Italy: Information from the Italian authorities, including the Embassy of Italy in Ottawa, on whether a person born in Italy of Italian parents who lived in Somalia from 1951 to 1991 and who obtained Somali nationality in 1951, lost his/her Italian nationality, and if so, on the procedures to follow in Canada in order to re-acquire Italian nationality, and if not, on the procedures to follow in Canada in order to apply for the right to return to Italy
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 December 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ITA28380.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Italy: Information from the Italian authorities, including the Embassy of Italy in Ottawa, on whether a person born in Italy of Italian parents who lived in Somalia from 1951 to 1991 and who obtained Somali nationality in 1951, lost his/her Italian nationality, and if so, on the procedures to follow in Canada in order to re-acquire Italian nationality, and if not, on the procedures to follow in Canada in order to apply for the right to return to Italy, 1 December 1997, ITA28380.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab5b58.html [accessed 31 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The following information was provided to the Research Directorate by an official at the Embassy of Italy in Ottawa, in a 4 December 1997 telephone interview.
Before 16 August 1992, Italian citizens would lose their Italian nationality upon receiving another nationality. Italian citizens who acquired another nationality on and after that date retained their Italian nationality.
However, there is Italian legislation which allows an Italian-born person to re-acquire Italian nationality inasmuch he/she signs an application for the return of lost Italian nationality before 31 December 1997. This law will be no longer valid after that date. The re-acquisition of Italian citizenship is almost automatic and can be certified within a matter of 24 hours if the Italian authorities regard as valid the four required documents which are : the birth certificate of the applicant, the old Italian passport or a certificate issued by the applicant's birth place in Italy, the naturalization order issued by the current country of nationality, and a family situation certificate signed by lawyer or a notary establishing the applicant's kinship.
The applicant may sign an application for his/her lost Italian nationality even if he/she does not have the required documents, provided the application is made before 31 December 1997. In that situation, Italian citizenship will be returned after verification of all the required documents.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Embassy of Italy, Ottawa. 4 December 1997. Telephone interview with official.
