What is the CNN?
The CNN — Certidão Negativa de Naturalização (Certificate of No Naturalization) is a document issued by Brazil's Ministério da Justiça e Segurança Pública (Ministry of Justice and Public Security). It proves that your Italian ancestor did not become a naturalized Brazilian citizen.
This document is mandatory in any Italian citizenship case, whether through the judicial route or the consulate. Without the CNN, the case cannot be started.
Why is the CNN important?
Italian citizenship by descent (ius sanguinis) depends on an unbroken chain of transmission. If the Italian ancestor became a naturalized Brazilian before the birth of the next person in the line, the transmission of citizenship was interrupted.
Example:
Giuseppe (Italian) emigrated to Brazil in 1890. He became a naturalized Brazilian in 1910. He had a son, AntĂ´nio, in 1915.
❌ In this case, because Giuseppe was naturalized before Antônio was born, Italian citizenship was not passed on.
Had Giuseppe been naturalized in 1920 (after AntĂ´nio's birth), AntĂ´nio would be entitled, since he was born while his father was still Italian.
How do you request the CNN?
The CNN is requested online through the Ministry of Justice portal:
- Go to the Ministry of Justice's Sisen portal
- Fill in your Italian ancestor's details
- Pay the fee (GRU) — current amount shown on the website
- Wait for it to be issued (timeframe: 5 to 30 business days)
Positive or negative CNN?
Negative CNN: means the ancestor was NOT naturalized. âś… Good for your case.
Positive CNN: means a naturalization took place. ⚠️ In this case, the date must be checked. If the naturalization happened after the birth of the next person in the line of transmission, the right may still be preserved.
At Dias&Dias, we take care of everything
Our documents department requests and tracks the issuance of the CNN, and also carries out the full feasibility analysis of your case.