By Stephanie Poliseni and Bruna Fernandes
The Italian passport, more than ever, has become absolutely valuable for many people who want to travel, live, work abroad, study and save money – and more than that, who want to pass all the above-mentioned benefits down to their children. This fact, combined with the reality that there are, today, about 17 million Americans eligible for Italian Citizenship, explain the notably growing number of applications for dual Citizenship.
These descendants began to discover that they do not necessarily need to carry an Italian surname or have any command of the Italian language. Furthermore, they discovered that the right of blood (jure sanguinis) is not limited by generations: that’s why these new Italian-Americans mostly are great-grandchildren and even great-great-grandchildren of Italian immigrants from the 1880s.
Facts don't lie. However, some people still wonder if the process of searching for their roots is really worth it. To answer this question, we will show in this article the main benefits that this European passport can offer to its holder.
A more powerful passport in your hands – added to yours
According to the Guide Passport Ranking Index, the Italian passport currently ranks on the 4th place. It provides visa-free access to 190 countries, being considered one of the most desirable passports in the world with avery high mobility score. Even more, since Italy started allowing dual citizenship in 1992, becoming an Italian can now be done without renouncing your identity and legal status as an American. That means that you can add the benefits of both passports.
Transit and stay in the Schengen Area without bureaucracy
The Schengen Area is an area that encompasses European countries that signed the Schengen Agreement, which aims to regulate the free movement of people, goods, services and values between the signatory countries. Currently, this area corresponds to the territory of 26 countries, including most of those belonging to the European Union, such as Italy, in addition to Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
According to the Schengen Agreement, citizens of these countries can move freely within the delimited area, without being subject to migratory procedures or a fixed period of stay. A European citizen can, for example, choose to live in the neighbouring country without applying for any bureaucratic residence permission. They can also have a holiday trip without facing even an ordinary border migration.
Currently, some countries do not need a visa to transit the Schengen Area for a period of up to 90 days, despite being subject to the traditional migration process upon arrival. However, this is expected to change. The European Travel Information and Authorization System or ETIAS visa waiver will be a travel requirement to visit Europe, expected to be in operation from November 2023. U.S. citizens who wish to travel to and around Europe will have to apply online for an ETIAS visa waiver. The ETIAS, in addition, will have a limited duration of 3 years, or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. Those who wish to travel to Europe, therefore, will have to face another bureaucracy that Italian citizenship would exempt.
European residence permit for close family members
Close relatives or dependents of a European citizen can apply for a residence card to legally live and work in any country in the Schengen Area.
The following are considered close family members who are beneficiaries of such a visa: spouse or partner; children of the citizen, or of the partner, under 21 years of age or over who are financially dependent; parents or grandparents of the citizen, or his partner, who are financially dependent on him; or a family member who is dependent on the citizen for their livelihood or for health-related reasons.
Permitted work without a visa
Even while the ETIAS does not come into force, citizens of other countries still need a visa if they want to work in Europe. This process is extremely bureaucratic, with an extensive list of prerequisites and significant numbers of denials.
European Union citizens, on the other hand, can work in any country in the block without needing anything other than their traditional documents. You don't need any government authorization, just be accepted for a job and follow the same classic path that you are used to in your home country.
It is also permissible to be appointed to positions in the public sector, whether in public administration, state-owned companies or other public agencies. There may be specific restrictions for some public offices in countries other than the country of origin of the citizenship. With Italian citizenship, for example, the individual can hold any position, public or private, in Italy. However, another country, such as France, may restrict some public tenders for this European citizen who is not its national.
Best job opportunities
Many employers, especially multinationals, are interested in hiring an employee who has more than one citizenship. This is because, sometimes, it is necessary for this employee to travel to represent the company in other countries, to visit the company's offices abroad or to hold field meetings with international clients.
To legally enter to work in many countries, however, a visa is required, which is subject to bureaucratic approval and high costs. When the employee has European citizenship, for example, he can enter several states without a visa, which saves the company time and money.
Study in Europe for free (or nearly so)
In addition to the possibilities of work, Italian citizenship grants several opportunities to study on the continent, at the most diverse levels of training.
