DESCENT: You must obtain all naturalization records for your Italian ancestor (s) and prove through those records that their direct descendents maintained their right to Italian citizenship (aka never renounced Italian citizenship) and, in the event that their Italian parent was a naturalized citizen, were born before that parent renounced Italian citizenship via naturalization.

Individuals born in any country where citizenship is granted by birth, can apply for recognition of their Italian bloodline if at the time of their birth, their mother or father was an Italian citizen, if their paternal or maternal grandfather was an Italian citizen, or if their paternal or maternal great-grand father was a citizen at the time of their birth.

Italian citizenship by descent is based on the principle of jure sanguinis (right of blood). Children under the age of 18 are automatically Italian if one of the parents is an Italian citizen, and their birth certificate is registered with the Italian authorities.

Descent from the Italian ancestor shall be proven by means of civil status documents of birth and marriage; said documents shall be duly legalized, where requested, and accompanied by an official translation.