17 Million Americans Qualify for Italian Citizenship
by John Lawrence, May 22, 2019
There was an excellent show on CBS Sunday Morning last Sunday based in Florence, Italy in which one of the segments dealt with the fact that anyone of Italian descent in America or elsewhere can also claim Italian citizenship. It is called jus sanguinis, Latin for “right of blood,” which grants direct descendants citizenship to a country based on their ancestor's nationality. So most of the 17 million Italian Americans can also get dual citizenship in Italy. Having done that they have the right to live and work anywhere in the European Union! This means free medical care, free university and college tuition, visa free travel anywhere in the EU, the right to own property and get a job anywhere in the EU. And you don't have to give up your American citizenship. Such a deal!
The program went into depth about one American, a Phil Feretti, whose great grandfather moved from Italy to the US for a better life and now Phil has moved back to Italy for a better life. He sold his US real estate and bought a magnificent villa in Tuscany! Two sisters from Oregon also claimed their Italian citizenship by right of descent and visit often but have no plans to move there permanently. But who knows? If things descend into chaos here it may be a wise move to go there.
Some other countries also allow immigration if you can prove your ancestor was a citizen there. Such countries as France, Ireland, Australia, Hungary (where real estate is really cheap, fast developing, a good place for a summer home), Israel (if you're Jewish) and Argentina. In the US you are only a citizen if you're born on American soil unless you become a naturalized citizen. If your great grandfather was from Italy, for example, immigrated here and had children before he became a naturalized American citizen, his children and their children ad infinitum are considered to be Italian citizens.
As an Italian citizen, you are entitled to receive Italian healthcare which is world class and much more affordable when compared to healthcare in the States. Having Italian dual citizenship entitles you to rent and buy property hassle free. Here are some of the other advantages:
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The ability to work, reside and study in Italy and across the 27 EU member states (e.g. Spain, France, Germany, Netherlands etc.) without the need of a Visa. EU citizens are often prioritized over people from outside the EU for many professional and educational opportunities.
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Simplified and more cost-effective process to purchase properties in Italy.
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Tax-Free import of vehicles (car, trucks etc.) directly from the US to Italy
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You will have access to public medical care and high-quality public education as available to EU citizens.
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You will have the right to vote for the Italian Parliament representative in your region.
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You will be able to transfer Italian citizenship to all children under 18 years old automatically.
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You will be able to establish a firm identity with your Italian heritage.
As the US becomes the United State of Trumpistan, it is advisable to have an escape route from the madness and idiocy of the greatest empire the world has seen since the Roman Empire which is in the process of collapsing from overextension (800 military bases around the world) and hubris. Global warming has produced severe weather mainly in the nation's midsection with tornadoes, torrential rain and flooding on a daily basis. If I were Italian or of Italian descent, I wouldn't hesitate to trade all this for free medical care, no student loan debt, mozzerella and chianti. Unfortunately, most of my ancestors are from the UK and Germany where there is no jus sanguinis. I do have French ancestry, however, going back 11 generations. Paris, City of Light, here I come.
