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AMERICANS IN ITALY

Americans in Italy: Hiring an ancestry detective and bringing pets from the US

How can you bring your pet from the US to Italy and what's the role of an 'ancestry detective' in helping you uncover your Italian origins? We explore in our latest Americans in Italy newsletter.

Published: 21 March 2024 11:49 CET
Americans in Italy: Hiring an ancestry detective and bringing pets from the US
If you want to learn more about your Italian heritage, an ancestry detective could help. Photo by Lawrence Chismorie on Unsplash

Welcome to our regular look at everything you need to know about life in Italy for The Local’s readers from the US. This newsletter is published monthly and you can receive it directly to your inbox before we publish by going to newsletter preferences in ‘My Account’ or following the instructions in the newsletter box below.

If you’re a pet owner who’s planning on relocating from the US to Italy, one of the first things you’ll want to do is make sure you can bring your furry friend with you.

Bringing a domestic animal into Italy from the US means getting to grips with plenty of rules and paperwork – but the good news is you most likely won’t have to quarantine your pet on arrival, and most Italian ports and airports are authorised entry points.

The rules for dogs, cats, and – interestingly – ferrets are the same when it comes to importing a pet into the EU; you’ll need an animal health certificate from a USDA-authorised vet and to make sure they’re vaccinated against rabies.

If you have a rabbit, bird, turtle or other animal, on the other hand, there are slightly stricter rules in place, but you should still be able to bring your pet over without too much difficulty.

Can I bring my pet from the USA into Italy?

What’s involved in bringing your dog from the US to Italy? Photo by Gabriella Clare Marino on Unsplash

If you’re vaguely aware of having Italian roots and want to learn more – either out of personal interest or to pursue an Italian citizenship application – you may want to engage the services of an Italian ancestry detective, a profession that’s increasingly on the rise in Italy.

Fabio Cardile, from Palermo, Sicily has been working in the field for over 25 years, and has investigated the Italian ancestries of the likes of John Travolta and Jill Biden.

He starts by searching state records online and then going in person to local parishes, churches and graveyards, where the only documents available are sometimes hundreds of years old and in Latin.

“In the hardest cases all clients are able to give me is their last name and I need to trace back in time the origin of it and the location in Italy where still nowadays there are similar-sounding names,” says Cardile.

How ancestry detectives help Americans and Brits find their Italian roots

Putting together your Italian family tree often involves visiting local authority offices and churches in person to access records. Photo: Andreas SOLARO / AFP

Under incoming changes to the EU’s border system, Americans and other third country nationals will soon have to pay a fee to enter Italy.

The charge won’t set visitors back by too much, however: it costs just €7 (free for over 70s and under 18s) and is valid for multiple trips to the EU over a three-year period.

There’s also currently no fixed date for the introduction of the ETIAS system, which is modelled on the US’s ESTA visa waiver program; it’s provisionally scheduled to become active in 2024, but there have already been multiple delays, and it could well be pushed back until 2025.

That hasn’t stopped Donald Trump from getting worked up about the scheme and promising to put an end to it if he were reelected – something that would in fact be beyond any US president’s powers.

Will American tourists need to pay a fee to visit Italy?

Have your say: If you’d like to share your opinion or tell us about an experience you’ve had while living in Italy, please leave a comment below this article or get in touch by email.

And if you have any advice for other American readers who are considering moving to Italy, or questions of your own, you can add them to our ongoing survey here.

Thanks for reading and please get in touch with us by email if you have any feedback on this newsletter.

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AMERICANS IN ITALY

How to quickly get a US passport for a child born in Italy

What are the steps to apply for a baby's US passport from Italy? How long does it take? Here’s all the experience-based information and tips American parents in Italy should know before beginning the process.

Published: 13 May 2024 15:35 CEST
Updated: 18 May 2024 09:23 CEST
How to quickly get a US passport for a child born in Italy

You’ve left the United States and moved to Italy. Now, you’ve added a baby to this exciting new life. You’ll want to secure their US citizenship and passport straight away.

This article lays out the qualifications for a US passport and the steps to get one. Fortunately, the process is fairly simple, according to people who have done it.

Does your baby qualify for a US passport?

Your newborn qualifies for US citizenship and a US passport under the following conditions:

  •  They were born within wedlock to two US citizen parents.
  • They were born within wedlock and one of the parents is a US citizen who lived for at least five years in the United States, two of which were after age 14.
  • They were born out of wedlock to a US citizen mother who lived for at least five years in the United States, two of which were after age 14, and a non-citizen father.
  • They were born out of wedlock to a US citizen father who lived for at least five years in the United States, two of which were after age 14, and non-citizen mother, provided certain additional requirements are met.

READ ALSO: How to renew your American passport in Italy

When the parent who is a US citizen is the father and the baby is born out of wedlock, there are a few extra steps required.

You’ll attain a sworn statement from the father agreeing to give financial support until they are 18 years old and supply a written statement acknowledging paternity.

If your child does qualify for American citizenship, the next steps are pretty straightforward, although completing the required forms can be time-consuming.

What are the first steps when applying for a child’s US passport from Italy?

The first step is applying for a Consular Report of Birth abroad (CRBA), which documents that your child is a US citizen at birth. Any of the US Consular Agencies in Rome, Milan, Florence or Naples can accept applications for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA) and US passports.

To begin, you’ll apply online. But remember, you’ll need original copies of any documents you upload; you’ll bring these to your in-person appointment at the consulate.

Documents you’ll need include:

  • Your child’s original Italy birth certificate with both parents’ names, along with two photocopies.
  • Your original marriage certificate, if married, plus one photocopy.
  • Your original divorce certificate, if divorced, plus one photocopy.
  • Valid original passport/identification document for each parent, along with two photocopies.
  • Proof of US citizenship, such as a passport, birth certificate, or Certificate of Naturalization, for the US parent(s), plus copies.
  • Proof of physical presence in the United States for the US parent(s), in the form of documents such as school records, university transcripts or employment records.

All foreign-language documents must be accompanied by a simple English translation that does not need to be certified.

In Italy, you can submit your CRBA application and pay the $100 processing fee online, following the specific instructions for the consulate where you want to schedule your in-person appointment.

READ ALSO: What to do if you lose your passport while travelling in Italy

You’ll then be contacted within five business days with a date and time for your interview. You’ll need to bring the originals and photocopies of all the documents listed above, as well as a completed DS-2029 form.

To apply for a US passport for your child at the same time as the CRBA appointment, you’ll need to bring a completed DS-11 (passport application) form and, if in Rome or Naples, a completed SS-5 (social security card application) form.

 You’ll need to bring original copies and photocopies of the following documents:

  •  One 2”x2” (5x5cm) passport picture for your child.
  • Identification for both parents.
  • A physical copy of the completed passport application form (DS-11).
  • Anything else your consulate tells you to bring (such as completed SS-5 form in Rome or Naples).

You’ll need to pay the $135 under-16s passport application fee via cash or card at the appointment.

Important considerations:

For the CRBA, the US parent(s) must report their physical presence in the United States, detailing each trip abroad. In other words, it’s crucial you don’t include time abroad in your list of days staying within the United States. If the dates are incorrect, the processing could be suspended until you correct the dates.

It’s very important for both listed parents to attend the appointment. If only one parent can attend, you’ll need to submit a notarised DS-3053 Statement of Consent from the absent parent. If you have sole legal custody of your child, you’ll need to bring proof, such as a court order.

Bring your child’s passport photo in a separate envelope (to not lose it) but don’t staple it to the passport application.

How long does it take?

Once your application and interview are complete, it takes around 15 working days for Italy’s US consulates to process a CRBA and first passport.

If you have questions, don’t be shy about contacting your consulate for clarification.

Congratulations on your multinational family!

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