{"id":3148,"date":"2023-11-01T15:24:23","date_gmt":"2023-11-01T20:24:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ambpanama.esteri.it\/servizi-consolari-e-visti\/servizi-per-il-cittadino-italiano\/stato-civile\/registrare-una-nascita\/"},"modified":"2026-07-09T10:02:05","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T15:02:05","slug":"registrare-una-nascita","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ambpanama.esteri.it\/en\/servizi-consolari-e-visti\/servizi-per-il-cittadino-italiano\/stato-civile\/registrare-una-nascita\/","title":{"rendered":"Register a Birth"},"content":{"rendered":"

Law No. 74 of 23\/05\/2025<\/strong>, which amended and converted Decree-Law No. 36 of 28\/03\/2025,\u00a0introduced significant restrictions on the transmission of Italian citizenship and, consequently, on the procedure for registering the birth certificates of minors born abroad.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The new citizenship law introduced the principle that\u00a0a person born abroad<\/strong>, even before the effective date of Law No. 74 of 23\/05\/2025,\u00a0who holds another nationality or even has the right to acquire it, is considered to have never acquired Italian citizenship<\/strong>,\u00a0unless\u00a0<\/strong>one of the conditions outlined below applies.<\/p>\n

AUTOMATIC ACQUISITION OF ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP BY MINOR CHILDREN BORN ABROAD TO ITALIAN CITIZENS<\/strong><\/p>\n

A minor born abroad to Italian parents is considered to be automatically an Italian citizen only if at least one of the following conditions applies:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. At the time of birth, the minor is entitled exclusively to Italian citizenship<\/strong>, meaning that he or she does not have, and cannot acquire, any other citizenship (for example, by iure sanguinis<\/em>, iure soli<\/em>, by option, etc.). This situation generally does not apply to children born in Panama<\/strong>, as they are usually entitled to Panamanian citizenship (even if the parents decide not to apply for it). When requesting the registration of the birth certificate, appropriate documentation must be provided to demonstrate that, at the time of birth, the minor was not entitled to acquire any foreign citizenship.<\/li>\n
  2. At the time of the minor’s birth, a first- or second-degree ascendant (parent or grandparent) possesses, or possessed at the time of death, exclusively Italian citizenship. <\/strong>The request for registration must be accompanied by appropriate documentation conclusively demonstrating that, at the time of the minor’s birth, one of the parents or grandparents was exclusively an Italian citizen (or was exclusively an Italian citizen at the time of death, if the death occurred before the minor’s birth). The responsibility for providing valid proof of non-naturalization, issued by the competent authorities of all countries in which the ascendant may have resided, lies exclusively with the applicant. Self-declarations regarding the non-possession of another citizenship will not be accepted.<\/li>\n
  3. The Italian-citizen parent resided in Italy for at least two continuous years after acquiring Italian citizenship and before the child’s date of birth. <\/strong>This is the procedure recommended for all Italian citizens born in Italy who have lived continuously in Italy for at least two years before the birth of their child. <\/strong><\/em>A parent who was born an Italian citizen, even if also holding another citizenship, or a parent who acquired Italian citizenship through marriage, residence, or by operation of law, must demonstrate that he or she resided in Italy for at least two continuous years after acquiring Italian citizenship and before the child’s date of birth. Residence in Italy prior to the acquisition of Italian citizenship is not relevant, nor is the residence in Italy of the foreign parent. Self-declarations regarding residence will not be accepted. The responsibility for providing valid proof of residence lies exclusively with the applicant.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED FOR CHILDREN BORN IN PANAMA<\/strong><\/p>\n

    a) Application form for the registration of the birth certificate<\/strong>, duly completed and signed by both parents.<\/p>\n

    b) Original full birth certificate<\/strong> (Acta Integral de Nacimiento<\/em>), issued by the Tribunal Electoral<\/em>, bearing an Apostille issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama and with a date of issue not older than one year.<\/p>\n

    c) Original translation of the birth certificate<\/strong>, duly accompanied by an Apostille on the translator’s signature.<\/p>\n

    NOTE:<\/strong> The translation must be made directly from the original language of the document into Italian. Translations bearing a digital signature will not be accepted.<\/p>\n

    d) Original identity documents<\/strong> of the minor and both parents.<\/p>\n

    e) A clear photocopy of all the documents listed above<\/strong> must also be submitted.<\/p>\n

    If any of the documents contain writings or annotations on the reverse side, photocopies of the reverse side must also be provided.<\/p>\n

    DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED FOR CHILDREN BORN IN OTHER COUNTRIES<\/strong><\/p>\n

    a) Application form for the registration of the birth certificate<\/strong>, duly completed and signed by both parents.<\/p>\n

    b) Original full or extended birth certificate<\/strong>, depending on the format issued in the country of birth, issued by the competent authority of the country where the birth occurred (with a date of issue not older than one year), together with the original Apostille issued by the competent authority in the country of origin.<\/p>\n

