If you’re considering how to obtain an Italian passport through your heritage, through what’s called “jure sanguinis,” you may be weighing the options of going the DIY route or hiring a service provider. In this post, I’ll guide you through the differences between these approaches, helping you decide the best path based on your unique circumstances.
Understanding Italian Citizenship by Descent
Before diving into the DIY vs. paid assistance debate, it’s essential to grasp the basics of obtaining Italian citizenship through descent. For a comprehensive overview, check out my more detailed blog post on the process here.
DIY vs. Paid Assistance: Which is Right for You?
The decision to go DIY or seek paid help boils down to one primary question: Do you have the time, focus, and dedication to see your application through? Both routes are feasible, but the best choice depends on your personal situation.
My Personal Experience
When I started my citizenship process, I prioritized it fully. At 29 and single, with minimal responsibilities outside of work, I had the time and focus needed. I managed to get all the documents I needed within about five months, giving it my full attention and completing some task almost every day. Here are some common questions and my responses based on conversations with others pursuing Italian citizenship.
Common Questions About Italian Citizenship by Descent
Here are conversations I have at least twice per week.
1. Wait – I could get my Italian passport? How is that possible?
Yes, you could get an Italian passport if you qualify for Italian citizenship through descent (jure sanguinis). To be eligible, you must have an Italian ancestor who was an Italian citizen at the time of your U.S.-born ancestor’s birth. This means your Italian-born ancestor must not have become a U.S. citizen before the birth of your subsequent U.S.-born ancestor. If your Italian-born ancestor retained their Italian citizenship or never became a U.S. citizen, you qualify.
For more details, see this.
2. I heard it only goes up to my grandparents’ generation.
There is no generational limit, but there is a year limit to how far you can go back. In most cases, it won’t apply to you. Find more details here.
3. I got a $13,000 quote from a lawyer once and just stopped there.
While that is a high price tag, probably higher than it should be, consider that there are cheaper options. Don’t stop there. According to licensed attorney Christina Prejean at BecomeItaliani, many applicants don’t need a lawyer unless their lineage includes a female ancestor who had a child before 1948 or other complexities. More on this here.
4. I’ll just do it myself since I don’t need a lawyer.
Great! How far along are you? What documents do you still need? Unfortunately, lots of people have good intentions to start the process but sadly never do, and those precious years pass by that they could be spent on a consulate waiting list, collecting documents, and moving the process along.
Pros and Cons of DIY
Pros of DIY
- Saving Money: Costs are primarily limited to fees for obtaining records. For a detailed price breakdown, visit this guide.
- Connecting with Your Ancestry: You’ll learn more about your family history and impress your family with your knowledge.
Cons of DIY
- Time Commitment: The process can take at least six months, requiring you to manage a complex document collection and organization task.
- Stress: Handling hiccups such as name discrepancies and non-responsive offices can be daunting.
- Cost/time inefficiencies: You may spend time and/or money on documents you don’t actually need, get stuck, and end up hiring assistance down the line anyway.
- Risk of Incompletion: Many with good intentions never finish the process, and precious years pass by that could be spent on a consulate waiting list, collecting documents, and moving the process along.
Pros and Cons of Hiring Assistance
Pros of Hiring Assistance
- Time Savings: Service providers handle most of the administrative work, allowing you to focus on your life.
- Reduced Stress: Professionals manage both the administrative and strategic aspects of the process.
Cons of Hiring Assistance
- Cost: Service packages range from $5000 to $13000, depending on the complexity of your case. If you’re quoted anything above $10,000 for a single applicant, you may be getting taken advantage of.
- Less Personal Knowledge: You might end up with less intimate knowledge of your family history.
Recommendations
If you choose the DIY route, consider using the DIY tools I helped create over at BecomeItaliani. Our Document Tracking System, DocuTrack, helps you manage your family tree information, document collection, completion percentages, and costs, all in one convenient place. It’s designed from our internal system to support those who prefer a hands-on approach.
For those leaning towards professional help, BecomeItaliani’s Full Service Packages offer comprehensive assistance to navigate the complexities of the process.
No matter which path you choose, there are tons of resources at your disposal. Visit BecomeItaliani for more information and tools to help you on your journey to Italian citizenship.
Disclaimer: the author of this blog post on QuasItaliano.com is also the co-founder of BecomeItaliani.
The Big Picture
If you were born in the US, you won the lottery. Now living in Italy, I meet people all the time from all over the world who would do anything to have a US passport. So what’s it like to get a second passport, an Italian passport? It’s winning the lottery a second time.
With an Italian passport, you gain access not just to Italy but to all EU member states and the numerous benefits that come with that. The ability to stay in Italy (or anywhere in the Schengen Zone) for more than 90 days, access to low-cost EU universities for you and future generations, who would inherit the Italian citizenship as well, and much more. Considering the service provider and DIY options out there, there’s really no excuse not to follow through with the process.
By structuring your approach to obtaining Italian citizenship by descent, you’ll be better prepared to decide whether the DIY route or hiring a professional service is right for you. Good luck on your journey to becoming an Italian citizen!
