Citizenship Office
Email: cittadinanza.losangeles@esteri.it
Aree di competenza: Arizona, Sud California, Nevada, New Mexico
Law No. 74 of May 23, 2025, which converted Decree-Law No. 36 of March 28, 2025, with amendments, introduced significant changes to Law No. 91 of February 5, 1992.
The principle of transmission of Italian citizenship by descent (iure sanguinis) remains in force; however, for those born abroad who hold another citizenship, recognition is now subject to the conditions set forth in the new Article 3-bis of Law No. 91/1992.
ATTENTION! This procedure is intended exclusively for adult applicants who wish to acquire Italian citizenship iure sanguinis; for minors, please consult the page: nascite minorenni (only Italian version).
Before beginning the application process
Residents of Arizona, Southern California, Nevada, and New Mexico may submit an application for recognition to this Consulate General.
The applicant must possess a valid document proving their legal permanent residence in the United States of America, within the jurisdiction of this Consulate General.
Before gathering the necessary documents, we recommend carefully verifying which category your case falls under and following the Consulate’s instructions for scheduling an appointment on the Prenot@mi portal.
How to Apply
To apply for citizenship by descent (iure sanguinis), you must schedule an appointment through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation’s portal, prenot@mi.
The appointment is mandatory, personal, and non-transferable. On the day of the appointment, the applicant must NOT go to the Consulate but must mail the application for recognition of citizenship (forms and complete supporting documentation) exclusively by mail to the following address:
Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles
Citizenship Department
12424 Wilshire Blvd., Suite #1400,
Los Angeles CA 90025
The appointment date serves as the formal reference for the submission of the application and the initiation of the procedure. The applicant’s physical presence at the Consulate is not required.
Applications submitted spontaneously outside the procedure indicated by the Office will not be considered.
Requisiti per il riconoscimento della cittadinanza
Under Law 91/1992, as amended by Decree-Law 36/2025, converted into Law 74/2025, the following persons are recognized as Italian citizens by descent (from birth):
- The applicant born in Italy to an Italian father or mother (Art. 1 Legge 91/1992);
- The applicant who holds exclusively Italian citizenship, meaning that they do not and cannot hold any other citizenship (Art. 3-bis comma 1 Legge 91/1992);
- The applicant has already been recognized as an Italian citizen by 11:59 PM (Rome time) on March 27, 2025 — either through an administrative procedure or a court case (art.3-bis letters a, a-bis, b Law 91/1992), or based on an application submitted following an appointment communicated within the 11:59 PM (Rome time) of March 27, 2025;
- The applicant has a parent or grandparent who holds only Italian citizenship or they only held Italian citizenship at the time of their death (Art.3-bis paragraph 1 letter c Law 91/1992). Self-declarations regarding the lack of other citizenships are not accepted;
- The applicant who have a parent (including an adoptive parent) who is an Italian citizen and who has been a resident of Italy for at least two consecutive years following the acquisition of Italian citizenship and prior to the date of the child’s birth or adoption (Art. 3-bis, paragraph 1, letter d of Law 91/1992). Residence in Italy prior to the acquisition of Italian citizenship, nor the residence in Italy of the foreign parent, is relevant.
It should therefore be noted that a person born abroad to an Italian parent is not automatically an Italian citizen; they are only considered an Italian citizen if at least one of the conditions mentioned above is met.
Required Documentation
The following documentation must be submitted in full, starting with the ancestor (parent or grandparent born in Italy), even if another close family member has already been recognized as a citizen by another consulate or an Italian municipality:
CATEGORY 1: a GRANDFATHER or GRANDMOTHER who holds—or held at the time of death – only Italian citizenship (Art. 3-bis, para. 1, subpar. c of Law 91/1992). CHECK LIST Here
CATEGORY 2: a FATHER or MOTHER who holds—or held at the time of death – only Italian citizenship (Art. 3-bis, para. 1, subpar. c of Law 91/1992). CHECK LIST Here
CATEGORY 3: a PARENT (including an adoptive parent) who is an Italian citizen (NOT exclusively an Italian citizen) and who has been a resident of Italy for at least TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS following the acquisition of Italian citizenship and prior to the date of the child’s birth or adoption. CHECK LIST Here
COST AND PAYMENT METHODS
It is hereby announced that, pursuant to Article 1, paragraph 639 of the 2025 Budget Law, the Consular Fees related to applications for the recognition of Italian Citizenship iure sanguinis by adult applicants have been increased from 300 to 600 euros per application.
This new fee applies to all applications for Citizenship recognition by descent that will be submitted starting from January 1st, 2025.
The fee must be paid at the Consulate the day of the appointment with a cashier’s check or a money order made out to the “Consulate General of Italy – Los Angeles”.
The application fee is NON REFUNDABLE, regardless of the outcome of the petition.
Please be aware this office will not return any original documents to the applicant (except for original certificates of American naturalization/citizenship). The submitted documentation must be kept in the applicant’s personal file as proof of his/her Italian citizenship.