We are considering purchasing a house in Liguria. Does anyone know if it would be financially beneficial to take up Italian citizenship, I recall reading somewhere that Italian citizens pay less tax on property purchase but this can be avoided if one takes up Italian citizenship. I am a english living in the UK. Can anyone help please.

ps we have just spent a lovely week in a village near Imperia. Autumn is just setting in with leaves on trees just begining to turn brown, still warm and sunny, my children braving the sea but the Italians now in jumpers.

regards
Ken

I think your situation will be completely different from ours, since you are a resident of a fellow EU country..they afford one another certain rights and privileges that are not extended to Americans, and probably all others. It is my understanding that you cannnot "take" Italian citizenship, as you could if you wanted to study and take tests to become an American citizen. I think you must prove your claim to citizenship through blood or possibly marriage. I do know that we will get a RESIDENCE VISA which, along with our codice fiscale (tax number), will allow us certain discounts on some taxes and utilities. I think these 2 are also necessary in order for us to BUY a car, but this may also differ for residents of an EU country. I would try a website like The Informer for information relating specifically to your home country. Good Luck!

Italian citizenship can be obtained, but it literally takes almost forever and there are no guarantees unless you prove Italian descent at least at the grandparent level.
BUT, there are no property tax cuts that are not available to expat residents. There is a reduced purchase tax on a first home for EVERYBODY who is or is becoming a resident. The tax is higher on a second or ensuing house purchase for everybody. Annual property taxes are discounted by a certain sum for all first homes of all residents. There are national and local taxes involved. The tax is based on the declared taxable value of the house, which is always lower than the sales price. Based on that, I pay no annual property tax on my house.
You will find it easier to get residency than US citizens do. But are you planning to be resident? It is not something to do lightly, because you must go around and denounce yourself to about 10 bureaucracies and continue to do most of it annually. I hired an accountant (commercialista`) who deals with expats finally, because I couldn't even figure out where to go and how many places I had to go. Unlike the US, where the government hunts you down and sends you bills, here you have to hunt the government down. If you haven't done it, your property is un-sellable!
My real estate agent got the codice fiscale for me so I could get electricity without waiting. You will need that long number for innumerable purposes forever. It is based on your name plus some numbers. You need it for all kinds of utilities, services and purchases.
Only residents can buy and register cars. I bought a car before I had my permanent papers, but the paperwork couldn't be finished until I had P di S in hand and took it to the dealer. I did have to get insurance immediately, however.

quote:

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Originally posted by decobabe:
Italian citizenship can be obtained, but it literally takes almost forever and there are no guarantees unless you prove Italian descent at least at the grandparent level.

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Chris was asking me how you go about doing this since two of his grandparents are from Sicily. He's thinking of looking into a "tour of duty" in Italy with his company and thought it might make his case stronger if he can get Italian citizenship. Any ideas? Maria, is this what you did?

Mainly it comes down to if the granparent was still Italian citizens at the time of his father's birth, then he has the right. This is what the
Italian Embassyhas to say on this subject.

DETERMINATION OF ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP

If you were born in the United States, you may be eligible for Italian citizenship if any of the following situations pertains to you:

A. Your father was an Italian citizen at the time of your birth* and you have never renounced your Italian citizenship. The following documentation is required:

1. your fatherâ™s birth certificate
2. your parentâ™s marriage certificate
3. your fatherâ™s current Italian passport and alien registration card
4. your fatherâ™s naturalization certificate or a letter from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service evidencing that he was naturalized AFTER your birth.

*If your father was naturalized before your birth, you are not entitled to Italian citizenship.

B. You were born after January 1, 1948, you have never renounced your Italian citizenship, and your mother was an Italian citizen at the time of your birth.

* The following documentation is required:

1. your motherâ™s birth certificate;
2. your parentâ™s marriage certificate;
3. your motherâ™s current Italian passport and alien registration card;
4. your motherâ™s naturalization certificate or a letter from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service evidencing that she was naturalized AFTER your birth.

If your mother was naturalized before your birth, you are not entitled to Italian citizenship

C. Your father was born in the U.S. and your paternal grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of your fatherâ™s birth* and neither you nor your father ever renounced Italian citizenship.


The following documentation is required:

1. birth certificates of your paternal grandfather and your father;
2. marriage certificates of your grandparents and your parents;
3. your paternal grandfatherâ™s naturalization certificate or a letter from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service evidencing that he was naturalized AFTER your fatherâ™s birth.

If your paternal grandfather was naturalized before your fatherâ™s birth, you and your father are not entitled to Italian citizenship.

D. Your were born after January 1, 1948, your mother was born in the U.S. and your maternal grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of your motherâ™s birth and neither you nor your mother ever renounced Italian citizenship.

The following documentation is required:

1. birth certificates of your maternal grandfather and your mother;
2. marriage certificates of your grandparents and of your parents
3. your maternal grandfatherâ™s naturalization certificate or a letter from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service evidencing that he was naturalized AFTER your motherâ™s birth.

If your maternal grandfather was naturalized before your motherâ™s birth, you and your mother are not entitled to Italian citizenship

U.S.-issued vital records (birth, marriage, and death certificates) that are to be recorded in Italy must be in long form and bear the registrarâ™s raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal and the date the certificate was filed with the registrarâ™s office.

Each document must also have affixed an Apostille in compliance with the 5 October 1961 Hague Convention.

Cristina
A San Franciscan in Siena
Read my report on the Palio di Siena

Thanks Cristina,

I fear Chris's grandfather may have been naturalized before his mother's birth but I'll have to double check now.