Minors born abroad to an Italian citizen parent at birth who does not automatically transmit citizenship (i.e. minors who do not fall within one of the three cases listed on the civil status page dedicated to Birth), may acquire Italian citizenship by operation of law (beneficio di legge) in the following case:
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If the minors were under the age of 18 on the date of entry into force of Law No. 74/2025 converting Decree-Law No. 36/2025 (i.e. minors as of May 24, 2025), and are children of citizens by birth, recognized on the basis of an administrative or judicial application submitted by 11:59 p.m. (Rome time) on March 27, 2025, or on the basis of an application submitted following an appointment communicated by the same date (letters a, a-bis and b, Article 3-bis, paragraph 1, of Law No. 91 of February 5, 1992), and who submit a declaration of intent to acquire Italian citizenship by May 31, 2026 (Article 1-ter of Decree-Law No. 36 of March 28, 2025, as converted by Law No. 74/2025).
If the person concerned, who was a minor as of May 24, 2025, reaches the age of majority in the meantime, the declaration must be submitted personally by the individual by the same deadline.
To book an appointment to submit the declaration of intent to acquire Italian citizenship and to request the registration of the minor’s birth certificate in the above-mentioned case, it will be necessary to send an email to statocivile.houston@esteri.it with the subject line “Declaration of intent to acquire Italian citizenship”, attaching the following documents:
- Application form for birth registration, downloadable from this website, to be completed, dated and signed by the parents.
- Birth certificate bearing an Apostille (or legalization, for countries not party to the Hague Apostille Convention).
U.S. certificates must always be issued in extended form (so-called Long Form or Extended Form, indicating the exact place of birth, date or age, and parents’ places of birth), according to the procedures adopted by the individual States. - Italian translation of the certificate, typewritten, complete and faithful to the original, with dates indicated in day/month/year format.
A list of translators is available on this Consulate’s website. - Copy of the parents’ valid passports (photo page with personal details and signature only) and of any foreign passport held by the minor, if applicable.
- Documentation proving that one of the parents is an Italian citizen by birth (for example, confirmation of recognition of Italian citizenship iure sanguinis issued to the parent concerned by the Consulate/Embassy/Municipality);
- Receipt of payment of the €250 contribution, paid in favor of the Ministry of the Interior, for each minor (Article 9-bis of Law No. 91/1992).
The Citizenship Office will review the application and will communicate an appointment ONLY if the above-mentioned documentation, submitted in advance by email, is correct and complete.
On the day of the appointment, the applicant must submit the original documentation.
The payment must be made by bank transfer, with any related fees borne by the person ordering the transfer:
- Beneficiary: Ministero dell’Interno D.L.C.I. Cittadinanza
- Bank name: Poste Italiane S.p.A.
- IBAN code: IT54D0760103200000000809020
- Payment reference: Acquisition of citizenship following declaration pursuant to Art. 9-bis Law No. 91/1992 and first and last name of the minor child
- BIC/SWIFT code of Poste Italiane: BPPIITRRXXX (for transfers from the United States) – BIC/SWIFT code: PIBPITRA (for banks within the European SEPA system)
The acquisition of Italian citizenship, where the legal requirements are met, shall take effect from the day following the declaration.