Italy – Citizenship

Who is eligible to apply for citizenship in Italy?

As of 2025, Italian citizenship may be acquired through a number of distinct channels: by descent (iure sanguinis), by birth in Italy under certain conditions, through naturalisation following a qualifying residency period, and through marriage or civil partnership with an Italian national. Which route applies to you will depend on your personal background, family history, and the length of time you have spent living in Italy.

Citizenship by descent (iure sanguinis)

In March 2025, the Italian government introduced substantial new conditions governing citizenship by descent. Previously, anyone with an ancestor who was alive after 17 March 1861 — the date Italy was unified as a nation — could put forward a claim to Italian citizenship. The revised framework imposes considerably more restrictive eligibility criteria. These changes apply to all applications lodged after 27 March 2025.

Under the rules currently in force, a person may qualify for citizenship by descent if they have a parent or grandparent who held Italian citizenship, with no break in the Italian citizenship line. Alternatively, a parent who resided in Italy for at least two consecutive years after becoming an Italian citizen, and before the applicant’s birth or adoption, may also confer eligibility.

Only applicants whose Italian-born ancestor is a parent or grandparent will be considered. Claims tracing lineage to great-grandparents or more remote forebears are no longer admissible under the new legislation — a substantial tightening compared with the previous rules, which permitted claims through chains spanning many generations.

Citizenship by naturalisation (residency)

Non-EU nationals may seek Italian citizenship through naturalisation upon completing ten years of lawful, uninterrupted residence in Italy, subject to holding a clean criminal record, demonstrating financial self-sufficiency, and proving Italian language ability at a minimum of B1 on the CEFR scale. To put this in perspective, Australia requires four years of permanent residency before naturalisation becomes possible; Italy’s ten-year threshold for non-EU applicants places it among the more demanding requirements within the EU.

Citizens of other EU member states face a shorter qualifying period: four years of lawful residence in Italy is sufficient for an EU national to apply for Italian citizenship.

Under the provisions introduced by Decree-Law No. 36/2025, subsequently converted into Law No. 74/2025, a dedicated pathway was created for first- and second-generation descendants of Italian citizens who choose to relocate and take up employment in Italy. For these individuals, the residency requirement for citizenship has been considerably reduced: they become eligible to apply after only two years of lawful residence.

Citizenship by marriage or civil partnership

A spouse of an Italian citizen may apply for citizenship after two years of marriage when residing in Italy, or after three years of marriage when residing overseas. Both timeframes are reduced by half if the couple have children together. The marriage must remain intact throughout the application, and the applicant must satisfy the B1 Italian language requirement.

Same-sex marriages and civil unions are recognised for the purpose of this citizenship route.

Citizenship by birth in Italy (ius soli)

Italy does not confer citizenship automatically on the basis of birth on Italian territory. Exceptions apply where at least one parent is an Italian citizen, where the child would otherwise be stateless, or where the child has lived continuously in Italy from birth to the age of 18 and submits a citizenship application within one year of reaching that age.

Investment route

Italy’s investor visa programme does not provide a direct path to citizenship. Nevertheless, an investor who resides legally and continuously in Italy for ten years becomes eligible to apply for citizenship through naturalisation in the usual way. The Italy Golden Visa grants a residence permit — for the investor and their immediate family — in exchange for a minimum qualifying investment of €250,000. Citizenship must then be pursued separately through the standard naturalisation process once the required residency period has been completed.

What are the steps involved in applying for citizenship in Italy?

To obtain Italian nationality, applicants must submit their request to the Minister of the Interior via the local mayor (comune) if they are resident in Italy, or through the relevant Italian consulate if they are based abroad. The precise procedure varies depending on the citizenship route being taken, but the fundamental stages are broadly consistent across categories.

1. Confirm your eligibility. Review the current conditions for your specific route (descent, naturalisation, marriage, and so on) on the official Ministry of the Interior website or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs citizenship page. Given the considerable changes introduced in March 2025, always consult official government sources before taking any steps.
2. Gather your documents. Documentation typically required includes original birth certificates; passports and Italian residence permits for all applicants; certificates confirming an absence of criminal convictions in the country of origin and in any other country of residence since the age of 14; a certificate of Italian language proficiency at B1 CEFR level or above; and proof of payment of the Ministry of the Interior fee. For descent applications, certified civil status records establishing the lineage back to the Italian ancestor are also required.
3. Have documents apostilled and translated. All documents must satisfy the current requirements of the Italian authorities, including apostillation, official translation into Italian, and — where required for court submissions — certified translations.
4. Submit your application online. Applications for citizenship through residency or marriage must be submitted exclusively via the online portal, using your SPID (Public Digital Identity System) credentials or your electronic identity card (CIE). Applicants resident abroad may use the dedicated consular portal.
5. Attend your identification appointment. Following submission of the online application, the applicant will be called to attend the diplomatic or consular office where the application was filed, for the purpose of formal identification and the submission of original documents to complete the formalities.
6. Pay the application fee. The contribution payable to the Ministry of the Interior for naturalisation and marriage-based citizenship applications stands at €250 as of 2025. Applications for recognition of citizenship by descent from adults attract a processing fee of €600 per applicant as of January 2025. These fees are non-refundable. Always verify the current applicable amounts on the official government website, as fees are subject to revision.
7. Await the decision. Processing ordinarily takes up to 24 months, with the possibility of extension to 36 months in particularly complex cases. If approved, citizenship is conferred by decree of the President of the Republic, on the recommendation of the Minister of the Interior.
8. Take the oath and register. Applicants whose citizenship is approved must take a formal oath of allegiance to the Italian Republic. Following the grant of citizenship, the consulate transmits vital records to the Italian municipality where the ancestor was born. Once that municipality has registered these records, the newly recognised citizen is enrolled in the A.I.R.E. (Registry of Italian Citizens Residing Abroad) and may apply for an Italian passport.

