Italian Citizenship Jure Sanguinis - By the Right of Blood

I decided to write this post so that individuals of Italian descent who were not aware of this opportunity could become informed about Jure Sanguinis...the right of blood. I feel it is a wonderful birthright full of opportunity that can be passed to those born of your blood and the generations to come.

Jure Sanguinis is sometimes referred to as jus sanguinis, and is Latin for "By the Right of Blood".

In this case, it means the right to citizenship, through one's bloodline or ancestry.

Italian citizenship Jure Sanguinis, is granted through the paternal line (with no limit on the number of generations), or through the maternal line (for individuals born after January 1, 1948).

If you were born in any country where citizenship is acquired by birth, and any one of the situations listed below pertains to you, you may be considered an Italian citizen. For each category all conditions must be met.

1) Your father was an Italian citizen at the time of your birth and you never renounced your right to Italian citizenship.

2) Your mother was an Italian citizen at the time of your birth, you were born after January 1st, 1948 and you never renounced your right to Italian citizenship.

3) Your father was born in your native country, your paternal grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of your father's birth, neither you nor your father ever renounced your right to Italian citizenship.

4) Your mother was born in your native country, your maternal grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of her birth, you were born after January 1, 1948 and neither you nor your mother ever renounced your right to Italian citizenship.

5) Your paternal or maternal grandfather was born in your native country, your paternal great grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of his birth, neither you nor your father nor your grandfather ever renounced your right to Italian citizenship.

NOTE: A woman born before 01/01/1948 can claim the Italian citizenship only from her father and can transfer it to descendants after 01/01/1948).

NOTE: "Italian citizen at the time of birth" means that he/she did not acquire any other citizenship through naturalization, before the descendant's birth.


There are many benefits of holding dual US - Italian Citizenship, which include working, studying, or even retiring in Italy or any of the countries which are members of the European Union.

Another benefit of Italian citizenship is that you can pass it on to your children as their birthright, giving them the possibility to study abroad, migrating to any country in the European Union, as needed or desired.

To find out more information on the additional benefits not mentioned here you can also visit the "Your Europe - Citizen's" page of the EU at the following link: http://ec.europa.eu/youreurope/nav/en/citizens/index.html .

Recommended: "How to Legally Obtain A Second Citizenship And Passport And Why You Want To" by Adam Starchild, © 1999, Breached Productions, Inc., is an excellent resource for learning more about dual citizenship.