Benefits of Dual Italian Citizenship
In a conversation with a friend recently, I let my friend know that my girlfriend and I are seeking dual Italian/American citizenship.
For several years, I had been convinced by my sister (a practicing attorney) that even with our close connection to family with recent Italian citizenship, it was horrifically painful, costly, and time-consuming to obtain Italian citizenship. I therefore gave up on the idea despite its attractiveness to me.
Today, I am surprised to report that I have – despite my better judgement? – decided to pursue dual citizenship.
Why?
Because my girlfriend – who is also Italian – learned that Italian citizenship through descent is quite feasible. In fact, as we understand it, current immigration laws in Italy mean that obtaining Italian citizenship “through descent” is a nearly certain way to obtain citizenship.
Descent must be what is called an “unbroken chain.” In my case, that means that I must demonstrate that either my father had Italian citizenship when I was born, or that my father’s father (my paternal grandfather) had Italian citizenship when my father was born. My father was born in 1931, and his father became a US citizen in 1939, which I understand makes it likely I will be granted Italian citizenship.
I asked my friend if he ever considered obtaining Italian citizenship, as his grandparents are Italian. He asked what the benefits would be for him to obtain Italian citizenship.
Benefits for dual Italian citizenship, I told him, are well worth the expense and the time needed to obtain citizenship.
First, it is far less difficult to enter and travel in Europe when you have citizenship for a nation within the European Union (EU). With Italian citizenship, for example, you can stay in any of the 27 EU nations for more than 90 days.
European Union nations include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
With Italian citizenship, one could flee to Europe if the US economy tanked. Or if you REALLY hated a US president.
Or if you found your forever partner, and that partner insisted that they MUST live in Europe.
Important reasons why you would want to stay in Europe for more than 90 days (or maybe live in Europe permanently!) is that Europe contains the most beautiful cities and architecture in the world. In my opinion, Italy and perhaps other nations in Europe have women (and men) who are the most gorgeous and fashionably dressed people on earth.
Similarly, in Europe a person can eat the best food on earth and drink the best beverages on earth.
Europeans are the happiest people on earth, the thinnest people on earth (Italians are the thinnest Europeans), and the most long-lived people on earth.
Europe is home to the best transit on earth.
Its cities boast the best paintings and sculptures on earth.
Because of these many “best in the world” aspects of EU nations, many US “expats” – that is Americans who reside in Europe despite the US being their native country --, say they are never coming back to the US.
“MOLTO BENE!!!”