Italian Dual Citizenship Changed My Life FOREVER
Getting my Italian dual citizenship has completely changed my life in ways I couldn’t have imagined. Through my ancestry, I was able to gain Italian citizenship, and with it, the freedom to call Europe home without worrying about visas or strict restrictions. One of the first things I did after becoming an Italian citizen was move to Italy. I wanted to really experience what it means to live in the country my ancestors came from, learn the language, and immerse myself in the culture. I ended up moving to Südtirol, a German-speaking region of Italy—probably the least Italian part of the country—but it still gave me a strong sense of connection to my roots. Even though it was very different from the Italy I had pictured, it was still an amazing experience to call that home, just like when I later lived in the Veneto region.
One of the biggest benefits has been the ability to travel and live across the European Union without any headaches. The freedom of movement that comes with having an EU passport has been amazing. I can go to places like Switzerland with far fewer restrictions than someone from outside the European Economic Area, and I don’t need to worry about visas for short trips within the EU. With all the recent talk about Germany stepping out of the Schengen agreement and other changes to border policies, I do wonder what the future holds. But for now, I’m really appreciating the ease of travel.
Healthcare has also been a huge game-changer. Living in Europe, especially as an Italian citizen, I have access to top-tier medical care without the financial stress that comes with healthcare in the U.S. For example, I had a pretty bad burn when I was in Italy, and the treatment I got was incredible. The best part? I didn’t have to worry about huge medical bills. Sure, you have to make contributions to the social systems wherever you live, and it can add up, but it’s still nowhere near the cost of healthcare in the U.S.
One thing that I didn’t fully appreciate until I had it in front of me is the opportunity for affordable education. I’ve thought about going back to school for a while, and even if I don’t go for it, it feels like an exciting opportunity to have on the table. Over here, you can find universities that charge just a few hundred euros per year, compared to the tens of thousands in the States. I’ve seen family friends paying upwards of $65,000 a year for U.S. schools, even with scholarships. Having the option to study at such a low cost feels like an exciting opportunity.
On a more personal level, gaining recognition of my Italian citizenship has helped me feel even more connected to my family’s heritage. Before, Italy always felt like a far-off place, but still home in a sense. Since living there, that feeling has been even more cemented into who I am. Going through the process of applying for citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis) meant digging through generations of family documents, which has only made me more curious about my broader family tree.
One of the most rewarding parts of this whole journey has been being able to help others. I've been a part of the journey of thousands of people who are also wanting to get Italian citizenship by descent, and I’ve even introduced a few people to the concept along the way. Through my YouTube channel and collaborations on the Italian Citizenship Podcast and Italian Real Estate Podcast, I’ve been a part of being able to guide many people through this exciting process. Hearing from people who’ve reached out to say how much the content has helped them reconnect with Italy and realize their own dreams has been incredibly fulfilling.
This whole experience has given me a sense of freedom that I didn’t feel before. Whether it’s the ease of travel, the affordable healthcare and education, or just the ability to live where I feel most at home, becoming an Italian citizen has opened up so many possibilities. I know that if I had stayed in the U.S., I wouldn’t have had the same opportunities or the same sense of connection to my roots. Gaining recognition of Italian dual citizenship has truly been one of the best decisions of my life.