Having your roots in another country is an exciting prospect as you will want to explore them at some point. Some countries even let you reclaim them with the citizenship by descent option, and Italy is one of them. You can consider moving to Italy for good and pass on your rights to the next generations. The citizenship by descent process is easy, and you can check Bersani Law Firm website to understand it inside out. A good understanding of the process gives you a head start and makes you more confident. Let us explain how you can use your Italian roots to create a family legacy.

Know the eligibility requirements

Before going ahead with the citizenship by descent process, you must know the eligibility norms. The good thing is that there are no generational limits to eligibility, and you can apply through parents and distant ancestors. But remember to check the requirements in the first place. Your ancestor should have been alive and a citizen of Italy after its unification in 1861. Moreover, they should not have renounced their citizenship by naturalizing elsewhere before the birth of the next in line.

Understand the exceptions

Knowing the eligibility is crucial, but you must also understand the exceptions for the Jure Sanguinis route. You may not qualify for it through a female relative if she gave birth before 1948, as women could not pass their citizenship to their offspring before this year. However, you can still apply through a court process under the 1948 Rule. It may sound daunting, but the effort is worthwhile to create a family legacy.

Get your paperwork ready

Eligibility is the mainstay of the Jure Sanguinis process, but documentation is equally vital. After all, you require documentary proof to validate your roots in the country. These include your local IDs and proof of your Italian ancestors from their local commune. Gathering long-lost certificates of birth, marriage, and death from local offices can be challenging, but immigration experts can help you with the same.

Apply at your local consulate

Sorting out the paperwork is half the work done, and you can go ahead with the easy part. The good thing is that you can apply for citizenship at your local consulate. Although you may have to wait several months or even a couple of years to complete the process, it is worth the effort. You get a second passport as Italian citizenship and reclaim your roots in the country.

Pass on citizenship

Claiming citizenship through Jure Sanguinis lets you pass it on to your spouse and dependent children. You only need to register that to ensure they get the same rights and privileges. Even if your kids are grown up, they can apply through their parents. The rights pass on to your next generations automatically, so they are a legacy for the entire family.

Italian citizenship by descent sounds like a long process, but the wait is worthwhile as your next generations reap the benefits. Follow the process and create a valuable legacy for your children, grandchildren, and beyond.