Introduction:
The applicant sought recognition of Italian citizenship jure sanguinis, as a direct male-line descendant of an Italian-born ancestor who emigrated to the U.S. and never renounced citizenship. The Ministry of the Interior participated in the proceeding but did not object to the claim.
Outcome:
On July 5, 2025, the Court of Catania declared the applicant an Italian citizen and ordered the Ministry of the Interior to proceed with all registry updates and notify the competent consulate. Legal costs were offset between the parties.
Challenge:
The Ministry questioned standing and invoked the 730-day administrative window, but the Court rejected these arguments, stressing that prolonged consular silence cannot limit fundamental rights. The judgment reaffirmed that the right to Italian citizenship jure sanguinis can be judicially enforced without exhausting the administrative route.
Action:
The Court of Catania referenced Joint Sections decision no. 25318/2022 and prior Supreme Court jurisprudence, reiterating that Italian citizenship by descent is permanent and cannot lapse due to administrative inaction. The petitioner’s paternal lineage was fully documented with translated and apostilled civil records, with no pre-1948 maternal transmission issues.
For the privacy of our clients, all names are fictional, and any identifying details in the judgements have been obscured.