In short. Former Italian citizens can reclaim Italian citizenship (riacquisto) under Articles 13 and 17 of Law 91/1992, most often by taking up public employment with the Italian State or by signing a declaration of intent and taking up residence in Italy within one year. If you are abroad, you sign the declaration at the Italian Consulate; if you are already in Italy, you first register your residence with a Comune and sign before the Civil Status officer.
Italian citizens who have lost their citizenship status can reclaim Italian citizenship thanks to some special procedures.
In this guide, we explain how to reclaim Italian citizenship and how to overcome the difficulties if you are already in Italy as a tourist.
Which rules govern how you reclaim Italian citizenship?
As always, we base our statements on what is written, objective and incontrovertible, that is, Italian legislation.
The reacquisition of Italian citizenship is governed by Law 5 February 1992, no. 91, which regulates the principles of Italian citizenship in general (in this other article we explain how to get Italian citizenship for the first time).
In particular, Articles 13 and 17 define the cases of reacquisition of Italian citizenship. The few cases in which it is not possible to reacquire Italian citizenship are the following:
- those who have lost it following the revocation of adoption through their own fault;
- those who have not ceased service in a State at war with Italy.
What are the cases of reacquisition under Art. 13 of Law 91/1992?
There are five cases of reacquisition of Italian citizenship provided for by Art. 13:
- actual military service for the Italian State, with a prior declaration of intent (letter a);
- taking up public employment with the Italian State, including abroad, with a declaration of intent (letter b);
- declaration of intent and residence within one year of the declaration (letter c);
- legal residence in Italy for one continuous year (letter d);
- legal residence in Italy for two years and proof of abandonment of the service for the foreign State (letter e).
The most common cases to reclaim Italian citizenship are those provided for by letters b and c.
Is there an extraordinary window under Article 17 (until 31 December 2027)?
Yes. A person who was born in Italy, or lived there for at least two continuous years, and lost Italian citizenship under Article 8 (nos. 1 and 2) or Article 12 of Law 555/1912 (that is, no later than 15 August 1992) can reacquire it by a declaration made between 1 July 2025 and 31 December 2027, without prejudice to Article 3-bis. The window does not cover people who renounced citizenship from 16 August 1992. Abroad, the declaration is made in person before the consular authority; in Italy, before the civil-status officer.
Do you need residency to reclaim Italian citizenship?
Before explaining the procedure for reclaiming Italian citizenship, it is essential to clarify an aspect that puts many people in difficulty: does a foreigner who entered Italy as a tourist (with or without a visa) and wants to reclaim Italian citizenship need a residence permit to register with the registry office?
The answer is no. Let’s see why, and how the Ministry of the Interior has been very clear about how to claim Italian citizenship through reacquisition.
- Law 68/2007 eliminates the need for a residence permit for short-term stays. Without a residence permit, however, it is usually not possible to obtain registration with the registry office.
The problem arises when the Civil Status officer refuses to accept the request to reclaim citizenship due to lack of residency, rightly arguing that, as specified by Ministry of the Interior Circular no. 3638 of 27/04/2017, the Italian Comune is only competent for the cases of those who are resident in Italy.
This is why reclaiming Italian citizenship directly in Italy requires you to obtain residency first.
The subsequent circulars of the Ministry of the Interior have clarified this important aspect:
- Circular of the Ministry of the Interior no. 32 of 13/06/2007: since a residence permit is not required for short-term stays, the declaration of presence is considered sufficient for the registration of foreigners who request recognition of citizenship “jure sanguinis”;
- Circular of the Ministry of the Interior no. 52 of 28/09/2007: specifies that, for citizens coming from non-Schengen areas, the entry stamp on the passport is sufficient (the declaration of presence is not necessary, as it is considered fulfilled by the stamp affixed by the border authority);
- Circular of the Ministry of the Interior no. 14 of 31/10/2008: clarifies that the above circulars are also valid if you want to reclaim Italian citizenship under Art. 13 of Law 91/1992.
Ultimately, although some Comuni allow you to start the application for recognition or reacquisition of Italian citizenship before obtaining residency, the correct procedure would be to first request registration at the registry office, declaring that you are interested in one of the two procedures.
Close collaboration is needed between the registry office and the Civil Status office, as the former would grant a “provisional” residency that would be confirmed only once the latter has ascertained the conditions for recognition or reacquisition of Italian citizenship.
Unfortunately, especially in large municipalities, this collaboration does not occur and it is very complex to start the procedure for reclaiming Italian citizenship directly in Italy for a foreign tourist without residency. See also our guide to registering residence in Italy as a foreigner.
