One passport, the whole of Europe and beyond
Italy is a member of the European Union. With an Italian passport you can live, work and study across all 27 EU member states, the EEA countries and Switzerland — with full residency and employment rights in each, from day one.
Live anywhere in Europe — no permit needed
Move to any EU member state, EEA country or Switzerland without applying for a residence permit. You register as a resident on arrival, with the same rights as a local citizen. No immigration queues, no sponsorship, no time limits.
Work freely across Europe — no quota, no sponsor
In most countries outside the EU, working legally means navigating annual quotas, employer sponsorship and complex permit systems — often reserved only for highly qualified candidates. EU citizenship removes all of that. Whether it is Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands or Scandinavia, you apply for the job, not for the permission to take it.
Visa-free to 190 countries — including the USA
The Italian passport ranks among the top 3 in the world for visa-free access. Three highlights for South Americans:
- USA — Visa Waiver Programme. Italians enter via ESTA (approved online in minutes, valid 2 years). Brazilian, Argentine and Venezuelan nationals must apply for a tourist visa with no guarantee of approval.
- Australia WHV — no national quota. Italians aged 18–35 apply without competing for limited spots, unlike most other nationalities.
- Canada, Japan, UK and almost everywhere else — visa-free or visa on arrival.
Pass it on to your children
Once you are Italian, your children are Italian at birth — automatically, regardless of where they are born. The passport stays in your family for generations.
Study in Europe at local rates
EU universities charge EU citizens the same tuition as locals — often a fraction of international student fees. This applies to your children as well.
Buy property in the EU without restrictions
EU citizens can purchase real estate in any member state on the same terms as nationals. No extra taxes, no foreign buyer restrictions, no bureaucratic hurdles.
Italy has advantages other EU countries don’t
The €100,000 flat tax
Italy offers new residents a flat tax of €100,000 per year on all foreign income — no matter how much you earn abroad. One of the most competitive tax regimes in Europe for high earners relocating from outside the EU.
Quality of life
Italy consistently ranks among the top countries for food, healthcare, climate and cultural richness. For many families, the Italian passport is the starting point for an entirely different lifestyle.
You may already be Italian
If you have an Antenato italiano — a grandparent, great-grandparent or further back — you may have inherited Italian citizenship automatically. You don’t apply for it; you already have it. You just need to prove it.
You have an Antenato italiano
That is the starting point. The ancestor does not need to be recent — great-great-grandparents count, as long as the chain is unbroken.
Nobody gave it up
Citizenship passes down as long as no ancestor voluntarily became a citizen of another country before their child was born.
La riforma 2025 limits new claims
New applications are now limited to children and grandchildren of an Italian-born citizen. If you are further back, check the Eligibility tab — you may still qualify under transitional rules.
Not sure if your family qualifies? The first step is a 45-minute call with us. We review your family history, tell you honestly whether a claim exists, and explain what it would take to prove it. No obligation to proceed.