Italian citizenship is recognized for people of Italian descent born in the United States if their parent did not become a naturalized U.S. citizen before their birth. This ability to inherit citizenship by blood passes generations so long as the last Italian citizen did not become a naturalized U.S. citizen before the birth of their child, your ancestor. For example, if your great-grandfather was an Italian citizen and your grandfather was born before your great-grandfather became a naturalized U.S. citizen, you are eligible for Italian citizenship. Required are birth, marriage, and death certificates of you, your parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents in long form, translated into Italian with an apostolic seal where applicable. Proof of naturalization is also required. There are some restrictions such as if citizenship is being obtained through ones mother, she must have been born post January 1, 1948. In addition if your great-grandfather became a naturalized U.S. citizen before June 14, 1912, you are also ineligible. Obtaining required documents from Italy can be challenging although there are companies that help track down this information. Otherwise you can contact the applicable city hall or “comune” for assistance. Permanent residents of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren counties can make an appointment with the Consulate of Italy in Newark once everything has been compiled. Additional information can be found on the Consulate website.

Consulate of Italy in Newark – 1 Gateway Center Suite 100, Newark, NJ 07102

http://www.consnewark.esteri.it/Consolato_Newark/Menu/I_Servizi/Per_i_cittadini/Cittadinanza/