SECTION B – BIRTHS
Important communications – please read carefully
New procedures for citizenship applications by benefit of law.
Applications will now be accepted only if submitted through the Prenot@mi portal by selecting “Transcription of birth certificate for benefit of law.”
Important amendments to the citizenship law (Art. 4, paragraph 1-bis, letter B, Law 91/1992) introduced by the 2026 Budget Law (Law of December 30, 2025, Art. 1, paragraph 513).
NOTICE: the fee for citizenship by benefit of law is no longer required.
The declarations for citizenship by benefit of law may be submitted within 3 years, instead of within 1 year, from the child’s birth or from the date filiation (including adoption) by an Italian citizen is established.
Mandatory requirements:
Before transcribing the child’s birth, the following must already be transcribed:
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Parents’ marriage
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Any divorce and previous marriage
It is necessary to inform the Civil Status Office if the child has been adopted, in order to ensure correct registration and updating of records.
1. Citizenship jure sanguinis (for minors) and citizenship by benefit of law
The new Article 3-bis of Law 91/1992 limits the existing mechanisms for the transmission of citizenship and introduces new requirements for the recognition of Italian citizenship and the transcription of records in Italy.
These new provisions DO NOT apply to minors born in Italy to Italian parents.
Italian citizenship by birth (jure sanguinis)
As of 03/27/2025, a minor born abroad to an Italian parent is recognized as an Italian citizen by birth only if, in addition to the requirements of the previous law, they fall into at least one of the following cases.
The minor is:
A. Child of an Italian citizen who, at the time of the child’s birth, held ONLY Italian citizenship.
B. Child of an Italian citizen with multiple citizenships, who lived in Italy for at least 2 continuous years:
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after recognition of Italian citizenship, and
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before the birth of the child.
C. Grandchild of an Italian citizen who:
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held ONLY Italian citizenship at the time of the grandchild’s birth or at the time of their own death (if it occurred earlier), and
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where the child’s parent was an Italian citizen at the time of the child’s birth.
D. The minor does not fall under cases A, B, or C, but:
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does not possess any other citizenship
→ In this case, it is necessary to contact the Civil Status Office: statocivile.miami@esteri.it
WHAT TO DO
Send EXCLUSIVELY by mail to:
Consulate General of Italy in Miami
4000 Ponce de Leon, STE 590
Coral Gables, FL 33146
Attn. Civil Status Office
Include:
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Application form for transcription of birth, completed and signed by the Italian parent
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Original birth certificate with Apostille (or legalization for countries not party to the Hague Apostille Convention).
U.S. certificates must always be in extended format (so-called Long Form or Extended Form indicating exact place of birth, date or age, and parents’ places of birth), according to the issuing procedures of each U.S. state. -
Full Italian translation of the certificate, faithful to the original, with dates in day/month/year format. Properly legalized if the birth occurred outside the USA.
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Copy of valid passports of both parents (photo page with personal data and signature) and the child’s foreign passport, if available.
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Extract of the birth certificate of the Italian parent and of the Italian grandparent (in case C), complete with annotations, issued by the municipality of birth or AIRE registration in Italy.
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Declaration pursuant to DPR 445/2000 listing the countries of residence of the parent and the grandparent (case C only) prior to the birth of the child/grandchild, accompanied by the declarant’s ID.
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Documentation proving non-naturalization of the parent and/or grandparent at the time of the child’s/grandchild’s birth in the foreign countries of residence.
Note: sworn affidavits will not be accepted; only documentation issued by official sources, duly legalized and translated.
By way of example, to prove possession of Italian citizenship only, negative citizenship certificates, renunciation certificates, etc. may be submitted. -
Proof of residence within the consular jurisdiction (driver’s license, lease agreement, etc.).
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Historical residence certificate of the Italian parent (case B only), to be requested from the municipality of AIRE registration.
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Child’s foreign passport (if available).
When the above cases do NOT apply, the minor is not an Italian citizen by birth but may be eligible for:
2. Italian citizenship by benefit of law
Minor children born abroad to an Italian parent who does not automatically transmit citizenship may acquire Italian citizenship.
The minor will become an Italian citizen not from birth, but from the day following the fulfillment of the legal conditions (Article 15 of Law 91/1992).
CASE 2.1 – Minor under 3 years of age
The minor may obtain citizenship by benefit of law if the parent is:
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an Italian citizen by birth (jure sanguinis) and holds other citizenships
The following are excluded: citizens by naturalization (Art. 9 Law 91/1992), benefit of law (Art. 4 Law 91/1992 or Art. 10 Law 555/1912), reacquisition (Arts. 13 or 17 Law 91/1992), iuris communicatione (Art. 14 Law 91/1992).
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registered with AIRE and resident within the consular jurisdiction
Parents must submit a declaration of intent to the Consulate within 3 years of the child’s birth.
For these declarations, the €250 fee is no longer required.
For the procedure, see the sections “DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED” and “HOW TO APPLY” below.
CASE 2.2 – Minor over 3 years of age
Citizenship by benefit of law may be requested through a declaration of intent if the minor:
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was under 18 on 05/24/2025 and is the child of an Italian citizen recognized by 03/27/2025,
or -
is the child of a person who already had an appointment scheduled on Prenot@mi as of 03/27/2025.
The declaration of intent must be submitted in person at the Consulate by 05/31/2026 by both parents.
If the child has since reached the age of majority, the parents’ presence is not required.
For these declarations, the €250 fee is no longer required.
DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED
at the CONSULATE appointment
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Receipt of payment of the fee (if applicable)
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Original birth certificate of the minor with Apostille (or legalization for countries not party to the Hague Apostille Convention).
U.S. certificates must always be in extended format (Long Form or Extended Form). -
Full Italian translation of the certificate, faithful to the original, with dates in day/month/year format. Properly legalized if the birth occurred outside the USA.
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Copy of valid passports of both parents (photo page with personal data and signature).
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Documentation proving that one parent is an Italian citizen by birth (e.g., confirmation of jure sanguinis recognition sent to the parent by the Consulate/Embassy/Municipality, or full copy of the birth certificate).
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Proof of residence within the consular jurisdiction (e.g., driver’s license, lease agreement).
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If the parent’s citizenship recognition has not yet occurred: copy of the appointment confirmation email for jure sanguinis recognition received via the Prenot@mi portal or from the institutional email of the competent Consular Office.
If the PARENTS WERE NOT MARRIED at the time of the child’s birth, the following must also be provided:
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Acknowledgment of paternity, apostilled and translated into Italian.
HOW TO APPLY
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Prepare all documentation listed under “DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED.”
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Pay the €250 fee per applicant (if applicable), payable to the Ministry of the Interior.
Beneficiary – Account name:
Ministero dell’Interno D.L.C.C.I. – Cittadinanza
Bank: Poste Italiane SPA / Banco Posta
Bank address: Viale Europa 175, Rome, Italy
Reason for payment:
First and last name of the applicant: Acquisition of Citizenship following declaration pursuant to Art. 9-bis Law 91/1992 (+ APPLICANT’S FULL NAME)
IBAN: IT54D0760103200000000809020
BIC / Swift: BPPIITRRXXX
For Eurogiro transactions: PIBPITRA
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Book an appointment through the Prenot@mi portal by selecting “Transcription of birth certificate for benefit of law.”
Appointments or document submissions by email will no longer be accepted. -
Wait to be contacted by the competent office, which will provide further operational instructions.
No responses will be provided to emails sent to the Civil Status email address.