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Reacquisition of Italian citizenship pursuant to art. 17, paragraph 1 of Law 91/1992

This Consulate has established a new procedure for submitting the application.

We invite users to visit this page often, especially the sections DOCUMENTATION TO BE SUBMITTED and APPOINTMENTS, which are frequently updated.

Following Law 74/2025, in force since May 24th, 2025 (converting Decree-Law no. 36/2025), it is now possible for former Italian citizens – including those born abroad – to reacquire Italian citizenship by submitting a specific Declaration of Reacquisition.

WHO MAY APPLY      

The reacquisition request may be submitted if both of the following requirements are met:

  1. The applicant is a former Italian citizen:
    • Born in Italy, or
    • Born abroad, but who was resident in Italy for at least two consecutive years
  1. The loss of citizenship occurred no later than August 15th, 1992 in one of the following three cases:
    • Voluntarily acquired a foreign citizenship before August 15th, 1992 and established residence abroad (naturalization) (art. 8 no. 1 Law 555/1912)
    • Acquired a foreign citizenship without voluntary action and renounced Italian citizenship, establishing residence abroad (art. 8 no. 2 Law 555/1912)
    • Was a minor child living with a parent who acquired a foreign citizenship (art. 12 Law 555/1912)

THE LAW DOES NOT APPLY to:

  1. Former citizens born abroad who have never resided in Italy for at least two consecutive years
  2. Anyone who lost citizenship after August 15th, 1992, for any reason
  3. Anyone who lost citizenship in the cases provided for by 8, no. 3 of Law no. 555/1912 (anyone who, having accepted employment or a military position with a foreign State, remained there despite the Italian Government’s order to cease such employment or service)
  4. Anyone who did not exercise the option provided for by 5, paragraph 2 of Law no. 123/1983 (a minor child – including an adopted child – of an Italian citizen father or mother, who in the case of dual citizenship had to opt for a single citizenship within one year of reaching the age of majority)

DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION

The declaration of reacquisition may be submitted from July 1st, 2025 to December 31st, 2027.

DOCUMENTATION TO BE SUBMITTED

The Consular Office reserves the right to request additional documentation or supplementary materials whenever deemed necessary.

The following must be submitted:

  1. Form_Riacquisto_art.17 filled out but without date or signature
  2. Passports of all nationalities (valid or expired)
  3. A valid document (passport, State DL, State ID)
  4. Proof of residence within the consular district (recent utility bill, valid State DL, valid State ID)
  5. Most recent Italian passport (if available)
  6. For naturalization in the USA: submit the original US Naturalization Certificate (front and back); for naturalization in other foreign countries, submit equivalent documentation in accordance with local practices (e.g. birth certificate accompanied by proof of citizenship) indicating the date and method of acquisition of foreign citizenship, legalized with an Apostille and accompanied by an Italian translation legalized by the competent Italian consulate
  7. All the following certificates issued by the Municipality within the last 6 months:
    • Original of Copia Integrale dell’Atto di Nascita
    • Original of Estratto dell’Atto di Nascita (NON plurilingue) 
    • Original of Certificato Storico di Residenzaissued by the last Municipality of residence in Italy
    • Those born abroad, in order to prove that they were resident in Italy for more than two years, must also submit the original of Certificato Storico di Residenza from the Municipality of residence (if different from the last Municipality of residence)
  8. Should the last or first name on the current passport not match with the Estratto dell’Atto di Nascita, if the last or first name has changed:
    • following marriage: it will be necessary to submit the foreign Marriage Certificate, legalized with an Apostille and translated into Italian. If the last/first name change is not indicated on the marriage certificate, also submit the certified copy of “Application for name change on Social Security Card”, legalized with an Apostille and translated into Italian.
    • following a court sentence: it will be necessary to submit the certified copy of the court sentence, legalized with an Apostille and translated into Italian
    • following naturalization: if the name change is not indicated on the back of the US Certificate of Naturalization, it will be necessary to submit the certified copy of the “Petition for US Naturalization”, legalized with an Apostille and translated into Italian

For those who lost their citizenship as minors, it is also necessary to submit:

  1. Original of the parents’ Naturalization Certificate (front and back)
  2. Original of the parents’ Copia Integrale dell’Atto di Nascita, issued by the Municipality within the last 6 months
  3. Original of the parents’ Estratto dell’Atto di Nascita, issued by the Municipality within the last 6 months

Please note that are considered original:

  • the paper certificates issued by the Municipality that show the municipality’s stamp, the signature of the municipal delegate, the date of issue (printouts of certificates received by email from the Municipality are not accepted)
  • the certificates directly sent by the Comune to houston@esteri.it or to con.houston@cert.esteri.it with object “(COGNOME) riacquisto cittadinanza”

APPOINTMENTS

All the above-listed documentation must be scanned in PDF format and sent in ONE email to cittadinanza.houston@esteri.it with subject “LAST NAME – Reacquisition art. 17”.

The citizenship office, only if the documentation is correct and complete, will communicate the appointment date.

AT THE APPOINTMENT

At the appointment the applicant must present:

  • The original of all the documentation sent in advance by email
  • An USPS Money Order for a total of: see Tabella Consolare, row “CITIZENSHIP REACQUISITION, ART. 07C”, column “USD Rounded”. Please note that the Consular Fee Schedule is updated quarterly on 1° January, 1° April, 1° July, 1° October

 

Requests with incomplete documentation will be rejected.

This consulate reserves the right to request additional documentation if it deems it necessary.

Please note that the documentation submitted will NOT be returned.

Reacquisition, where the relevant conditions are met, will take effect from the day following the declaration. The reacquisition does NOT, in fact, have retroactive effects.

In particular, please note the following:

  • The reacquisition of citizenship by the person residing abroad NO longer entails the automatic acquisition of Italian citizenship by the cohabiting minor child. Under Art. 14 of Law 91/1992, as amended, it is required that the cohabiting minor child, on the date of the parent’s reacquisition of Italian citizenship, reside legally in Italy for at least two continuous years (or from birth, if under two years of age) prior to reacquisition.
  • The parent who reacquires Italian citizenship, being a citizen by reacquisition and no longer by birth, CANNOT make the declaration of acquisition of citizenship for minor children, as referred to in art. 4, paragraph 1-bis of Law 91/1992.

 

The competent office is cittadinanza.houston@esteri.it.