Certificate of Non-Renunciation: What It Is and How to Obtain It

The Certificate of Non-Renunciation, known as CNN, is one of the most decisive documents for those seeking Italian citizenship through an ancestor who naturalized in another country. Without it, many processes of judicial recognition of citizenship in 2026 simply do not move forward, especially in cases where naturalization occurred before the birth of a minor child.

What is the Certificate of Non-Renunciation (CNN)

The Certificate of Non-Renunciation is a document issued by consular authorities or official bodies of the country where the Italian ancestor naturalized, attesting that this person never formally renounced Italian citizenship before the competent authorities. In Brazil, this type of certificate is typically sought from the Ministry of Justice or historical naturalization archives, depending on the time period and state where the process occurred.

It is important not to confuse the CNN with other documents in the citizenship process, such as birth, marriage, and death certificates extracted from Italian or Brazilian civil registries. While these certificates prove the line of descent, the CNN has a specific function: to demonstrate that there was no voluntary act of renunciation of Italian citizenship by the ancestor, which is different from naturalization itself.

This distinction gained even greater legal weight in recent years, as the Italian citizenship process began to require, in certain cases, more robust proof regarding the so-called "minor issue" — the situation in which a minor child automatically lost Italian citizenship when the father naturalized in another country, as provided for in article 12, §2, of Law 555/1912:

"The unemancipated minor child of one who loses Italian citizenship... becomes a foreigner, except if remaining in the Kingdom."

The CNN is therefore essential in the 2026 judicial citizenship process because it helps clarify the chronology of events: when naturalization occurred, whether there was express renunciation, and how this affected descendants in the line of succession.

Who Needs the Certificate of Non-Renunciation

Not every descendant of an Italian needs to present the CNN. This document is requested mainly by those in specific situations, such as:

• Descendants of an ancestor who naturalized in another country before 1992, the year Italy began to allow dual citizenship without automatic loss of Italian citizenship;
• Cases where citizenship is blocked by naturalization prior to the emancipation or majority of a child, constituting the so-called "minor issue";
• Situations where the Italian judiciary requires proof that there was no formal renunciation, distinguishing simple naturalization (which before 1992 already implied loss of citizenship for the naturalized person themselves) from voluntary and express renunciation.

It is worth noting that the naturalization of the ancestor, in itself, typically resulted in the loss of Italian citizenship of the naturalized person themselves, according to the legislation in force at the time. The CNN comes into play precisely to clarify the effects of this act on minor children who were under their custody at the time of naturalization, a point that has been debated in different Italian civil courts.

How to Request the CNN from the Italian Comune

Despite the name suggesting a direct relationship with the Italian comune, the CNN is normally obtained in the country where naturalization occurred — in the case of descendants in Brazil, this means Brazilian archives, not Italian ones. Nevertheless, the ancestor's comune of origin remains fundamental for gathering the rest of the documentation for the process.

Identifying the comune of origin

The first step is to confirm which Italian comune the ancestor was born in, information that typically appears in birth certificates or immigration records. This data guides the search for other complementary documents, such as baptism certificates and old parish records.

Required documents

To request the CNN, the following documents are generally required:

• Full name of the ancestor and any spelling variations throughout their life;
• Approximate date of naturalization;
• Location where the naturalization process took place;
• Documents proving the line of descent to the applicant.

Timeline and costs

Timelines vary considerably depending on the agency consulted and the volume of archives to be reviewed, potentially taking anywhere from several weeks to several months. Costs also vary according to the institution responsible for the search and issuance of the certificate, with no uniform value applicable to all cases.

Contact with notaries and archives

When the process involves complementary Italian documentation, contact with local notary offices (uffici di stato civile) can be made directly by correspondence or, in some comuni, through digital request platforms. It is advisable to gather as much data as possible before making contact, to avoid incomplete responses or refusals due to lack of information.

Judicial Process for Recognition with CNN

With the changes brought by Decreto Tajani (Decree-Law 36/2025, converted into Law 74/2025), the consular route for citizenship recognition became restricted to children and grandchildren of Italians, making the judicial route the necessary path for great-grandchildren and more distant generations. In this context, the CNN gained even greater relevance as evidence.

Function of CNN in the judicial process

In Italian courts, the CNN is presented as part of the body of evidence that demonstrates the maintenance of the citizenship link throughout the line of succession. In cases of "minor issue," the certificate helps the judge understand whether the minor's loss of citizenship resulted only from the father's naturalization or if there was also express renunciation, which may have distinct legal effects.

Competent courts in 2026

After the changes brought by Decreto Tajani, the judicial processes for citizenship recognition began to have specific rules of territorial jurisdiction, being distributed among different Italian courts according to criteria defined by current legislation. For this reason, it is advisable to follow the latest news on citizenship to understand any updates regarding court jurisdiction.

Importance of CNN as documentary evidence

Although not the only required document, the CNN typically reinforces the consistency of the request, especially when combined with birth, marriage, and death certificates that prove the line of descent without interruptions.

Alternatives and Complementary Documents

In many cases, the CNN simply cannot be found, either because the archives were lost or because the naturalization occurred under conditions that did not generate a formal record of renunciation.

When the CNN is not available

In these situations, lawyers working on the process typically resort to substitute documents, such as:

• Negative certificates of renunciation issued by other public bodies;
• Historical immigration and naturalization records;
• Official statements from public archives confirming the absence of a renunciation record.

Substitute documents accepted by the court

The acceptance of these substitute documents varies according to the understanding of each Italian court, with no uniform rule applicable to all cases. Therefore, the analysis must be done on a case-by-case basis, considering the available documentation and the history of the ancestor.

Genealogical research as a complement

Broader genealogical research helps fill documentary gaps, reconstructing the trajectory of the ancestor from Italy to the country of destination, which strengthens the body of evidence presented to the Judiciary.

Practical Tips to Speed Up the Process

Searching for the CNN and other documents requires organization and patience, as it involves archives from different countries and time periods. Some practices can make this process less exhausting:

• Hire an Italian genealogist specializing in historical documentation, which can speed up the location of dispersed records;
• Maintain clear and objective communication with archives and notaries, providing as much data as possible from the first contact;
• Organize in advance all available documentation about the ancestor, including certificates, immigration records, and any naturalization processes, before starting the CNN request.

This prior organization also facilitates the work of lawyers when assembling the judicial process, reducing the risk of requests for documentary completion that could further delay the case.

Those wishing to deepen their knowledge of the subject can also follow content on Life in Italy and Italian Citizenship, which provide historical context and relevant updates for those assembling the citizenship recognition process.

The Certificate of Non-Renunciation is therefore a key piece for those facing the "minor issue" or needing to clarify the effects of an ancestor's naturalization on the citizenship of their descendants. Given the recent changes in Italian legislation and the growing requirement for documentary proof by the courts, gathering this and other documents in advance has become increasingly important for those wishing to move forward in the recognition of citizenship.

Want to know if you have a right to Italian citizenship? Speak with specialized advisory services.