Italian Citizenship By Descent (2026) | A Visa Lets You Visit A Life--Citizenship Lets You Build One
#ItalianCitizenship #CitizenshipByDescent #JureSanguinis #ItalianDualCitizenship #ItalianAncestry #ItalianRoots #ItalianPassport #MoveToItaly #MovingToSicily #ExpatLife #ItalyLife #Shifting2Sicily
In this episode, we break down our journey into Italian citizenship by descent and why it matters for our future in Sicily. Chris is pursuing citizenship through his Italian family line, and we share what we’ve learned so far, why this process is so important to our move, and how it connects to our bigger life plans in Italy.
We talk about the family history behind the claim, the documents and legal process involved, and what it’s like navigating this path with an immigration lawyer in Milan. If you’ve ever wondered how citizenship by descent works or why so many people are researching their Italian roots, this episode gives you a real-life look at the process from our perspective.
This is part of our Shifting 2 Sicily series documenting our mid-life move from the US to Sicily, including the decisions, surprises, and behind-the-scenes steps that come with it.
Links for this Episode:
Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.com
USCIS CoNE Request Form: https://midas.uscis.dhs.gov/#/cne/req...
Additional CoNE Information: https://www.uscis.gov/g-1566
USPS Informed Delivery: https://www.usps.com/manage/informed-...
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:37 Jure Sanguinis
3:13 Beginnings of Our Citizenship Quest
6:26 The Holy Grail - Certificate of Non-Existence
11:18 Chris' Bloodline & Amending Documents
15:09 Our Process
16:52 What This Means For Us
21:34 Setting Expectations
24:23 Closing
👫 About us
We’re Julie and Chris, a married midlife couple from Philadelphia sharing our real-time journey of shifting from the U.S. to a small Sicilian town for a slower, more intentional Mediterranean life with our rescue dogs, Chuckie and Lina. After a genetic test made it clear we don’t have decades to wait for “someday,” we decided to trade burnout, tense culture, and an overwhelming cost of living for community, health, faith, and simplicity. As planners with demanding careers and two large dogs, we’re documenting every step: scouting homes in tiny towns, testing remote work feasibility, navigating visas, figuring out how to move abroad with pets, and making small daily shifts—like cooking fresh, Italian-inspired meals together—that help us live the life we’re moving toward right now.
If you’re dreaming about a similar move or just craving a slower, more intentional life wherever you are, we’re sharing the research, mistakes, and milestones so you can learn alongside us and see what it really takes to start over in Sicily.
👍 If you dream about a slower life…
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YouTube Channel: / @shifting2sicily
Instagram Handle: / shifting2sicily
Website: https://www.shifting2sicily.com