Citizenship and Status of Stateless Persons

Pietrangeli Law Firm deals with issues concerning the acquisition, loss and restoration of Italian citizenship, as governed, in particular, by Law No. 91 of 5 February 1992 and by the previous Law No. 555 of 13 June 1912 (as amended after the Constitutional Court rulings No. 87 of 9 April 1975, and No. 30 of 28 January 1983) and in accordance with the interpretation of the two laws provided by the Italian Court of Cassation.

Our professionals bring actions concerning citizenship before Italian civil courts, in particular where it is necessary to apply to these courts for the purposes of the acquisition of Italian citizenship (e.g. actions aimed at the acquisition of Italian citizenship by a child born before 1948 to a mother holding Italian citizenship) or in the case of prolonged administrative silence with regard to an application for citizenship by birth or marriage submitted to the Municipality, the Prefect’s Office or the Consulate.

Theyr also bring actions before Italian administrative courts where the latter have jurisdiction to rule on appeals against unfavourable decisions regarding citizenship (e.g. a decision refusing an application for citizenship in case of naturalisation; a decision withdrawing citizenship), or in the case of prolonged administrative silence with regard to an application for citizenship by naturalisation submitted to the Municipality, the Prefect’s Office or the Consulate.

Finally, we provide advice and out-of-court assistance concerning the acquisition and restoration of Italian citizenship. With regard to, the status of stateless persons, our professionals handle cases relating to the recognition of stateless status by Italian courts.

As regards the experience acquired over the years, it should be noted that:

➢ We have dealt with a number of cases involving the descendants of Italian immigrants to Latin America.

➢ In 1999 Francesca Pietrangeli handled one of the first cases brought before the Civil Court of Rome of recognition through a judicial declaration of stateless status, following the break–up of the former Yugoslavia.