Do you have at least one ancestor from Italy?
No
Yes
Unfortunately, you do not qualify for Italian dual citizenship. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns
Was this ancestor alive on or after March 17, 1861?
Yes
No
You do not qualify through this ancestor. If you have other Italian-born ancestors, please return to the quiz and start again.
Did this person ever become an American citizen (or a citizen of any other country besides Italy)?
Yes
No
Are there any women in your “direct line” of citizenship? Direct line means all the people who are related to you in a direct line leading back to your Italian ancestor. For example, if your paternal grandfather was born in Italy, then you and your father would be considered in your “direct line.”
Yes
No
When did this occur?
Before July 1, 1912
Between July 1, 1912 and August 15, 1992
On or after August 15, 1992
Are there any women in your “direct line” of citizenship? Direct line means all the people who are related to you in a direct line leading back to your Italian ancestor. For example, if your paternal grandfather was born in Italy, then you and your father would be considered in your “direct line.”
Yes
No
Unfortunately, you do not qualify for Italian dual citizenship. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns
Congratulations! You qualify for Italian dual citizenship. Click here to claim your
birthright and become an Italian dual citizen.
Did each single woman in your direct line have her child after January 1, 1948?
Yes
No
Congratulations! You qualify for Italian dual citizenship. Click here to claim your
birthright and become an Italian dual citizen.
Congratulations! You qualify for Italian dual citizenship even though women
could not pass on Italian citizenship to children born before January 1, 1948. In 2009, a
landmark Italian court case challenged this rule as discriminatory towards women and,
ever since then, people who descend from an Italian woman whose child was born pre-1948 can seek recognition of citizenship. However, this means that you must file for recognition of citizenship through the Italian courts instead of the consulate or directly in Italy. In many ways, this can be easier than going the “traditional” route. Click here to claim your birthright and become an Italian dual citizen.
When your Italian-born ancestor became an American citizen, was his/her child aged 21 or older?
Yes
No
Congratulations! You qualify for Italian dual citizenship even though women
could not pass on Italian citizenship to children born before January 1, 1948. In 2009, a
landmark Italian court case challenged this rule as discriminatory towards women and,
ever since then, people who descend from an Italian woman whose child was born pre-1948 can seek recognition of citizenship. However, this means that you must file for recognition of citizenship through the Italian courts instead of the consulate or directly in Italy. In many ways, this can be easier than going the “traditional” route. Click here to claim your birthright and become an Italian dual citizen.
When your Italian-born ancestor became American, was his/her American child already born?
Yes
No
Congratulations! You qualify for Italian dual citizenship even though women
could not pass on Italian citizenship to children born before January 1, 1948. In 2009, a
landmark Italian court case challenged this rule as discriminatory towards women and,
ever since then, people who descend from an Italian woman whose child was born pre-1948 can seek recognition of citizenship. However, this means that you must file for recognition of citizenship through the Italian courts instead of the consulate or directly in Italy. In many ways, this can be easier than going the “traditional” route. Click here to claim your birthright and become an Italian dual citizen.
Was your Italian-born ancestor male?
Yes
No
You do not qualify through this ancestor. If you have other Italian-born
ancestors, please return to the quiz and start again.
Was your Italian-born ancestor’s wife also Italian-born?
Yes
No
Did your Italian-born ancestor marry his wife before September 22, 1922?
Yes
No
Congratulations! You qualify. Before September 22, 1922, foreign-born women
automatically became American citizens if they married an American citizen husband.
Because your (male) Italian-born ancestor had become an American citizen before (or
during) his pre-September 22, 1922 marriage to your female Italian-born ancestor, this
means she automatically became American—and consequently lost her Italian
citizenship. However, in the 1970s this loss of citizenship was ruled unconstitutional by
the Italian courts. Therefore, you can petition the court to reinstate her citizenship
retroactively (because she lost it automatically through no fault of her own) and get
yours recognized, too. Click here to start on your birthright Italian dual citizenship
application.
Did your Italian-born male ancestor marry his American-born wife before he became an American citizen?
Yes
No
Congratulations! You qualify. American women who married Italian men prior to
August 27, 1983, automatically gained Italian citizenship. Therefore, though your Italian-
born male ancestor lost his own Italian citizenship when he became American, his
American-born wife gained Italian citizenship automatically—and kept it! This then
passed down to their children, and their children’s children, and so on. Click here to get
started on your birthright Italian dual citizenship today.
You do not qualify through this ancestor. If you have other Italian-born
ancestors, please return to the quiz and start again.
Click here to become an Italian dual citizen
