GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Descendants of Italian citizens born in Australia or other foreign country and residing in this Consular jurisdiction may apply for recognition of Italian Citizenship at the Consulate General of Italy in Melbourne.
Individuals born before January 1, 1948 can be recognized as Italian citizens only through their father, if he was still an Italian citizen (i.e., he had not become yet an Australian citizen by naturalization), at the time of their birth.
Individuals born after January 1, 1948 can be recognized as Italian citizens also through their mother, if she was still an Italian citizen (i.e. she had not become yet an Australian citizen by naturalization), at the time of their birth.
Please click here to check if you are eligible for the Italian citizenship.
Please read carefully these instructions and follow the check list. If the documentation is not complete, your application for recognition of Italian citizenship cannot be accepted and will be returned to you.
FEES
Pursuant to law No. 89 of 06/23/2014, a fee of 300 Euros is due for the evaluation and processing of all applications for recognition of Italian citizenship. Please note that the above amount can be paid exclusively in Australian dollars with an Australian debit or credit card. For the current amount in Australian dollars, click here click here (refer to art. 7bis, link will open in a new tab). The amount in Australian dollars (equal to 300 Euro) may change quarterly based on currency exchange conversion rates. Please check the link above for the current and updated amount.
PLEASE NOTE: This fee is to be paid regardless of the outcome of the assessment and it is non-refundable.
STEP 1 – ONLINE BOOKING
The Consulate General receives by appointment only. Appointments must be booked online portal through the portal Prenot@mi.
PLEASE NOTE: If more than one member of the same family wishes to apply, each adult member must book his/her own appointment and submit the application individually.
On the day of the appointment it is necessary to lodge all the documents with apostille and translated in Italian language. The original documents required do not expire and will not be returned.
STEP 2 – WHAT TO BRING AT THE CONSULATE GENERAL
A) Documents regarding the Italian ancestors
- Extract of the birth certificate
“Estratto dell’atto di Nascita” of the Italian ancestors who emigrated abroad, issued by the Italian municipality of birth. You may fill and send this template to request the certificate directly from the Italian municipality of birth.
Please Note: make sure you ask for an “Estratto dell’atto di nascita” and not a “Certificato di nascita”.
- Document showing that the Italian ancestor never acquired Australian citizenship
This document is issued by the Department of Home Affairs (original of the Australian visa or Certificate of Evidence of Resident Status (CERS) if issued after 16 August 1992 or Statment of acquisition of Australian citizenship)
PLEASE NOTE: in case of married women, the certificate must show both surnames (maiden and married surname).
- The original Australian Citizenship certificate
To be submitted if the ancestor became an Australian citizen. This certificate must show at least these essential information: first name, last name, date of birth, and date of acquisition of Australian citizenship (date when the oath was taken), and needs to be translated into Italian.
If both parents were born in Italy, documentation of both parents’ Australian citizenship must be submitted to allow for updates with the municipality of origin.
- Marriage and death certificates of the Italian ancestor and all direct descendants.
B) Documents regarding the applicant:
- Application for recognition: Download the following form.
- Birth Certificate:
PLEASE NOTE: information about the parents MUST CORRESPOND to details of Italian birth certificate: for example CONCETTA IS NOT CONNIE! The place of marriage must be the place that appears in your parents’ marriage certificate.
– If you are married: your marriage certificate;
– If you have children under 18 of age: their birth certificates;
– If you are divorced: certificate of divorce issued by the Federal Magistrates Court.
- Australian passport
All Australian birth, marriage and death certificates, as well as all other foreign language documents relating to Italian ancestors and descendants, must be apostilled and translated into Italian.
PLEASE NOTE: Certificates and documents must be thoroughly checked for errors or discrepancies in names, last names, dates and places of birth. In the event of significant discrepancies and errors in any of these fields, the certificates/documents will be returned to the applicant who must request the appropriate amendments and submit a new Apostilled and translated documents.
This Consulate General can only legalize full Italian translations of the documents.
If you have any further doubts, you can address your enquiries through the online Contact Form.