Italian citizenship for the former territories

Two special laws deal with people whose link with Italy comes from territories which changed hands in the twentieth century. Law 379/2000 concerned the families of the lands of the Austro-Hungarian Empire which became Italian after the First World War, and it is closed. Law 124/2006 concerns the Italians of Istria, Fiume and Dalmatia who lost citizenship when those territories were ceded to Yugoslavia after the Second World War, and their descendants, and it remains open. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs treats both as recognition, not as grant.

Law 379/2000, closed since 20 December 2010

The law allowed the recognition of citizenship to people born and resident in the territories which belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and were acquired by Italy under the Treaty of Saint-Germain, and to their descendants, where the ancestor had emigrated abroad between 25 December 1867 and 16 July 1920. The declaration had to be made within the term fixed by the law, extended several times and expired on 20 December 2010. No declaration can be made under it today. A family from Trentino, South Tyrol, Gorizia or Trieste whose ancestor emigrated to Britain in that period and who did not declare by 2010 is examined under the ordinary rules of descent, which rarely help, because the ancestor was an Austrian subject when he left.

Law 124/2006, Istria, Fiume and Dalmatia

The law recognises Italian citizenship to two groups and to their descendants. The first group is formed by the people who were resident in Istria, Fiume and Dalmatia between 1940 and 1947, held Italian citizenship on 15 September 1947, and lost it when the Treaty of Paris of 10 February 1947 ceded those territories to Yugoslavia. The second group is formed by the people resident in Zone B of the former Free Territory of Trieste until 1977, who lost Italian citizenship when the Treaty of Osimo of 10 November 1975 ceded it, and who belonged to the Italian ethnic group. The descendants of both groups qualify, with proof of the descent and of the Italian language and culture of the family.

The application is lodged at the consulate for those living abroad, or at the comune for those living in Italy. It is examined by an interministerial commission at the Ministry of the Interior, which gives its opinion, and the recognition follows a favourable clearance. The consular fee for the application of an adult is the one fixed for recognition, 600 euro. The law does not set a deadline.

• Birth certificate of the applicant, preferably on the international model, and of the ancestor through whom the claim is made.
• Certificate of the foreign citizenship held, and of the current residence.
• Proof of residence in the ceded territories on 10 June 1940, and of Italian citizenship on 15 September 1947, or for Zone B of residence and citizenship on 3 April 1977 and of membership of the Italian ethnic group.
• Certificates which link each generation to the ancestor.
• An attestation from an association or community of Italians abroad, stating the date of membership and the use of the Italian language, and any other evidence of language and culture.

Article 3-bis, introduced in 2025, derogates from the provisions of Law 91/1992, of the law of 1912 and of the civil code of 1865. It does not list Law 124/2006 among the provisions from which it derogates, and the applications under that law are examined on the terms of that law.

If your family comes from Istria, Fiume, Dalmatia or Zone B of Trieste, send us what you know about the place and the dates of residence and departure. The records of the exodus are held by Italian institutions which we consult, and the written assessment tells you whether the application under Law 124/2006 is open to you.