    For certificates issued in the United States<\/strong>, the birth certificate must always be submitted in the Long Form or Extended Form<\/strong>, indicating the exact place of birth, the date of birth or age, and the parents’ places of birth, in accordance with the format issued by the individual State authorities.<\/p>\n

    c) Original translation of the birth certificate<\/strong>, duly accompanied by an Apostille on the translator’s signature.<\/p>\n

    NOTE:<\/strong> The translation must be made directly from the original language of the document into Italian. Translations bearing a digital signature will not be accepted.<\/p>\n

    d) Photocopies of the identity documents<\/strong> of the minor and both parents.<\/p>\n

    e) A clear photocopy of all the documents listed above<\/strong> must also be submitted.<\/p>\n

    If any of the documents contain writings or annotations on the reverse side, photocopies of the reverse side must also be provided.<\/p>\n

    Where to apply for the service<\/strong><\/p>\n

    a) By appearing in person, with both parents, at the Embassy of Italy in Panama, after booking an appointment for “Consular Services”<\/strong> through the Prenot@mi portal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    b) By applying directly to the Italian Municipality (Comune<\/em>) of A.I.R.E. registration (in this case, applicants should contact the Municipality’s Civil Status Office directly).<\/p>\n

    IMPORTANT<\/strong><\/p>\n

    In both cases, if the parents are married, it is essential that their marriage has already been registered in Italy. If the parents are not married, both parents must appear in person, together with the minor, at the Consular Chancellery of the Embassy of Italy in order to sign the acknowledgment of paternity\/maternity for a child born out of wedlock.<\/p>\n

    Please note that the preparation of this declaration is subject to a fee of EUR 20<\/strong>, payable in cash and in U.S. dollars (USD), according to the current consular exchange rate. In the absence of the above requirements, it will not be possible to proceed with the registration of the birth.<\/p>\n

    If both parents are Italian citizens and belong to or reside in different Italian municipalities (Comuni<\/em>), the birth certificate will be registered with the mother’s municipality of reference, unless the parents agree otherwise.<\/p>\n

    Once the application has been processed, the Embassy will send an email to the applicant confirming that the documentation has been forwarded to the competent Municipality (Comune<\/em>). Therefore, there is no need to contact the Office to request updates on the status of the application, as the subsequent processing falls under the responsibility of other authorities.<\/p>\n

    Applicants are kindly requested to provide a valid email address and to promptly notify the Embassy of any changes to their contact information.<\/p>\n

    NEW CASES OF ACQUISITION OF ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP ABROAD BY MINOR CHILDREN OF ITALIAN CITIZENS WHO DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY ACQUIRE ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP<\/strong><\/p>\n

    A minor born abroad to Italian parents who cannot be considered automatically an Italian citizen due to the limitations described above (namely, a minor who possesses another citizenship or whose parents\/grandparents possess another citizenship) may acquire Italian citizenship by operation of law<\/strong> if the parents or legal guardian declare their intention for the child to acquire Italian citizenship within three years of the child’s birth, provided that all of the following requirements are met:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. At least one of the parents is an Italian citizen by descent (iure sanguinis<\/em>). <\/strong>Therefore, the following categories are excluded: Italian citizens by naturalization (Article 9 of Law No. 91\/1992);\u00a0Italian citizens by operation of law (Article 4 of Law No. 91\/1992);\u00a0Italian citizens by marriage (Article 5 of Law No. 91\/1992 or Article 10 of Law No. 555\/1912);\u00a0Italian citizens by iuris communicatione<\/em> (Article 14 of Law No. 91\/1992). The responsibility for providing valid proof that the parent possesses Italian citizenship iure sanguinis<\/em> lies exclusively with the applicant.<\/li>\n
    2. Both parents (including the foreign parent) or the legal guardian must submit the declaration of intent for the acquisition of citizenship within three years of the child’s birth, or within three years from the subsequent date on which filiation, including adoption during the child’s minority, is legally established with an Italian citizen.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      IMPORTANT<\/strong><\/p>\n

      A minor who acquires Italian citizenship by operation of law<\/strong> does not become an Italian citizen by birth or iure sanguinis<\/em>. Pursuant to Article 15 of Law No. 91\/1992, the minor acquires Italian citizenship on the day following the date on which all the conditions established by law have been met (for declarations submitted at a Consulate, this means the day following the declaration made by both parents).<\/p>\n

      Upon reaching the age of majority, a person who acquired Italian citizenship through the declaration of intent described above may renounce it, provided that he or she holds another citizenship.<\/p>\n

      A transitional provision has also been introduced (Article 1, paragraph 1-ter, of Decree-Law No. 36\/2025), allowing the above-mentioned declaration of intent for the acquisition of citizenship on behalf of a minor child of an Italian citizen to whom Italian citizenship is not automatically transmitted, provided that all of the following conditions are met:<\/p>\n