Up until August 16, 1992, those who became naturalized citizens of a foreign country were automatically deprived of their Italian citizenship (law 555/1912). After this date, while Italians were still able to voluntarily renounce their citizenship, they no longer faced involuntary removal of it.
Individuals who had lost or chosen to give up their Italian citizenship could regain it provided they had a residence or intended to establish one in Italy (law 91/1992).
It is possible for those who have given up or have been stripped of their Italian citizenship to regain it if they return to the land of the Republic of Italy and live there for one year. Alternatively, they can declare that they wish to reacquire Italian citizenship and commit to establishing residency within one year of the proclamation in the Italian Republic's area. Subsequently, there are two potential pathways to take.
Scenario 1 : you have the option of visiting the consulate whose jurisdiction covers where you live and signing a statement to confirm your intent to become an Italian citizen again by living in Italy within a year from the date you made the declaration. It is important to take into account that the declaration is also attainable directly from the Italian municipality's ("comune's)" stato civile office where you plan to settle. It is worth noting that this process is available in any municipality of Italy and that there is not a particular language requirement in order to regain Italian citizenship.**
Gaining an Insight into the Process…If you are planning to stay in Italy, you need to register with the "anagrafe" and provide proof of legal residency (for example, a lease agreement or property deed). The local police will then check that you are living in the property within 45 days of submitting the application. Once your residence is confirmed, the municipality you applied to will need all your documents, including the declaration of your intention to become an Italian citizen. The process normally takes several months and the length may vary depending on the municipality. After you are granted Italian citizenship, you can apply for a passport. If the process takes longer than 90 days, you will receive a residence permit, known as a "permesso di soggiorno in attesa di cittadinanza" which will be valid for the duration of the process.
Scenario 2: After a year of living in Italy, you will become an Italian citizen unless you specifically state that you do not want to regain your citizenship. In this instance, no action is required on your part since you will be re-granted your Italian citizenship after one year and one day of registering as a resident in the country, unless the Ministry of Interior prevents it through a decree. The paperwork that is necessary can differ based on the particular comune in which you are applying to, but, on the whole, you will need:
· An official copy of your birth record;
· Your Italian passport (if applicable);
· Documentation of your naturalization that attests to you having given up Italian citizenship before August 16, 1992;
· Marriage and divorce papers, if these happened before you were naturalized;
· Your American passport or valid identification;
· A utility bill or driver's license (demonstrating you fall under the consulate's area of jurisdiction);
· Evidence of having paid €250.
It is important to be aware that certain local governments may demand that your birth certificate includes a note verifying that you have given up Italian citizenship. If you initiate the reacquisition process at an Italian consulate, the consulate should supply the data regarding when you relinquished your citizenship to the town in which you were born so you can proceed with obtaining an updated record. If you plan to apply for the re-acquisition of citizenship in Italy, you may want to add this information to your birth certificate before relocating to Italy and you can ask the consulate for aid in this matter.