Reacquisition of Italian Citizenship – ZH

Eligibility for Reacquiring Italian Citizenship

Currently, Italian citizenship is regulated by Law of May 24^th 2025, no. 74 which modifies law of February 5th 1991, No. 91.

In order to apply for the reacquisition of Italian citizenship, there are basically two pathways:

1. The applicant declares in advance his/her will to reacquire the Italian citizenship and the applicant establishes his/her residence in the territory of the Italian Republic within one year of the concerning declaration.
2. The applicant establishes his/her residence in the territory of the Italian Republic. After one year, he/she regains citizenship unless the applicant chooses to renounce it.

* The new Law No. 74 sets an additional “grace period” for those who were either Italian citizens born in Italy or Italian citizens who had resided in Italy for two consecutive years and lost their citizenship before August 16th, 1992, following articles 8 (paragraphs 1 and 2) and 12 of law 555/1912. They can reacquire citizenship by declaration before December 31^st 2027.

Otherwise, it is also possible to apply for the reacquisition of Italian citizenship in the following cases :

1. If the applicant performs effective military service for the Italian Republic and declares in advance his/her will to reacquire the Italian citizenship
2. If in the case, the applicant takes a public job employed by the Italian Republic (even abroad), he/she declares in advance his/her will to reacquire the Italian citizenship
3. If the applicant declares in advance his/her will to reacquire the Italian citizenship, in the specific case where the applicant had lost the Italian citizenship by failing to abandon the employment of another State or an international body (even when requested) and demonstrates that he/she has established residence for the last two years in the territory of the Italian State and proves to have abandoned the employment given by another State.

In cases a), b) and e), the reacquisition of Italian citizenship will have no effect if the application is inhibited by decree of the Minister of the Interior, for serious and proven reasons and in accordance with the opinion of the Council of State.

Inadmissibility of the Reacquisition of Italian Citizenship

It must be clarified that the reacquisition of Italian citizenship is not allowed in the following cases:

1. For the revocation of the adoption (requested by the adopted person)
2. If the Italian citizen, during the time of the state of war with a foreign State, has accepted or has not abandoned a public job (including military service) for that State without being under obligation, or has voluntarily acquired such citizenship.

Our Assistance for Reacquisition of Italian Citizenship

We provide advice and legal assistance for foreigners who may be entitled and would like to obtain Italian Citizenship through Naturalization by Residency.

Our service starts with an initial assessment to check your eligibility for Italian citizenship. Once we confirm you are eligible, we can assist you with document procurement, translation, and legalization of necessary documents for citizenship applications. After obtaining all documentation, we will process and complete the citizenship application. We also assist with the preparation of applications to be submitted to the town hall of residence in Italy.

Frequently Asked Questions