The Benefits of Italian Citizenship

As a company that assists US citizens of Italian descent obtain dual citizenship with Italy through an Italian ancestor (parent, grandparent, great grandparent, great-great grandparent) one of the most frequently asked questions that we receive is “what are the benefits of Italian citizenship?” This answer is there are many which are outlined below.

To begin with, when you obtain Italian citizenship, you are forming a deep connection with your Italian ancestors and a country rich in history, art, natural beauty famous for its extraordinary cuisine and a culture that truly values the “dolce vita!” In addition to this connection, you also receive many privileges afforded only to Italian citizens.

As a citizen of Italy, you are entitled to live, work, study, or retire in Italy without the headache of needing a visa. In addition to access to Italy you are also a European citizen which means you can enjoy the right of reside, study, work in all EU member countries which include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden.

If you relocate to Italy as a resident, you can register at the local healthcare office of your municipality and receive medical benefit coverage at any health care facility in the country. The National Health Care Insurance plan is available to all Italian citizens who reside in the country. In addition, you are eligible to receive emergency care free of charge if you are visiting any country of the EU.

As an Italian citizen you also have access to the public educational programs in Italy and all EU Member states, including state universities, EU-funded educational programs, Ph.D. programs, post-doc research programs. This also applies to your children who are Italian citizens.
That includes the right to access scholarships, accommodation, exchange programs, and additional health care plans for students such as dental and mental health. In Italy and most other EU countries, the tuitions for publicly funded educational programs are free or offered at convenient costs for students who are citizens.

Finally, as an Italian citizen you have voting rights in the elections. You can then vote for leaders to represent you and your ideas, and the leaders that support your interests as a citizen.

You are probably wondering about the tax implications of being an Italian citizen. If you live in Italy for less than 183 consecutive days over a 12-month period and your income doesn’t come from Italy, you don’t have to pay any tax nor submit any yearly paperwork. If you live in Italy for more than 183 consecutive days over a 12-month period, you must pay tax only on the income you earned in Italy, e.g., from a business based in Italy that you entirely own which is based in Italy, or from employment in an Italian company.

As you can see, if you are a dual citizen of Italy or in the process of applying for Italian citizenship by descent there are many benefits awaiting you! If you need more information on your eligibility for Italian citizenship by descent, or the application process contact us today for a FREE consultation: https://icapbridging2worlds.com.