Citizenship by descent · Italy and Spain
Registering your minor children as Italian or Spanish citizens
If you are already an Italian or Spanish citizen, your minor children can be too. It is the procedure we handle most often, and we manage it end to end, from obtaining the certificates to leaving the file ready for the appointment.
In Italy, Law 74/2025 created a consular declaration for the minor children of Italian citizens. In Spain, children are registered at the Consular Civil Registry by birth or by option. In both cases you only attend the final appointment.
Who qualifies?
You can register your children if one of these applies to you.
- You are an Italian citizen by birth, that is, by descent (iure sanguinis), and have minor children. This path does not apply if you became Italian through naturalization or marriage.
- You are a Spanish citizen, whether you held the nationality when your child was born or obtained it later.
- You have several children and want to register all of them in one procedure.
The law sets deadlines based on each child's date of birth and age. If one of them is close to turning 18, it is best to start now.
How we manage it
Step 01
We assess your case
We review your citizenship, your civil status at the consulate and each child's situation, and tell you which path applies.
Step 02
We prepare the file
We request the certificates, handle apostilles and official translations, fill in the consular forms and check that everything complies.
Step 03
You attend the appointment
We guide you through booking and hand you the finished file. At the Italian consulate both parents attend and the children do not need to go.
Timelines and key facts
- Italy
- Declaration at the Italian Consulate in Santiago under Law 74/2025. Beforehand, your civil status and your AIRE registration (the registry of Italians living abroad) must be up to date, and we handle that too.
- Spain
- Registration at the Spanish Consular Civil Registry in Santiago, by birth or by option. Registration at the consulate is free of charge.
- Timing
- Most of the time depends on the Civil Registry and on each consulate's appointment availability. In the consultation we give you a realistic estimate.
Frequently asked questions
Do my children need to travel?
No. The procedures take place at the consulates in Santiago and, for Italy, the children do not need to attend the appointment.
What if my AIRE registration is not up to date?
Before the Italian declaration, your AIRE registration and civil status must be updated at the consulate. If they are not, we handle it as part of the procedure.
Are there deadlines?
Yes. Italian law sets deadlines based on each child's date of birth and age, and in Spain the right of option expires before age 20. That is why we review each case as soon as you contact us.
Do both parents need to attend the Italian appointment?
Yes. The Italian consulate requires both parents to attend, even if they are separated or one of them is not Italian.
How much does it cost?
It depends on the country and on how many children we register. After the free consultation we send you a clear, all-inclusive proposal.
Register your children without missing deadlines
Answer a few questions and we will tell you how to start. It takes 2 minutes and it is free.
Assess your casePrefer to talk it through directly? Book your free consultation