Procedure for re-acquisition

The declaration of re-acquisition by the former citizen can be submitted between July 1, 2025, and December 31, 2027.

The declaration must be made in person at the Consulate by the individual concerned. The former citizen reacquires Italian citizenship starting the day after the declaration is submitted. The declaration of re-acquisition does not have retroactive effect: from the date of loss of citizenship (for those naturalized as foreign citizens, this is the day after voluntarily acquiring foreign citizenship) until the date the declaration is submitted, the individual is considered a foreign national for all legal purposes.

Re-acquiring Italian citizenship entails the restoration of the rights and obligations inherent to citizenship, including:

• The obligation to register in the AIRE;
• The obligation to update one’s civil status, such as by providing a marriage certificate, documents showing dissolution of previous marriages, etc.;
• The right to be registered on electoral rolls;
• The right to obtain an Italian passport and identity card.

Re-acquisition of citizenship by a person residing abroad no longer automatically confers citizenship to a minor child living with them, if the child also resides abroad. In order for the child to acquire Italian citizenship, they must have been living in Italy with the parent reacquiring citizenship for at least two years prior to the re-acquisition.

Therefore, children (whether minors or adults) residing abroad and born before the parent’s re-acquisition of citizenship do not acquire Italian citizenship. However, if the parent was originally an Italian citizen by birth, a child born before the re-acquisition may obtain Italian citizenship through residence in Italy (under Article 4, paragraph 1, letter c, or Article 9, paragraph 1, letter a, of Law No. 91/1992).

Since a parent who re-acquires citizenship is no longer considered a citizen by birth, it is not possible to submit the declaration under Article 4, paragraph 1-bis, of Law No. 91/1992 for the registration of minor children born before the re-acquisition within one year from the establishment of parentage. Similarly, Article 1, paragraph 1-ter, of Decree Law No. 36/2025 cannot be applied for the registration of minor children as of May 24, 2025 (the date Law No. 74/2025 came into force).

To book an appointment

Send an email to cittadinanza.edimburgo@esteri.it with the subject line “Re-acquisition of Italian citizenship”, attaching the following documents in PDF format:

1. A valid proof of ID (passport) issued by the authorities of the country of current citizenship;
2. Proof of address: utility bill, council tax bill, bank statement, or a letter from your GP or NHS, dated no more than three months before the appointment;
3. Original birth certificate, which, for those born abroad, must meet the requirements for transcription in Italy (apostille and certified translation, see HERE);
4. Only for applicants born abroad: a historical residence certificate issued by the relevant Italian Municipality showing at least two consecutive years of residence in Italy;
5. A historical citizenship certificate issued by the relevant Italian Municipality showing previous possession of Italian citizenship;
6. Original citizenship/naturalization certificate issued by the competent British authorities, with apostille and certified translation (see HERE);
7. If applicable, documentation proving the renunciation of Italian citizenship;

Note: It is not permitted to use self-declarations as per Articles 46 and 47 of Presidential Decree No. 445 of December 28, 2000, in place of the above documentation.

On the day of the appointment, the applicant must pay the consular fee, in pounds sterling, equivalent to €250 (Article 7-ter – see Consular Fees).