Hello,

I am not pregnant but just wanted to know if anyone can answer this question as I am baffled!

I have dual citizenship with Australia (where I was born) and Italy (where my dad and maternal grand parents were born.)

I live in Italy now and have an Italian partner. If we have a baby here in Italy would my baby be registered as an Australian or Italian? Would my baby be entitled to both passports immediately? Would I have to chose a nationality? Would it make any difference if my partner and I were married?

I have emailed the Aus Embassy here but have not had an answer yet.

I know in some countries if the mother is not married it depends on her nationality, but if she has 2 then which do they use?

Grazie mille,
Leanne

P.S I am not wanting to have a baby just yet...
www.australiatoitaly.blogspot.com

For Italian citizenship you would just need to register the child with the anagrafe.

For Australian citizenship I found this:

quote:

To register as an Australian by descent, you haveto provide originals of both parents birth certificates, the child'sbirth certificate, the parent's marriage certificate (if appropriate) and parent's passports. Send all of this plus the correct form andthe fee ($80 USD in the USA - rate as of May 1993) to the appropriate consulate for the region you live in and then eventually you get a
Certificate of Australian Citizenship by Descent for the child. Toget a five (5) year child's passport you must present yourself (inPerson) at a Consulate or Embassy with the passport photos, the application form and the appropriate endorsement on the photos (and the Citizenship certificate of course). They'll then give you the passport.

Thanks for that Bill 2. I have been hearing so many different stories, and thought that the australian immigration website seems to have information about what to do if I am applying for the child to return full time to Australia. I had not yet found something simple like the US site you quoted.
Thanks

I am answering my own question now but it may help other Aussies. Thanks to Bill I thought surely there must be an Australian site like the US one he quoted and finally I found this link http://www.citizenship.gov.au/applying/categories/citz-by-descent.htm

The website says:
I was born overseas to an Australian parent. Am I eligible for Australian citizenship by descent?
You are eligible if you were born overseas on or after 26 January 1949 and meet the following requirements:

one of your natural parents was an Australian citizen at the time of your birth
you are of good character if you are over 16 at the time of application
See: Good character
if your parent became an Australian citizen by descent, he or she must have been present in Australia for periods totalling two years at some time in their life.
You are eligible if you were born outside Australia or New Guinea before 26 January 1949 and meet the following requirements:

one of your parents became an Australian citizen on 26 January 1949 either because your parent was born in Australia or New Guinea or was naturalised in Australia before your birth
you are of good character.
See: Good character
How do I apply

Very interesting. Somewhat relatedly, how would this work with adoption? I remember reading before that Italy has stricter rules than the U.S. (not sure about Australia) regarding who may adopt a baby. I believe the couple must be married.

If my partner and I (we are unmarried) were to adopt while in the U.S., would the baby be eligible for Italian citizenship through me?