Hello,
I am a 22 year old Canadian Citizen, and I am very interested in trying to get my Italian (or EU) citizenship, as I would like to work and live in Italy after I finish my two-year Masters program in Europe next year.
My grandparents were born in Pirano, Istria in 1926 (now Slovenia) and my father's birth certificate indicates he was born in Kopar, Istria in 1953. They all had Italian passports - they moved to Trieste in 1955, and finally moved to Canada in 1960.
From what I can understand, they somehow lost or 'traded' their Italian citizenships in 1970 for Canadian ones when they moved here, because there was no kind of dual-citizenship system at that time.
My father contacted the Italian consulate last year who told him that it would be difficult because the place he was born in at the time it was constantly being traded back and forth between Italy and other countries.
Through a quick browsing of the site, these two cases seem a little similar to mine:
http://italiangenealogy.tardio.com/Foru ... 16257.html
http://italiangenealogy.tardio.com/Foru ... 21122.html
Based on your own knowledge, would I even have a chance in getting some kind of EU citizenship here? This is really important to me, as I've found that selection for EU graduate programs places huge biases against foreign students, making getting accepted significantly harder for me.
Should I be trying to contact Italian or Slovenian offices in order to try and track down information? I was in contact with a lawyer in Italy who said he could help guide me through the process, but I am wary of dealing with someone over e-mail as I have heard a lot about immigration scams.
Grazie mille,
Michael
Istria and Italian Citizenship
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uniqueusername
- Newbie
- Posts: 11
- Joined: 09 Apr 2010, 03:53
Re: Istria and Italian Citizenship
Hi Michael,
I'm the person that posted the query in your first link. My Nonna was born in an Italian town that is now part of Slovenia. I'll try and answer your questions as best I can.
1. Based on your own knowledge, would I even have a chance in getting some kind of EU citizenship here?
Maybe, maybe not. This is from the Italian Consular website in Sydney:
"If your father became an Australian citizen as an adult or, as a child included in his parents' naturalization, then you would not be eligible because you were born from a parent who was no longer an Italian citizen at the time of your birth. However, if your father was still and Italian citizen at the time of his marriage to your mother but not at the time of your birth, then, depending on the date of your parents' marriage, you may still be eligible."
Should I be trying to contact Italian or Slovenian offices in order to try and track down information?
Slovenian offices. The different administrative units can be found here:
Slovenia - administrative units
If your Dad was born in Koper, then this is the website of the office you need:
Koper
Email: ue.koper@gov.si
Translation page: Translation
Basically, write a short email (in Slovene) explaining you want your father's birth certificate in international format and give his name, DOB, parent's names. Ask them to forward it to the administrative department.
You need to include a letter of authority from your Dad, granting you permission to obtain the birth certificate and for good measure, a photocopy of both of your passports.
It sounds complicated but I had my Nonna's birth certificate within 2 weeks I think at absolutely no cost (not even postage).
If you also want your grandfather's birth certificate, use this email address for the office in Piran: ue.piran@gov.si.
I hope that helps. Best of luck.
I'm the person that posted the query in your first link. My Nonna was born in an Italian town that is now part of Slovenia. I'll try and answer your questions as best I can.
1. Based on your own knowledge, would I even have a chance in getting some kind of EU citizenship here?
Maybe, maybe not. This is from the Italian Consular website in Sydney:
"If your father became an Australian citizen as an adult or, as a child included in his parents' naturalization, then you would not be eligible because you were born from a parent who was no longer an Italian citizen at the time of your birth. However, if your father was still and Italian citizen at the time of his marriage to your mother but not at the time of your birth, then, depending on the date of your parents' marriage, you may still be eligible."
Should I be trying to contact Italian or Slovenian offices in order to try and track down information?
Slovenian offices. The different administrative units can be found here:
Slovenia - administrative units
If your Dad was born in Koper, then this is the website of the office you need:
Koper
Email: ue.koper@gov.si
Translation page: Translation
Basically, write a short email (in Slovene) explaining you want your father's birth certificate in international format and give his name, DOB, parent's names. Ask them to forward it to the administrative department.
You need to include a letter of authority from your Dad, granting you permission to obtain the birth certificate and for good measure, a photocopy of both of your passports.
It sounds complicated but I had my Nonna's birth certificate within 2 weeks I think at absolutely no cost (not even postage).
If you also want your grandfather's birth certificate, use this email address for the office in Piran: ue.piran@gov.si.
I hope that helps. Best of luck.
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carinthiangirl
- Veteran
- Posts: 114
- Joined: 13 Apr 2009, 13:50
Re: Istria and Italian Citizenship
"Basically, write a short email (in Slovene) explaining you want your father's birth certificate...."
most slovenes understand english.
most slovenes understand english.
