’t do everything on your own, especially in terms of documentation. It’s too much of a hassle to get hold of all the required files and certified copies independently.
So, whether you want to apply for citizenship through descent, marriage, investment, or naturalization, it would be a good idea to connect to the right professionals. They will help you navigate all the challenges and present your application so that you obtain citizenship with ease.
