How Much Does It Cost To Get Italian Citizenship By Descent?
FEBRUARY 5, 2023 | BY NATOSHA FORTINI
You may have heard that getting Italian citizenship costs an arm and a leg – but this couldn’t be further from the truth! When it comes to putting together your Italian citizenship application, you have a range of options that offer you the support you need while staying within your budget.
The DIY Pathway
Did you know that you don’t need an Italian citizenship lawyer to apply for Italian citizenship by descent? If you’re eligible for citizenship by descent, it means you’re actually already an Italian citizen because you received citizenship at birth! What you’re asking the Italian government to do with your application, is recognize the citizenship you already hold. This is done by submitting records to prove your relation to your last Italian ancestor born in Italy and that you received Italian citizenship at birth. Nothing about collecting or submitting this documentation to the consulate (or directly in Italy) requires a lawyer. The only time you require a lawyer for a citizenship case is if you have to submit a judicial case through the Italian court system, such as with a 1948 case (read about those here).
It is possible to “DIY” your Italian citizenship by descent application by going to your consulate’s website, navigating to their “Citizenship by Descent” page (also called Italian CitizenshipJure Sanguinis) and finding their list of application requirements. You can put your application together by following this list and eventually submitting your complete application to the consulate.
The cost of going the DIY route depends on a number of factors, such as: which records your consulate requires, how long your lineage is/how many people you need to collect records for, if you need to hire assistance in finding or collecting any missing records, and if you need to hire legal assistance for things like court orders to obtain and/or amend records.
For a simple, uncomplicated citizenship case comprised of 3 generations, you may spend as little as $700-$1000 dollars on your entire application, including the records, translations, apostilles (if required) and the consulate’s application fee. Of course, if your application is more complex and you need genealogy and/or legal assistance, these costs can rise to the few thousand dollar mark, or more.
It’s also important to consider how much time and effort you have to dedicate to your Italian citizenship application. This includes learning the ins-and-outs of the process, doing your own genealogical research, finding and ordering records, and coordinating translations and apostilles (if you live in a country that requires them). Before starting the process, be honest with yourself about how much time and sanity you can dedicate to your application. Sometimes our desire to save money can overshadow our ability to spearhead this process on our own, which means we stay stuck and frustrated instead of actually moving forward on our Italian dream.
It’s also important to consider how much time and effort you have to dedicate to your Italian citizenship application. This includes learning the ins-and-outs of the process, doing your own genealogical research, finding and ordering records, and coordinating translations and apostilles.
Turnkey/Full Service Options
If you have a busy life, demanding career, or you’re just not interested in spending the time required to put your Italian citizenship application together, you can hire a firm or agency to complete your application for you. This generally entails collecting all of the Italian records, required naturalization records (or proof of non-naturalization), all non-Italian records, and the required translations and apostilles (if necessary – not all countries issue apostilles).
Turnkey services typically range in cost depending on the complexity of your application and the number of people in your lineage. You can expect to pay on average $7,000-$12,000+ for a turnkey service. If you do go this route, ensure you understand what’s included in the agency’s base fees and what they charge extra for (for example, are apostilles included? Shipping/postage? Etc.). It is important to do your due diligence when hiring a turnkey service as you want to ensure the agency is reputable and your application (and money) is in good hands. I always suggest reaching out to multiple agencies to determine which one is best suited for you.
Private Coaching/”Guided DIY”
An excellent option that falls between the DIY and Turnkey ends of the spectrum is private coaching or “guided DIY” assistance. This is where you have a citizenship expert assist you with your Italian citizenship by descent application.
What level of assistance a service provider offers with their private coaching package varies greatly. It is important to ensure you’re comparing apples to apples when looking at pricing. Some providers offer only phone calls or emails to help you with questions as you navigate the process on your own, while other providers offer much more hands-on support, including: organizing your application; assistance with getting records from Italy; and coaching through finding, ordering, amending, translating and apostilling records (for example, my private coaching program includes all of the latter support).
Private coaching or “guided DIY” assistance can also vary greatly in price, and the more expensive packages don’t necessarily offer the most support (so make sure you know what you’re getting!). Expect to pay anywhere from about $2,500 – $5,000 for private application coaching, which can be a great solution to budget-minded applicants who don’t want to pay turnkey prices, but who can use the support of an Italian citizenship expert through the process, ensuring that your application is done accurately.
Whether you’re looking for 1:1 private application coaching using my signature collaborative approach (Canada, US, & UK applicants), or you’re looking for someone to take the reins and complete your application for you completely stress free (Canada applicants only), I offer an affordable service to meet your application needs. Let me help you navigate the complex citizenship process and make your Italian dreams a reality. Book a no-obligation call with me below!
I’m looking forward to chatting with you!