It is no novelty to affirm that Europe is the home of many of the best universities in the world and the European passport can facilitate acceptance, but mainly helps with the expenses to obtain such a prestigious degree.
In many European countries, classes are free for EU citizens. This is the case, for example, of Denmark, where students from other countries can pay up to 16 thousand euros per year for classes that are free for those who have European citizenship.
Taking the historic, and intensely sought, University of Coimbra, in Portugal, as an example: an Internationalstudent will pay the institution a total of 7 thousand euros per year to fund his undergraduate studies. A student from the European Union, on the other hand, will only pay €697 per year for the same lessons.
Right to access Italian public healthcare
there is no universal healthcare system in the U.S. Healthcare is largely provided by the private sector, and financed by a system of private insurance, and federal and state government programs -and it is very expensive. In Italy, on the other hand, healthcare is almost free for its citizens.
In 2019, Italy's healthcare system was considered one of the top 10 in the world, according to The Lancet Public Health magazine. In addition, as a European citizen, you can have access to the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), which grants access to any public hospitals in Schengen Agreement signatory countries, with just the payment of a small fee depending on the patient's need.
Diplomatic support from any member of the European Union
Nobody likes to imagine that they will face some emergency on a trip, especially when they are on holiday. However, this reality needs to be faced, there are no totally safe places and problems can occur when you least expect it. For cases like this, among others, the performance of a diplomatic representation is essential.
For a European citizen, on the other hand, this assistance is even easier, as they may require diplomatic protection from the diplomatic-consular network of any member state of the European Union, when there is no representation from his country of origin.
European citizenship for future generations
The desire of every parent is to be able to give the best life for their children. The moment the father, for example, has his Italian citizenship recognized, he guarantees that his children will be able to have access to all the advantages mentioned above.
A special advantage of Italian citizenship is that it can be passed on to future generations, with no generational limit.
What's more, the child under the age of 18 that the citizen has, at the time he is recognized as an Italian, will automatically receive citizenship, without the need for another application.
Special advantage for professional football players: free movement within A, B and Lega Pro series clubs
For many football players, playing abroad is a big dream, not only for the higher salaries in a more valued currency, but also for the professional recognition that can be gained by participating in championships accompanied by fans from all over the world, such as the famous Champions League.
And, of course, European citizenship can be an important factor in realising that dream.
Still supported by the European principle of free movement within the limits of the Schengen Area, football players with Italian and, consequently, European citizenship, can be hired by any professional sports society, without limits. In addition, of course, save the contracting team from the visa costs for a foreigner to be able to exercise their profession in a European country.
Non-EU (non-European Community) citizens, on the other hand, may face complicated limitations that go far beyond an ordinary work visa. Depending on the professional level, the football club may be limited to inserting 3, 2, 1 or even no one foreign players in the team.
Such limitations can prevent the realisation of the dream of playing in Europe. Possessing a European citizenship, on the other hand, can bring the dream closer to reality.
Fewer U.S. taxes - or none at all
All US citizens and green card holders are required to file a US federal tax return and pay taxes to the IRS regardless of where in the world they live, or their income is generated. The good news is that there are IRS provisions that can be claimed to mitigate double taxation. There is a Tax Treaty between the United States and Italy which allows US expats to avoid double taxation on their income taxed in Italy and claim US tax credits.
There is also an option to fully free Americans of their government’s high taxation: there is the option of renouncing citizenship and falling back on Italian citizenship. This could lessen tax liabilities.
Mangia bene, ridi spesso, ama molto: live in Italy
According to a worldwide ranking, Italy is the number 2 in the “Adventure” category. Moving to Italy means, firstly, taste incredible food – and wine. Secondly, in Italy the healthcare is much more affordable than in the United States, living costs tend to be cheaper, the nightlife is very active, Italians love their pets, and they take them everywhere with them and there are beautiful landscapes and an undoubted rich history.
If you have any doubts about the advantages of Italian citizenship or if you are convinced to seek yours, do not hesitate to contact us. We have a team specialised in Italian citizenship processes to ensure that your European passport dream, with all these rights presented above, becomes a reality.
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