| IMPORTANT! Please DO NOT confuse a passport application (which ONLY Italian citizens or those already recognized as Italians can do) with an application for recognition of citizenship (by descent, by marriage, by reacquisition, etc.). If you are not an Italian citizen or have not been recognized as an Italian citizen, you MAY NOT apply for an Italian passport. |
Please monitor the contents of these pages on a regular basis, especially when you are about to book an appointment to submit your application for recognition of Italian citizenship to ensure that you still meet the necessary requirements and that the documentation prepared is complete and correct.
CURRENT REGULATIONS IN FORCE
THE CONVERSION LAW 74/2025 OF DECREE LAW N.36/2025 HAS INTRODUCED SIGNIFICANT CHANGES ON THE SUBJECT OF ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP, WHICH ALSO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE POSSIBILITY OF REQUESTING THE REGISTRATION IN ITALY OF BIRTH CERTIFICATES OF MINORS BORN TO ITALIAN PARENTS.
Italian citizenship is currently regulated by the Law of 5 February 1992, no. 91 with subsequent amendments and additions, in particular those mentioned above.
For information on the different procedures, click on the links below:
– Recognition of Citizenship by Descent
– Acquisition of citizenship by “benefit of law” for minor children
– Acquisition of Citizenship by Marriage
– Reacquisition of Italian Citizenship
IMPORTANT NOTES ON THE DOCUMENTATION YOU WILL SUBMIT IF ISSUED IN CANADA AND/OR IN A COUNTRY OTHER THAN ITALY
ERRORS AND DISCREPANCIES: All documents to be submitted must be carefully checked to ensure that they are free of errors and discrepancies with regard to first and last names, and dates and places of birth.
Certificates/documents with errors/discrepancies must be amended prior to being apostilled and translated. See the dedicated section for more information.
APOSTILLE AND TRANSLATIONS: All Vital Records certificates (birth, marriage, divorce and death), as well as all other documents in a foreign language, e.g. certificates of naturalization, must be apostilled and translated into Italian prior to being submitted to this Office. See the dedicated section for more information.
Translations by a certified translator whose signature is not on file at this Consulate must be first notarized and then apostilled as suggested by the Canadian authorities.
Translations by certified translators whose signature is on file at the Consulate General may be legalized by our Consular Officers upon payment of a fee, (art. 69 of the Consular Tariff).
Vital Records Issued in this Consular Jurisdiction
Canadian birth, marriage and death certificates must be in “Certified Copy of Registration” format. Please note that the blue “wallet size” version of a birth certificate is NOT acceptable for registration. Let us remind you that certificates issued in Canada must be apostilled and translated (click here for more information).
To order certificates issued in Ontario, Manitoba or Northwest Territories certificates, click on the relevant following links: Ontario, Manitoba, Territori del Nord Ovest.
Vital Records issued outside this Consular Jurisdiction and/or in a country other than Canada
Birth, marriage and death certificates must be in the format specified by the Embassy / Consulate of Italy in Canada responsible for the jurisdiction where the event(s) occurred
If the documents were issued outside of Canada, they must be apostilled or legalized and translated into Italian according to the instructions of the Embassy / Consulate of Italy in the country where the event(s) occurred.
Foreign Naturalizations
A “notarized certified copy” (apostilled and translated: click here) of front and back of the Canadian citizenship certificate is required. The certificate must include all the following data:
A. First name
B. Last name (*)
C. Date of birth
D. Date of naturalization (day, month and year)
* PLEASE NOTE: If the certificate of naturalization is in a woman’s married name, the Certified Copy of Marriage Registration, apostilled and translated must also be submitted (click here for more information). If the marriage was celebrated in a country other than Italy or Canada, please refer to the website of the Embassy / Consulate of Italy to verify the correct format. Marriage certificates issued by religious institutions will not be accepted.
In case your certificate of naturalization does not include the above mandatory data (A to D):
a) you must also submit the “wallet size” citizenship certificate in the form of a “notarized certified copy,” apostilled and translated (click here for more information).
OR
b) in the absence of the mandatory data, you may submit a “Search of Citizenship Records” or an “Access to information”. Either document must also be apostilled and translated (click here for more information).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This Office cannot provide advice or consultation on the submission procedure. In accordance with the legislation in force, it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure they meet the eligibility requirements and submit all the necessary documentation, according to the detailed information outlined on the website of this Consulate.
Click here to download the privacy policy on the processing of personal data for the purposes of applications for Italian citizenship (iure sanguinis, marriage, reacquisition, etc.).
For further information on the legislation relating to Italian citizenship click here