Canada is home to a significant number of Canadians of Italian descent. According to the 2021 Canadian Census, over 1.6 million Canadians reported Italian ancestry, making it one of the largest ethnic groups in the country. This group represents approximately 4.5% of Canada’s total population. The majority of Italian Canadians are concentrated in provinces like Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia, with vibrant communities in cities such as Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.
Similarly, in Brazil, Italians and their descendants make up a notable part of the population. It is estimated that over 25 million Brazilians have Italian ancestry, accounting for about 15% of the total population. Italian immigration to Brazil began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the southern regions of São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and Paraná. Today, these areas continue to be home to large Italian-Brazilian communities, where Italian culture, food, and traditions remain deeply embedded in local customs.
The Brazilian-Italians
Brazilians of full or partial Italian descent are known as Italian Brazilians. Their Italian ancestry can be traced back to the Italian diaspora, when their ancestors, who were Italians, emigrated to Brazil, or to more recent Italian-born immigrants who settled in Brazil. São Paulo, being the most populous city with Italian ancestry in the world, is home to the largest number of people with full or partial Italian ancestry outside Italy. In Nova Veneza, a small southern Brazilian town, 95% of the population is of Italian descent.
Today, millions of Italians’ descendants can be traced from the southeastern state of Minas Gerais to the southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul.
In 2013, the Embassy of Italy reported approximately 32 million descendants of Italian immigrants in Brazil (about 15% of the population), with approximately 450,000 Italian citizens living in Brazil.
Brazilian culture, including language, customs, cuisine, traditions, fashion, and lifestyle, has a significant Italian influence. According to Italian statistics, 31 million Brazilians are of Italian descent.
Although Italians were persecuted, victimized, and prejudiced during World War II, Brazilians of Italian descent integrated into Brazilian society and thrived in many areas, becoming part of the elite in politics, arts, sports, and entertainment. They have contributed as soccer players, athletes, top models, television celebrities, movie stars, and other famous personalities.
State governors, representatives, mayors, and ambassadors of Italian descent have also played key roles. Four Presidents of Brazil were of Italian descent (though none of the first three were directly elected to this position): Pascoal Ranieri Mazzilli (Senate president who served as interim president), Itamar Franco (elected vice-president under Fernando Collor, whom he eventually replaced after Collor was impeached), Emílio Garrastazu Médici (third in a series of generals who presided over Brazil during the military regime, also of Basque descent), and Jair Messias Bolsonaro (elected in 2018).
Over half of the Italian immigrants to Brazil came from the northern Italian regions of Veneto, Lombardy, and Emilia-Romagna, and from the central Italian region of Tuscany. Of these, about 30% were immigrants from Veneto. In the 20th century, new Italian immigrants also came from the regions of Campania, Abruzzo, Molise, Basilicata, and Sicily.
For Brazilians of Italian descent who are interested in obtaining Italian citizenship, please contact your nearest Italian Consulate or Embassy for the latest updates on eligibility.
You may want to inquire at the embassy about “Italian Citizenship by Descent,” a pathway for individuals born to Italian parents, grandparents, great-grandparents (there is no upper limit in terms of the number of generations), for obtaining an Italian passport by right of blood.
How to Get an Italian Passport
If you have Italian heritage, which was never interrupted, “Italian Citizenship by descent,” also known as jure sanguinis (Latin for “right of blood”), allows you to claim citizenship based on lineage. The benefits of this pathway include the right to live and work in any European Union country.
If you live in Toronto, the link to the Italian consulate is:
https://constoronto.esteri.it/en/servizi-consolari-e-visti/servizi-per-il-cittadino-straniero/cittadinanza/cittadinanza-italiana-per-discendenza/
