Learn how to get dual Italian citizenship using genealogical information with my guest professional genealogist Sarah Gutmann of Legacy Tree Genealogists. 

Watch Live: Thursday, May 12, 2022 at 11:00 am CT 
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Show Notes

My special guest is Sarah Gutmann. Sarah began her obsession with family history when she was 13-years-old.  She now has almost three decades of experience helping others climb their family tree. She is a professional genealogist with Legacy Tree Genealogists where she specializes in United States and Italian research. As a veteran classroom teacher, Sarah enjoys teaching  various genealogy programs to libraries, historical societies, and lineage organizations across America.

Obtaining Italian Dual Citizenship Overview:

• Who can become a citizen?
• Finding out when your ancestor naturalized and obtaining those documents
• Identifying your ancestor’s specific commune (village)
• Using the Italian archives site
• Requesting vital records from Italy
• Obtaining long form vital records with an Apostille (American records)

Who can apply for dual Italian citizenship?

The following list refers to examples of some categories of eligible persons:

1. Direct Descent: from an Italian-citizen parent (if maternal side, after January 1 st, 1948) born in Italy and they were still Italian citizens at the time of the Applicant’s birth. The Applicant and their parents must have never renounced their Italian citizenship. Naturalizations occurred prior to August 15th, 1992 constituted renouncing ones’ Italian citizenship.
2. Through Descent: from an ancestor born in Italy who was an Italian citizen at the time of the birth of their child. The Italian citizenship would pass through the generations up until the Applicant (the maternal branch could pass on Italian citizenship to children born after January 1, 1948), provided that none of the descendants in the straight line lost/renounced their Italian citizenship, such as through naturalization prior to August 15th, 1992.
3. From an Italian-citizen mother to a child born before January 1st, 1948: applicants who fall into this category will have to appeal to an Italian civil court to obtain the recognition of citizenship.

How Do I Know When My Ancestor Naturalized?

Using Census Records:

• Take note of the year of immigration
  • Look for passenger records
• Naturalization
  • AL- Alien
  • NA- naturalized
  • PA- have submitted the first papers to become naturalized
• Find Them at Family Search – FREE!

Use the census record as a guide to what court your ancestor may have naturalized through.

Looking for Naturalization Records

• Prior to September 27, 1906, any “court of record” (municipal, county, state, or Federal) could grant United States citizenship.
• Beginning September 27, 1906, naturalization was done through the Federal courts.

Contact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. They have records from 1906 forward.

Order an “Index Search”

On the Genealogy page at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service website click Order an Index Search or Record Request.

Provide as much information you know about the immigrant

• Name
• Addresses in America
• Birthdate and place
• Household members
• Year of immigration

Order Record Request with Request Case ID.

Did Your Immigrant Ancestor Naturalize AFTER Their Child Was Born?

Start Gathering Vital Records!

Vital Records Issued by Italian Authorities 

Here are the Italian vital records for events which took place in Italy:

In Line Relatives:

• Birth Certificate: Original Extended Certified Copy Issued by the Comune, with names of parents
• Marriage Certificate: Original Extended Certified Copy Issued by the Comune, with names of parents, and any annotations of divorces
• Death Certificate: Original Extended Certified Copy Issued by the Comune, with names of parents

Out of Line Relatives if born in Italy:

• Spouse’s Birth Certificate: Photocopy of Certificate Issued by Comune in Italy
• Spouse’s Death Certificate:  Photocopy of Certificate Issued by Comune in Italy

Finding the Italian Village of Origin

Here are some of the records that may include your ancestor’s village of origin:

• Naturalization Record
• Ship Manifest
• Draft Record
• Vital Records (Birth, Marriage, Death)
• Obituary

If you don’t have success with your ancestor’s records, try searching your Ancestor’s FAN CLUB (Friends, Associates, Neighbors). These are the people who may have come from the same village. Search for their records as listed above.

Contacting the Italian Comune

• Use Comuni-Italiani.it to locate your comune’s website
• Find the comune’s email address and regular mail address
• Write a request letter in Italian and include your i.d. (Letters are available in the “forms” at the Consulate Generale website)
• Follow up! Follow up!

The Comuni-Italiani.it Webiste

Website: http://www.comuni-italiani.it/

This website provides Information and statistics on municipalities, provinces and regions in Italy. You’ll find links to official websites, zip code, number of inhabitants, banks, schools, pharmacies, maps, weather forecast, and other useful links.

Here’s an example of the official Italian document you are trying to obtain:

This is your golden ticket to the Italian consulate and getting that coveted citizenship.

Vital Records Issued by Non-Italian Authorities (American Records)

In Line Relatives  ORDER NEW DOCUMENTS

• Long Form Original Legalized by the Apostille & Translation of Document Only
• Birth Certificate
• Marriage
• Divorce
• Death Certificate

Out of Line Relatives

• Photocopy of birth and death

What is an Apostille?

An Apostille (pronounced “ah-po-steel”) is a French word meaning certification. An Apostille is a specialized certificate, issued by the Secretary of State. The Apostille is attached to your original document to verify that it is legitimate and authentic.

Research your General Italian Consulate

• MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT!!!!
• Fill out Citizenship forms
• Download checklist and instructions

Resources

Downloadable ad-free Show Notes handout for Premium Members. 

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