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Brazil is one of the countries with the largest number of Italians outside of Italy, with 32 million Brazilians of Italian descent, according to data of the Italian Embassy in the country. In this context, dual citizenship is a dream that many seek, creating curiosity about which surnames give the right to Italian citizenship.
To better understand the issue of citizenship, it is necessary to know the rules of this European country. In general, there are different types of citizenship, and each of them requires a specific procedure. Find out more information below.
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Is it possible to have Italian citizenship using your surname?
The answer is no, because the surname alone does not give the right to citizenship in any other country in the world. This is because there are specific rules and procedures to be followed when granting citizenship, so that the full name does not cancel out the other steps that need to be followed.
Read too: Discover your ancestry through DNA
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Despite this, the presence of an Italian surname is a strong indicator that the person is not Italian, and also assists in one of the evaluation stages in the process of granting citizenship. This stage is genealogical research, used in the recognition of dual citizenship.
In genealogical research, the consulate or responsible entity traces the relationship between the applicant and the country's native citizens. It is a process with greater impact in cases of naturalization of children, grandchildren or spouses of Italians, in this case.
When opening the dual citizenship process, knowing the origin of the Italian surname can facilitate the assessment of those responsible for granting this title, but it is not the only procedure to be followed. This is because documentation is even more important, as well as the interview stages and other requests.
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What are the surnames that can apply for Italian citizenship?
Although the surname does not give absolute and immediate right to dual Italian citizenship, there are some common surnames in Brazil that derive from this European descent. Therefore, citizens with this surname can invest in the naturalization process. Check out the 20 most popular Italian surnames in the country:
- Bianchi;
- Bruno;
- Columbus;
- Conti;
- Coast;
- DeLuca;
- Esposito;
- Ferrari;
- Gallo;
- Giordano;
- Greco;
- Lombardy;
- Mancini;
- Marino;
- Moretti.
- Ricci;
- Rizzo;
- Roman;
- Rossi;
- Russian.
How to apply for Italian citizenship?
1. Meet the requirements
The requirements vary according to the type of citizenship being requested, because citizenship by consanguinity is different from citizenship by marriage, for example. In general, the requirements involve the organization of all documentation, with sworn translation and properly apostilled.
Furthermore, it is essential that the applicant is residing in an Italian commune for a minimum period of 2 to 6 months before applying. The Italian communes are the basic units of organization of the territory of this country, just like the municipalities in Brazil.
More than residing in these communes, you need to prove your residence through some information linked to your name that indicates the full address. The experts' recommendation is to opt for smaller communities, because the volume of data is also reduced and this speeds up the process.
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2. Look for an official body
To apply for Italian citizenship directly from Brazil, you must seek a Consulate in your region of residence to open the process. In this context, the process cannot exceed the time limit of 2 years, otherwise it will be necessary to file a lawsuit informing about the delay in the assessment of your citizenship.
If you are in Italy, this procedure can be carried out at the town hall, with the presentation of all documents and certificates. However, the applicant must present their travel visa for a longer stay or a return ticket to their country.
This is because the process can take some time, and it is not permitted to stay illegally in the territory, even though the granting of citizenship is under evaluation. Therefore, the ideal is to apply for dual citizenship as far in advance as possible of your stay there.
This way, you can appear in person to meet demands, without having to send a legal representative or add a new layer of bureaucracy.
3. Present the documents
To obtain Italian citizenship, you must have the following documents:
- Birth certificate of the ancestor who was born in Italy;
- Birth certificate of all family members up to the applicant;
- Applicant's birth certificate
- Death certificate of an ancestor who was born in Italy
- Death certificate of all family members until reaching the requesting individual;
- Italian ancestor's marriage certificates;
- Proof of application or application protocol for dual citizenship;
- Judicial power of attorney for dual citizenship;
Basically, these are the main documents that are requested in most cases, but changes may occur and new information may be requested. In general, the older the ancestry, the more bureaucratic the proof process is.
This is because in cases where someone is requesting recognition due to a marriage with an Italian, for example, it is important to present other information. In this context, the applicant must have birth certificates and all criminal records based on their country of origin and the countries they lived in after they were 14 years old.
In addition, the authorities request a marriage certificate, proof of residence address in Italian territory and a language certificate. For this naturalization, it is necessary to have at least level B1 of language proficiency.
So, did you learn how dual Italian citizenship works by surname?
Don't rely solely on your ancestors' surname to obtain the long-awaited dual Italian citizenship. Do in-depth research on the procedures, steps and requirements to ensure your success in this endeavor.
