Obtaining Italian residency and citizenship through ancestry.
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Hello,
I am planning to apply for Italian citizenship through ancestry but I have heard it is a much quicker process to this while living in Italy as opposed to trying to do this from the U.S. Would I need to first obtain a non lucrative visa (I am retired), then get to Italy and apply for citizenship there or is the retirement visa unnecessary? Thank you for your help.
P.A. -
Helllo, P.A. and thanks for a great question.
I am going to suggest that you speak with a professional in the area. M Grazia Colombo, here is her email address: mgrazia.colombo@leexe.it. she will be able to help you with the "get Citizenship" while living here. I have a friend who did this and it took about a year and 3/4 and he had an attorney without whom it woud have been very difficult. I am assuming you have the requisit paperwork proof already in hand, and you know the area where your ancestors lived. When you start the process, or the area or town in which you start the process, will determine where you want to stay for multiple reasons one of which is taxes. If you try to move around while doing this it makes the process very very difficult so I suggest, from the experience of a couple who tried to move around and a couple who didn't that you know where you want to go before you come.
I know that sounds backwards but you will need to do some traveling here before the permanant move to locate the area you want to live in . Again I would speak with Grazia, she is an attorney, specializing in RE and VISAS. If she cannot help you in this let me know. She will charge you, but she will also save you from making costly mistakes.
Please let me know how you are proceeding. My best, and good luck.
Chip Stites, IL Italy Correspondant, International Living Magazine. -
all comune in italy may differ with the process. i suggest you contact the official at the comune and ask what us tequired. you will need to have a long term rental address ir a person who is josting you. bif you are goint to be in the Benevento Region let me know i can share a reliable contact. He has helps people and it typically has not taken a long time as others have shared. it will cost you. i did mine all on my own through the Detroit Consulate they were amazing to work with. that being said i researched at great length. Good luck it is worth it.
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I have a friend here in Italy who worked with an Italian attorney to get citizenship through ancestry. The attorney recommended that he move to Italy for this process, which he did. He moved to the same location as the attorney. The process was a little easier because he living in Italy. I don't know if he got an elective residency visa prior to starting the citizenship process in Italy. He received his Italian citizenship. His adult children are also living now in Italy to also get their citizenship with the assistance of the same attorney.
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Dear P.A. I have a friend, who moved here without a Visa and then applied when he got here. It took about a year and a half but he got it. Proof of application he said was enough to shield him while he waited. He is now a citizen! I will say that he had his paperwork in order before he came and applied that made a great deal of difference. I would also put you in contact with M. Grazia Colombo, a lawyer who can help you. Please use my name - Chip Stites. Here is her address: mgrazia.colombo@leexe.it. Chip Stites, Italian Correspondent, International Living Magazine.
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What is the cost for the attorney in that purpose?
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Hi, my name is Chip Stites, I live in italy and have been here for almost 8 years. I am International Living's Italian correspondent. I too have a friend who applied for Italian citizenship, had his paperowrk in hand and moved here before the paperwork was done. He submitted his paperwork immediatly in the province he wanted to live in and that shielded him from the 90 day rule. It took about two years more, or a year and a half to get his citizenship and his Italian passport but he has it.
I would ask first if you have all the paper work proving your ancestry as required?
Second, I would ask if you know where you want to live as the place where you apply, needs to be a place you intend to stay until the process is complete?
Third I would ask if you understand the tax situation that Italian residency would put you in?
Fourth, I would ask you if you have a guide to help you through this when you come as it is likely that you will need someone who speaks Italian and English to help you. So, I offer these two suggestions.First here is the email of M. Grazie Colombo an attorney who can help you with the paperwork and with the process. Yes, I beleive there is value to being here but only when you have your ducks in a row. I.E. Paperwork, taxes, living place.
Paperwork expert: Her name again is Grazia Colombo and here is her address: mgrazia.colombo@leexe.itFor the taxes I would suggest Christian Gulizzi who is both a CPA in the US and a Commercialista in Italy and can show you compoarisons to help you make your choices. Italy taxes by residency not by citizenship so if you are here more than 183 days in a year, you are responsible for paying Italan tax which accoding to the tax treaty is subtraced from US tax. Here is Christian"s email: christian.gulizzi@gulizzi-consulting.com
If there is one thing I have learned over my almost eight years of watching other people move, ior attemmpt to move, it is that the more planning you do beforehand, the better off you will be in the long run.
I hope this helps and feel free to write directly to me at info@thelaughingretirement.com
Chip Stites, International Living correspondent for Italy. -
I'm moving to Italy. I don't have Italian blood but I grew up in an Italian family. My mother married my stepdad when I was four. I have cousins and aunts who live in Monte Grosso de Asti, on the vineyards that have been in the family forever.
My youngest sister and I visited in November 2023. It was so special to visit our "homeland" and meet cousins and aunts (sadly, both uncles died earlier in the year).
Though my grandma and grandpa Signorio met and married in the US, they are bith from Piedmonte.
Karen S -