The changes and amendments in regulations introduced by D.L. 36/2025, signed into Law 74/2025, allows former Italian citizens — including those residing abroad — to reacquire Italian citizenship by submitting a formal declaration of reacquisition.
WHO MAY APPLY
The application for reacquisition may be submitted if both of the following requirements are met:
- The applicant is a former Italian citizen:
- born in Italy, or
- born abroad but has resided in Italy for at least two consecutive years;
- The loss of Italian citizenship occurred no later than August 15, 1992, in one of the following cases:
- the applicant voluntarily acquired a foreign citizenship NO LATER THAN August 15, 1992, establishing residence abroad (naturalization);
- the applicant acquired a foreign citizenship involuntarily and subsequently renounced Italian citizenship, establishing residence abroad;
- the applicant was a minor child living with a parent who acquired a foreign citizenship.
THE LAW DOES NOT APPLY TO:
- former Italian citizens born abroad who have never resided in Italy for at least two consecutive years;
- those who lost Italian citizenship after August 15, 1992, for any reason;
- those who lost citizenship in the cases provided under the Law No. 555/1912 article 8, no. 3(i.e., those who, having accepted employment or military service with a foreign government, remained in such service despite a formal request by the Italian government to resign within a specified period);
- those who did not exercise the option provided under the Law No. 123/1983 article 5, paragraph 2(i.e., minor children – including adopted children – of an Italian father or mother who, in cases of dual citizenship, were required to choose one citizenship within one year of reaching the age of majority).
APPLICATION PERIOD
The declaration of reacquisition may be submitted from July 1, 2025, to December 31, 2027.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
This Consulate will ask for additional documentation if needed.
For those who lost the Italian citizenship as adults:
- Form_riacquisto_art.17;
- All passports (valid or expired);
- Last Italian passport (if owned);
- A valid ID (passport, State DL, State ID);
- A proof of residence in this consular jurisdiction (recent utility bill, driver’s license or State ID);
- Original Certificate of Naturalization, or equivalent documentation according to the local practice of the relevant foreign country (e.g., birth certificate accompanied by citizenship certification) indicating the date and reason of acquisition of foreign citizenship;
- Original Estratto per Riassunto dell’Atto di Nascita issued by the Comune and not older than 6 months;
- Original Copia Integrale dell’Atto di Nascita issued by the Comune and not older than 6 months;
- If born abroad, original Certificato Storico di Residenza issued by the Comune and not older than 6 months.
- USPS Money Order for a total of: check Tabella Consolare, row “RIACQUISTO CITTADINANZA, ART. 07C”, column “USD Arrot”. Be aware that the Tabella Consolare is updated every three months on January 1, April 1, July 1, October 1.
For those who lost citizenship as minors:
- Original “Estratto dell’Atto di Nascita” issued within the last six months:
- if born in Italy, issued by the Municipality where the applicant was born;
- if born abroad, Birth Certificate with Apostille and translation into Italian (in the USA, a simple translation; in other countries, a certified translation);
- If born abroad, Certificato Storico di Residenza which shows the applicant’s effective residence in Italy for a minimum of two consecutive years, issued by the Italian Municipality;
- Original extract of birth certificate of the parent who was a former Italian citizen;
- Certificato storico di cittadinanza of the parent who was a former citizen;
- Certificate of Naturalization of the parent.
APPOINTMENTS
The appointment to submit the declaration of intent to reacquire Italian citizenship in person, subject to payment of the applicable consular fee, must be scheduled exclusively by appointment through the Prenot@mi portal (https://prenotami.esteri.it/) selecting the service “Reacquisition of the Italian Citizenship”. During the reservation:
- The scan of the Form_riacquisto_art.17 (filled out and signed) must be uploaded at the time of reservation. Please be aware that the form should be in .pdf and not be larger than 1MB,
Appointments will not be moved for any reason. In case you will not be able to come to your appointment (or you do not have the complete documentation ready), the appointment should be moved or cancelled. Due to high request, in case of no-show the account will be suspended.
New appointments are added on Thursdays at 5pm local time. The appointment will be after two weeks. Cancelled slots will be immediately offered back, therefore we suggest to frequently check the availability.
AT THE APPOINTMENT
At the appointment the applicant needs to present all the correct and complete documentation as requested. Applications with incomplete documentation will be rejected.
This Consulate will ask for additional documentation if needed.
The documentation will NOT be returned to the applicant.
The competent office is cittadinanza.houston@esteri.it.
Reacquisition, if granted, takes effect from the day after the statement of intention is submitted and accepted, and it is NOT retroactive.
Please note that transmission of Italian citizenship is governed by the current regulations set forth by Law 91/1992 as amended by Decree 36/2025, signed into Law 74/2025. In particular, reacquisition of Italian citizenship NO LONGER grants automatic citizenship to any minor children who live with the applicant. In order to acquire Italian citizenship, pursuant to art.14 Law 91/1992, minor children living with the applicant who has reacquired Italian citizenship, must have been residing in Italy for a minimum of two consecutive years at the time of their parent’s reacquisition (or since birth if younger than 2yo).
The parent who reacquires Italian citizenship is no longer an Italian citizen by birth and therefore cannot submit a statement of intent for their minor children.