The reopening of the application window for reacquiring Italian citizenship is set to offer a renewed opportunity for many former Italian citizens living abroad, including thousands across Australia.
The measure, introduced under Law No. 74 of 2025, establishes a simplified procedure to regain status civitatis, with applications open until 31 December 2027.
Speaking in an interview with Rete Italia, Italy’s Consul General in Melbourne, Chiara Mauri, confirmed that the Consulate is well-equipped to handle demand. “There is a strong availability of appointments at the Consulate,” she said, encouraging all eligible applicants to begin the process without delay.
The law sets out precise requirements. Beneficiaries include individuals born in Italy, as well as Italian citizens born abroad who resided in Italy for at least two consecutive years, and who lost their citizenship before 15 August 1992 under one of the following circumstances:
- They voluntarily acquired a foreign citizenship before 15 August 1992 and established residence abroad;
- They acquired a foreign citizenship involuntarily, subsequently renounced Italian citizenship, and established residence abroad;
- As minor, non-emancipated children of a parent who lost citizenship, they shared residence with that parent and acquired the citizenship of a foreign state.
The procedure itself is relatively straightforward. Applicants must book an appointment through the Prenot@mi portal and attend the Consulate to sign a declaration of reacquisition. Citizenship is restored from the day following the submission of the application.
However, applicants must provide clear evidence of both the loss and prior possession of Italian citizenship. Required documentation includes a naturalisation certificate, an Italian birth certificate, and proof of prior citizenship status.
This proof can take several forms: an annotated birth extract, an expired Italian passport or identity card, or Australian documentation indicating original citizenship.
Where eligibility is based on prior residence in Italy, applicants must also present a historical certificate confirming at least two consecutive years of residence in the country.
Particular attention is given to cases involving changes in personal details — common in the Australian context. Surname changes following marriage can be documented through a marriage certificate, while name changes may require notarised certification, translated into Italian and apostilled.
Nonetheless, Consul Mauri noted a degree of flexibility:
“If the name change is minimal and there is a series of consistent indications in the documentation that allow the officer handling the case to be certain of the person’s identity, we can proceed without additional documentation.”
It is important to note that reacquisition does not have retroactive effect and does not automatically extend citizenship to children or grandchildren born prior to the procedure.
Even so, the measure represents a significant opportunity. As Mauri emphasised, it allows eligible individuals “to formally reclaim a bond with Italy that has never truly been broken.”
The Consul General is urging all those who may qualify to verify their eligibility and act within the designated timeframe by booking an appointment via the Prenot@mi portal.
With a clear legal framework and administrative support in place, the initiative is expected to resonate strongly within Australia’s Italian community — many of whom maintain deep cultural and familial ties to Italy, even decades after migration.
