If you qualify for Italian citizenship through multiple family lines (male & female), can you really choose where to apply (Consulate vs Italian Courts)?

Among the many benefits of having Italian citizenship is the fact that you can pass it on to your children, grandchildren, and so on. A truly wonderful family gift! Here is how it works.

If you are having a hard time finding an appointment with the Italian Consulate that has jurisdiction over the state where you reside, you may have heard that there is an option to set residency in Italy, apply at the “Comune," and possibly receive Italian citizenship faster than by going through the Italian Consulate. 

In fact, you may have been told that you only need to stay in Italy for a short period of time, perhaps less than six months, in other words, just temporarily.  Too good to be true? Maybe… 

Last week Fortune.com wrote about the increasing demand for Golden Visas in countries such as Portugal, Greece, or Malta where if you purchase a home, you may be entitled to a second passport or a path to citizenship. But if the overall cost ranges between a quarter to a half-a million-dollars (or more) depending on the program and the country, who can really afford it? Yes, the super wealthy. 

It is undeniable that the rising number of applicants and subsequent backlog of pending applications, combined with the delays caused by the Pandemic are the reasons why appointments for Italian Citizenship by Descent are quite difficult to find. 

Italian Consulates should not be blamed, in fact several steps have been taken in the last 12 months to manage this growing demand: