Cost guide • 2026
What it actually costs.
Every real cost to get Italian citizenship in the United States. Consulate fees, apostilles, translations, attorneys. No vague estimates.
Updated: March 2026 • Prices verified
Two routes, two price tags
Since March 2025 (Law 74/2025), the consular route is only available up to 2nd generation. 3rd generation and beyond requires an Italian court.
Consular route
1st-2nd generation
all-in
- ✓ Consulate fee: €600
- ✓ Apostilles: $2-26/doc
- ✓ Translations: $35-40/page
- ✓ US vital records: $10-50 each
Timeline: 6 months – 3+ years
Judicial route
3rd+ generation (or maternal line pre-1948)
attorney + documents
- ✓ Italian attorney: €4,000-10,000
- ✓ Court filing fee: €600
- ✓ Apostilles + translations: same as above
- ✓ Power of attorney: €50-150
Timeline: 18-30 months
The difference is roughly 10x. For 2nd generation applicants, the consular route is significantly cheaper.
Consulate fees (official)
Paid directly to the Italian consulate. Not to Resinaro, not to an attorney.
Citizenship (oath ceremony)
Paid when the consulate summons you for the oath. Can be months to years between application and oath.
Passport
Same fee for adults and minors. Includes booklet (€42.50) + admin (€73.50).
ID card (CIE)
Varies slightly by consulate. Paid on site.
AIRE (registration)
Registering with the consular registry is required by law and free.
Birth registration
Transcribing a birth certificate in Italy is free.
Source: MAECI consular fee schedule • Verified March 2026
Apostilles: the cost that varies most
Every US state has its own office, its own fees and its own timelines. If your documents come from multiple states, you pay multiple times.
| State | Fee | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $2 | 1-3 days |
| Tennessee | $2 | 1-3 days |
| Arizona | $3 | 2-5 days |
| California | $26 | 5-10 days |
| New Jersey | $25 | 5-10 days |
| New York | $10 | 5-10 days |
Full table for all 50 states + DC
For federal documents (e.g. FBI Identity History Summary), the apostille comes from the US Department of State in DC: $20, 4-6 weeks by mail. Same day in person by appointment.
Certified translations
Every English document submitted to the Italian consulate needs a certified Italian translation. The translator signs an accuracy declaration that meets 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). Resinaro provides this service directly — the prices below are ours.
For a typical citizenship file (4-6 documents, most 1-2 pages), total cost with Resinaro is $140-280. Delivery typically within 24 hours.
Worked example: 2nd generation, New York
Your grandfather was Italian. You live in New York. You want citizenship through the consulate.
Example based on 2nd generation, New York consulate, 4 US documents. Totals vary based on number of documents, issuing states and case complexity.
What’s still unclear
Some cost questions don’t have definitive answers:
Judicial route costs post-2029
Bill 1683 proposes centralising applications from 2029. If passed, it could change the cost structure for court-based applications. No details published yet.
Consulate fee changes
Italy updates consular fees periodically. The citizenship fee doubled from €300 to €600 in January 2025 (2025 Budget Law). It could change again.
Additional costs for complex cases
Ancestor naturalised with ambiguous timing, missing documents from Italy, vital record corrections — each of these can add unpredictable costs.
Common cost mistakes
✗ Forgetting documents come from multiple states
If your grandfather was born in Ohio, married in Pennsylvania and died in Florida, that’s 3 apostilles from 3 different states with 3 different fees.
✗ Not budgeting for postage
Apostilled originals are mailed to the consulate by certified mail. $20-50 per shipment. If the consulate returns any, that’s another shipment.
✗ Paying an agency $3,000+ for the consular route
The consular route needs documents, apostilles, translations and an appointment. It doesn’t require an attorney. Actual service costs are under $1,000.
✗ Getting the apostille AFTER the translation
Apostille goes FIRST. The translation certifies the already-apostilled document. If you translate first then apostille, you need to retranslate.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do it all myself and save money?
For the consular route, yes. You’ll still pay the consulate fee (€600), apostille fees and translation costs. You save on professional guidance. The risk is submitting incomplete documents and having to restart — which costs more time than money.
Why does the judicial route cost so much?
It requires a licensed Italian attorney. The €4,000-10,000 covers: preparing the legal petition, court filing, hearings, and post-ruling registration. This isn’t an online service — it’s a real civil case in an Italian court.
Is the €600 consulate fee paid upfront?
No. You pay when the consulate calls you for the oath ceremony, after processing your application. This can be 6 months to 3+ years after submission, depending on the consulate.
Can I reuse apostilles and translations for multiple family members?
Apostilles, no — each original document gets its own. Translations of shared documents (e.g., grandfather’s birth certificate) can be reused if already certified.
Are there hidden costs?
The most common surprises: US vital records certificates ($10-50 each from county or state offices), mailing originals to the consulate ($20-50 certified mail), and apostilles from 3-4 different states if your documents come from multiple jurisdictions.
What if I’m already Italian and living in the US?
If you’re already an Italian citizen needing consular services (passport, AIRE, CIE), costs are much lower. Passport renewal is €116 in consular fees. AIRE registration is free.
What Resinaro covers
We’re not a citizenship agency. We handle the practical parts: translations, document review, appointment booking.
Related guides
Sources
- MAECI consular fee schedule (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
- L. 74/2025, Gazzetta Ufficiale n. 72, 28/03/2025
- 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) — USCIS translation requirements
- Secretary of State websites per state • Verified March 2026
- US Department of State, Office of Authentications — travel.state.gov
Current as of March 2026