Find out if you have had a verifiable citizen of Italy in your maternal or paternal line. If you find Italian traces in your maternal line, and you were born after January 1, 1948, you can qualify for an Italian passport . A woman born before January 1, 1948 can only get citizenship if her father has Italian ancestry.
Make sure the ancestor on which you're basing your citizenship case remained a legal citizen of Italy up until an immediate descendant was born. This citizen's immediate descendant must be directly related to you. If it'is your grandfather, for example, he must have been a citizen of Italy up until your father was born.
Confirm that no one in your ancestral line ever relinquished his or her rights to citizenship of Italy.
Visit the Italian embassy or consulate in the United States and apply for Italian citizenship. You will have to fill out forms and documents including birth certifications and naturalization certifications. Keep in mind that the citizenship application can take between two weeks and one year to process.
Submit your passport application if you are granted citizenship. The passport application has to be submitted to Italian embassy or consulate. The process of issuing an Italian passport for citizens of Italy can take about six weeks or less.
