Italy's 2025 Tajani Decree narrowed citizenship by descent to applicants with a parent or grandparent born in Italy. If you still qualify, the apostilled FBI background check requirement has not changed. We apostille it in 7 to 10 business days, even if you are already in Italy.
Italian citizenship by descent is based on your unbroken line of Italian ancestry. Depending on your consulate and whether you pursue the residency-based (sometimes called 1948 or in-Italy) route, you may be required to provide an FBI background check apostilled by the U.S. Department of State as part of the application or the accompanying visa. Because the FBI check is federal, only the Department of State can apostille it. Always confirm your specific consulate's checklist.
Effective May 24, 2025, Italy's Tajani Decree (Decree-Law 36/2025, converted to Law 74/2025) limited automatic citizenship by descent to applicants with a parent or grandparent born in Italy. Claims tracing back to a great-grandparent or further are no longer eligible under the automatic pathway, and adult consular application fees rose to 600 euros. If you still qualify under the new rule, the documents do not change: you provide an apostilled FBI background check (federal, from the U.S. Department of State) plus your US vital records apostilled by the state that issued them, with a sworn Italian translation. The process is tighter and more scrutinized now, so we handle the apostille side fast and rejection-checked, and never let your paperwork be the bottleneck.
After the apostille, Italy requires a sworn or certified Italian translation (traduzione giurata) of your FBI background check. Get the apostille first, then translate the complete document, including the apostille certificate where required. Our fast turnaround leaves you time to complete the translation before your appointment.
Upload it to our apostille order form. We apostille it and return it in 7 to 10 business days.
Get fingerprinted (livescan in Virginia, or an FD-258 card mailed in from anywhere for $95, ideal if you are already in Italy), get your result, then apostille it.
It depends on your consulate and route. Many consulates and the residency-based (1948 or in-Italy) path require an FBI background check apostilled by the U.S. Department of State. Confirm your consulate's exact checklist.
No. The FBI background check is a federal document, so only the U.S. Department of State can apostille it. State apostilles are rejected.
Yes. Get fingerprinted on an FD-258 card in Italy, mail it to us, and order our $95 mail-in FBI background check. We email you instructions to access your result, then you apostille it online.
Yes. Italy requires a sworn or certified Italian translation (traduzione giurata) of the apostilled FBI background check. Apostille first, then translate.
7 to 10 business days, federal apostille, return shipping included. Already in Italy? Mail your card in for $95.
Birth, marriage, death, and divorce certificates are among the most commonly apostilled documents for visas and citizenship. We apostille vital records from all 50 states, with the same expedited handling and return shipping included.