Lately, another Italian Citizenship scam was found. This speed-based trick of Italian citizenships granted remotely (which is illegal) does not seem to get any old.
The small town of Lauriano Po, with not even 1.500 habitants, ended up in a judicial storm over a system of bribery where public officers falsely confirmed the residency of 68 Brazilian nationals on a two-room bed&breakfast, which led to the recognition of Italian citizenship by descent.
Among the victims, there is also the Arsenal footballer Gabriel Martinelli and his father who received a certificate of residence without ever having set foot on Italian soil.
This ”path”, which may appear simple and easy, brought in very large sums of money. Brazilian citizens turned to an intermediation company to obtain Italian citizenship by descent; the money was paid to the agency, which first took care of obtaining fictitious residencies and then of the recognition of Italian citizenship along with some public officials who also offered their support for AIRE registrations.
The judicial inquiry, which is taking place between Piedmont and Tuscany, has several statal officers, among those under investigation, including also the mayor, who seems to have received many precious gifts.
Unfortunately, there have been many similar cases in the past. We suggest to beware of these kinds of “easy and fast options” and always checking official information, for example: https://www.esteri.it/en/servizi-consolari-e-visti/italiani-all-estero/cittadinanza/.
In many cases, the process of obtaining Italian citizenship by descent can take a long time, where even obtaining an appointment seems to be a “mission impossible”. This situation may bring some frustration, yet, choosing a non-legal path is not an option. There are also legal remedies against the consulate’s delays that may apply to your case.
For more information about Italian citizenship by descent and residency registration, please check the following links:
Other references (external link):
This article was written by Giuditta De Ricco & Greis Muca
This article is posted by Mazzeschi Web Content Manager. Should you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@mazzeschi.it. Follow us on social media @StudioMazzeschi to receive the latest updates.
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