Italy offers one of the most generous *Jure Sanguinis* (Citizenship by Descent) programs in the world. If you have an Italian ancestor who was alive after 1861 and did not naturalize before the next generation was born, you are likely already Italian. ## The Strategy ### 1. The Consulate Route The "standard" path. Free, but timelines are currently 3-5 years for an appointment at major US consulates (NY, LA, Miami). ### 2. The "Apply in Italy" Route By establishing residency in an Italian *comune*, you can bypass the US consulates entirely. This requires physically moving to Italy for 3-6 months but processes the citizenship in record time. ### 3. The "1948 Case" If your Italian lineage comes through a female ancestor before 1948, you cannot use the consulate. You must sue the Italian government in Rome. Surprisingly, this is often faster and more reliable than the standard route. --- **Strategic Insight:** An Italian passport gives you full EU access—meaning you can live and work in Switzerland, Germany, or France, not just Italy. [Back to American Headquarters](/usa/)