What is the procedure to reclaim Italian citizenship?
The procedure to reclaim Italian citizenship varies slightly depending on whether it is started abroad or directly in Italy.
The essential requirements to regain Italian citizenship are:
- declaration of intent;
- residence in Italy.
If you are abroad
You must sign the declaration of intent to reclaim Italian citizenship at the Italian Consulate and then register your residence in an Italian Comune within one year of the declaration.
If you are in Italy
As explained in the previous section, you must register your residence with an Italian Comune and sign the declaration of intent to reclaim Italian citizenship before the Civil Status officer.
If you register your residence in Italy, after one year, and unless you declare to the Civil Status officer that you renounce it, you will regain Italian citizenship, except where the Minister of the Interior blocks the reacquisition for serious and proven reasons within one year (Article 13(3)).
Once the Comune has carried out the necessary checks, you will be granted Italian citizenship.
Which documents do you need to reclaim Italian citizenship?
The documents required to reclaim Italian citizenship are those needed to show that you were an Italian citizen in the past (or that you renounced Italian citizenship):
- valid passport;
- extract of the birth certificate with a note of the loss of Italian citizenship*;
- copy of the last Italian passport (if available);
- certificate of naturalisation (if available).
*It is essential that there is a note of the loss of citizenship, otherwise the Comune would have no proof that you were Italian in the past. To request the note of the loss of citizenship on your birth certificate, you must contact the Italian Consulate in the country of which you are a citizen. Foreign documents may also need an apostille or legalisation and a translation.
Frequently asked questions
Which law allows you to reclaim Italian citizenship?
Reacquisition is governed by Law 5 February 1992, no. 91, in particular Articles 13 and 17. It is not possible for those who lost citizenship following the revocation of adoption through their own fault, or for those who have not ceased service in a State at war with Italy.
What are the most common ways to reclaim Italian citizenship?
The most common cases are those in Article 13, letters b and c: taking up public employment with the Italian State, or signing a declaration of intent and taking up residence in Italy within one year of that declaration. The other cases are military service for Italy (letter a) or require one or two years of legal residence in Italy (letters d and e).
Can I start the procedure in Italy as a tourist?
Yes, but you must first register your residence with a Comune. Ministry of the Interior circulars of 2007 and 2008 state that a declaration of presence, or the entry stamp for non-Schengen arrivals, is sufficient for registration. In large municipalities, however, starting the procedure as a tourist can be very complex.
Which documents are needed to reclaim Italian citizenship?
You need a valid passport, an extract of your birth certificate with a note of the loss of Italian citizenship, and, if available, a copy of your last Italian passport and your certificate of naturalisation. The note of loss is requested from the Italian Consulate in your country of citizenship.
When do I regain citizenship?
If you sign the declaration of intent (letter c), you regain citizenship provided you establish residence in Italy within one year of the declaration. If you only register your residence in Italy, you automatically regain Italian citizenship after one year, unless you declare to the Civil Status officer that you renounce it (letter d). In both cases the Minister of the Interior can block the reacquisition for serious and proven reasons within one year (Article 13(3)). The Comune then carries out the necessary checks before recognising your Italian citizenship.
Official sources
- Law 91/1992 on Italian citizenship, Articles 13 and 17 — Normattiva
- Ministry of the Interior, Circular no. 32 of 13/06/2007
- Ministry of the Interior, Circular no. 52 of 28/09/2007
- Ministry of the Interior, Circular no. 14 of 31/10/2008
The sources were consulted on 19 October 2026 (for the Article 17 window, on 28 October 2026). Rules and procedures may change: always check the updated instructions of the competent Comune or Consulate.
How can SH Immigration Specialists help?
SH Immigration Specialists can check which reacquisition case applies to you, help you obtain the birth certificate with the note of loss of citizenship, prepare the documents and support you with residence registration and the declaration of intent at the Comune. For legal matters such as appeals and legal advice, you can count on the immigration lawyers of the SH Immigration Specialists law firm. The outcome depends on the competent authorities. For an assessment, contact us.
This content provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.
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Which other guides may help you?
- Italian citizenship 2026: requirements, documents and the 2025 reform
- Italian Citizenship by Descent: 2026 Requirements and Process
- Italian Citizenship Application: The 7 Steps Explained
- Registering Residence in Italy as a Foreigner: Rules and Documents
- Types of Italian citizenship: how each is obtained
- Dual citizenship in Italy: what Italian law allows and what changes
