Some questions about obtaining Italian citizenship for my children

[Italiancitizenship]

Hi

I am an Anglo-Italian dual national and live in London.

Last year, in early March, when my two daughters were 15 and 17, I finally got all the documents together to send to the AIRE in London - to claim their Italian citizenship. The consulate acknowledged receipt and was really helpful by email. They then sent it all to Italy - all certified by themselves. I was told to then wait.

It's now almost a year later and I have heard nothing back - I would expect some kind of document to confirm that they are enrolled at the AIRE in London as Italian citizens. I've emailed several times to ask but this time the consulate are really unresponsive by email. So my first question is - does it usually take up to a year (and more) to hear back or receive confirmation that their claim to citizenship (as my then minor children) has been accepted?

My second questions are about my older ds - I didn't make the claim for him before his 18th birthday, so we are having to take the Iure Sanguinis route. Except that I have also emailed the consulate some questions about this and have heard nothing back - my questions are as follows:

my mother (now deceased) is the last Italian in my son's line of ancestry to have been born in Italy - I have her original birth, death and marriage certificates. Despite the fact that I am recognised as an Italian citizen (though currently do not have a valid passport as I would have to ask my ex to sign my application form in front of a notary public - sigh - my youngest being under 18), do I also have to provide my son with my birth, marriage and divorce certificates (duly certified and translated etc) - or is the fact that I am enrolled with the AIRE enough?

Also - they want proof that the last ancestor to be born in Italy didn't renounce their citizenship when they lived in the UK - my mother however moved from Italy to Belgium - and I haven't got a clue who I would ask there - about her not renouncing her Italian citizenship (which I know she didn't).

If anyone can shed some light on any of this I would be really grateful .

Sorry, no help but why didn't you register their birth with AIRE at the time?

I think the difficulty is that so many Brits try for an EU citizenship post Brexit that the authorities are overwhelmed.

PS: I have EU citizenship and registered my DC at birth. It was easy to get the passport once Brexit was confirmed.

I applied for Italian citizenship and it took 4 years so I can imagine it taking a while. That said, for specific questions I really suggest seeing if there is a Facebook group for people applying in the UK as I found that really helpful (although the group I joined was only for people applying in Italy).

Also, applying in Italy you can check the progress of your application on the website. Did you get a reference number to do this?

I would expect some kind of document to confirm that they are enrolled at the AIRE in London as Italian citizens. I would too, most countries send you a registration certificate of some sort. Have you tried calling the embassy citizens services?

Also - they want proof that the last ancestor to be born in Italy didn't renounce their citizenship when they lived in the UK. The embassy in London would have a record of this if she had- if it’s Italy asking, they should be asking their embassy.

You might have to make an appointment and go down there to sort everything out.

Thanks all - thanks the Facebook group suggestion @Buttalapasta - I am going to do that.

For my daughters I didn’t get a reference number - for them we were just registering their births in Italy and having their citizenship recognised rather than applying for it so I don’t know if that makes a difference. I emailed a different email address at the consulate asking about updates on this and they referred me back to the email address that I am getting no answers from.

Regarding proof that my Mum didn’t renounce her citizenship - she was briefly resident in the UK and then mostly in Belgium - I know who to ask in the UK but am not sure about Belgium - however I will see if the Brussels consulate has any info on this (only just thought of this 😳).

Anyway I’ll keep on going until we get there.

Regarding your own passport situation I was just wondering whether you have a valid carta d'identità? I'm a dual-national Italian citizen born, raised, and resident in an EU country and I haven't had an Italian passport for quite some time. It is my understanding that a carta d'identità is just as useful for proving citizenship. While the carta d'identità is released by your local municipality in Italy, when resident abriaf and AIRE-registered, you apply for it through your local consulate. If you were born abroad your municipality will be that of you Italian parent prior to their emigration.