The law of 14 December 2000, no. 379 also allows recognition of Italian nationality for the descendants of those emigrating from Trentino and other territories which are now Italian but which once belonged to the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, before annexation to Italy.

q Those who intend to avail themselves of the law must explicitly state their desire to acquire Italian nationality with a declaration to be presented to the Registrar’s Office of their commune, if they are resident in Italy, or to the competent Italian Consulate for the country, if resident abroad.

q The following documents must also be presented:

a) Birth certificate, if possible on an international form, of the person requesting recognition of Italian nationality;

b) Certification of the current residence of the person;

c) Certification stating the possession of foreign nationality of the applicant;

d) Documentation capable of demonstrating the birth and residence in the territories once belonging to the Austro-Hungarian Empire of the applicant or of the ancestor who emigrated. In the second case it is also necessary to demonstrate direct descent from the ancestor who emigrated abroad and thus it is necessary to gather all the certificates (birth certificate, marriage certificate, death certificate) related to the persons making up the chain of descent.

As regards the demonstration of residence of the ancestor before emigration abroad, we should nevertheless point out that it will be impossible to obtain such documentation, as at the time there were parish registers which showed births, marriages and deaths, but no registers of the resident population. We are therefore sure that the Ministry of the Interior will not fail to bear the historic situation in mind when evaluating applications for recognition of nationality.

e) Documentation capable of demonstrating emigration in the period between 25 December 1867 (date of the establishment of the Austro-Hungarian Empire) and 16 July 1920 (date the Treaty of Saint Germain came into effect). This could be an old passport or permit, or documentation demonstrating the transfer or maintenance of residence abroad in the period indicated;

f) Any certification issued by Clubs, Associations, Communities of Italians present in the place of residence abroad, containing evidence demonstrating that the person concerned was Italian (for example, it is possible to declare that it is well-known that the person concerned and his ancestors belonged to the Italian ethnolinguistic group; a declaration that the person is Italian may be issued; a declaration proving the date of enrolment in the Italian organisation may be issued);