Introduction:
A U.S. citizen, along with his minor child, petitioned the Court of Catania for the recognition of Italian citizenship iure sanguinis, based on their direct lineage from an Italian ancestor. The case was significantly affected by delays in accessing the consular appointment system.
Outcome:
On December 12, 2024, the Court of Catania recognized Italian citizenship for the petitioners, ordering their registration in the civil status records and instructing the Ministry of the Interior to implement the necessary measures.
Challenge:
The petitioners encountered obstacles in initiating the administrative process due to the inability to book an appointment through the Italian consulate’s Prenot@mi system. Despite multiple attempts from September 2022 to November 2023, they were unable to even enter the waiting list, leading to an indefinite administrative standstill.
Action:
The petitioners provided comprehensive genealogical documentation and apostilled records confirming their direct descent from an Italian ancestor. The court acknowledged the excessive delays and ruled that the failure of the administrative process justified judicial intervention to ensure the applicants’ rights.
For the privacy of our clients, all names are fictional, and any identifying details in the judgements have been obscured.
