Do you have a 1948 case or local consulate with a slow application processing time?

Apply for Italian citizenship via Italian court in the Comune your ancestor was born

Why apply via Italian court?

If you have a 1948 case, this is the only application route available for you

Save a lot of money as you won't have to find accommodation and travel to Italy

This is also a great option if your local consulate has a very slow processing time

Not sure if this is for you?

Check the eligibility criteria

How can we help?

 

 

From document preparation to supporting your court application

Preparation and verification of documents
We can help you gather all your certificates and documents in your home country and your ancestor's certificates in Italy, translate and apostille them, as well as amend them, if necessary.
Court application support
Passport-Euro will support you throughout the whole court process and intermediation with our lawyer, provide legal and non-legal advice, and much more.
Obtaining your Italian ID and passport
Once your citizenship has been granted, we'll assist you on how to get your Italian ID card and passport, as well as complete your AIRE (Register of Italians resident abroad).

How does the application via court work?

30 - 180 days

Gather all necessary documents related to you up to your Italian ancestor, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, divorce certificates, naturalization status record and other relevant paperwork. 


These will need to be translated and apostilled. Oftentimes you'll have to amend your certificates due to errors, misspellings and inconsistencies which may cause further delays.

1 - 365 days

Schedule a consulate appointment promptly online on the Prenotami system of your local consulate, as waiting times can extend over a year in most countries. It could take months for you to be able to book an appointment. Some consulates may take applications by email, so make sure to check your consulate's website. This will be the legal basis under which you'll be able to take it to court in Italy.

1 - 365 days

Once your documents are ready, our lawyer will file the lawsuit on your behalf through a power of attonery. The court has to be based in the municipality where your Italian ancestor was born. A judge will then be assigned to your case and book the date for the first hearing.


Please be aware that the wait for your court date can range from 12 to 18 months, contingent on the judge's availability.

1-2 years

Typically, only a single hearing is needed. The judge assesses your documents and decides on Italian citizenship. However, additional documents may be required in specific cases. 


Track your trial progress using the Giustizia Civile app, entering your case number (ruolo generale) in the format RG 0000/2021. The app displays various trial stages.


Please note that despite the significant number of successful cases in this domain, winning a lawsuit is not guaranteed, as the Italian legal system permits Courts to deviate from established jurisprudence (though this occurrence is highly improbable, given Courts' tendency to follow precedent).

60 - 150 days

After the judge rules you can claim Italian citizenship and no appeal is made within 60 days, the lawyer will get a copy of the ruing and retrieve the documents you used for the lawsuit.


You will then need to register the ruling with the Italian consulate in your jurisdiction and present the same documents which you submitted to the court.


Subsequently, the consulate will forward the ruling copy to the Italian municipality of your ancestor's origin, along with a certified copy of your birth certificate. Upon registration of your birth certificate with the municipality, you attain official recognition as an Italian citizen. Congratulations!


If you live abroad, you will have to enroll in the Register of Italians Residing Abroad (AIRE).

15 - 30 days

After registration of your AIRE, you may now apply for an Italian passport and identity card with your local consulate. This may take up to a month depending on your consulate processing times.

* All timeframes are estimated as this will depend on your specific case and court processing time.

Why with us?

Court and legal support

Passport-Euro will guide you during the whole application process from consular appointment to filing your lawsuit at an Italian court and issuing your Italian personal documents.

Experience and specialization

We are experienced immigration consultants specialised in Italian Citizenship by descent. Our service aims at bringing you all the security and efficiency you need for your application.

The most complete services in the market

We offer a variety of services pre-and post-citizenship application, from preparing your documents at home to the moment you get your Italian documents and more.

Competitive and transparent prices

Our court application fees start from €2,800 depending on the type of assistance. No hidden fees, no unexpected costs.