The competent authority for citizenship applications is the Ministry of the Interior (Ministero dell’Interno), operating through its Department of Civil Liberties and Immigration. The online application portal is accessible at portaleservizi.dlci.interno.it.

What tests, interviews, or ceremonies are required as part of the citizenship process in Italy?

Italian language test

Applicants pursuing naturalisation or marriage-based citizenship are required to demonstrate proficiency in Italian at the B1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Language certificates must be issued by an officially recognised institution. Accepted certifying bodies include the University for Foreigners of Siena (CILS), the University for Foreigners of Perugia (CELI), Roma Tre University (Cert.It), and the University for Foreigners “Dante Alighieri” of Reggio Calabria. This requirement is comparable to the B1 English standard applied in naturalisation processes across much of Europe. Applicants who have obtained a qualification from an Italian educational institution are not required to submit a separate language certificate.

Certain categories of applicants are exempt from the language proficiency requirement: holders of an EU long-term residence permit; individuals who have signed an Integration Agreement; and those whose capacity for language acquisition is significantly affected by disability, serious illness, or advanced age. In line with Constitutional Court Ruling No. 25/2025, applicants with “severe limitations in language learning ability due to age, illness or disability, certified by a public health authority” are also exempt from the requirement to present an Italian language certificate.

Background checks

Every applicant undergoes a criminal background check. A certificate of no criminal convictions must be provided for the country of origin and for any other countries of residence and citizenship held, all in compliance with applicable apostille, legalisation, and translation requirements. Italian authorities additionally carry out security screening to determine whether granting citizenship to a particular individual would present any risk to public order or national security.

Oath of allegiance

Once a naturalisation or marriage-based citizenship application has been approved, the successful applicant must swear a formal oath of allegiance to the Italian Republic. This takes place before the mayor of the relevant municipality, or before a consular official for applicants abroad. Italy does not require candidates to pass a civics examination as part of the citizenship process — in contrast to countries such as the United States, which administers a 100-question civics test, or the United Kingdom, which requires candidates to pass the “Life in the UK” test. In Italy, the language certificate and the qualifying residency period together serve as the primary indicators of integration.

What are the benefits of Italian citizenship?

A powerful passport and freedom of movement

As of 2024, Italy’s passport is ranked among the ten most powerful in the world, affording its holders visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to more than 190 countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. This exceptional degree of global mobility, combined with the wide-ranging privileges of EU citizenship — including access to healthcare and education systems, and the unrestricted right to live and work anywhere within the EU — makes Italian citizenship an exceptionally attractive status to hold.

Holding Italian citizenship is equivalent to holding EU citizenship, which brings substantial practical advantages for travel and relocation throughout Europe. It confers visa-free entry to all 27 EU member states, together with the right to reside and work in any EU country without time limits or visa requirements.

Right to vote and access public roles

Italian citizens are entitled to vote in both Italian national elections and elections to the European Parliament, and have access to subsidised higher education at EU universities. Citizens may move freely within the Schengen Area and across the European Union, and are eligible to stand for and hold public office in Italy. Many positions within the Italian public sector, the armed forces, and the judiciary are restricted exclusively to citizens.

Healthcare and education

As citizens of an EU member state, Italian nationals enjoy the freedom to live and work anywhere within the EU without restriction. They also gain access to Italy’s high-quality, publicly funded healthcare system — or the equivalent system of whichever EU country they are resident in. Unlike non-EU residents, who are often required to hold private health insurance, Italian citizens are enrolled in the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN), the national health service, as a matter of course.

Passing citizenship to children

Any children born to you after you acquire Italian citizenship will automatically be entitled to Italian citizenship themselves. This is a significant long-term advantage for families, ensuring that the rights and entitlements of Italian citizenship are inherited across successive generations.

Business and financial opportunities

Holding an Italian passport enables you to establish a business in Italy or in any other European country without prior work or residence permits. The freedom to operate commercially across all EU markets without bureaucratic barriers is particularly valuable for entrepreneurs and professionals whose activities span multiple jurisdictions.

Does Italy allow dual citizenship, or will you have to renounce your existing nationality?

Obtaining Italian citizenship does not require you to surrender your current nationality. Italy formally recognises dual citizenship and places no restriction on the number of passports an Italian citizen may hold. You may therefore carry both an Italian passport and passports from any other countries of which you are a citizen.

While Italy imposes no constraints on holding multiple nationalities, the decisive question is whether your country of origin does the same. Certain nations — particularly in parts of Asia, the Middle East, and some regions of the Americas — prohibit their citizens from holding a second nationality and may automatically strip citizenship upon naturalisation in another country. Before proceeding with an Italian citizenship application, you should consult your home country’s official immigration or foreign affairs authority to establish precisely how acquiring Italian citizenship would affect your existing nationality.

For those whose families previously lost Italian citizenship under the older Law No. 555 of 1912 — which did not permit dual nationality — a time-limited window for reacquisition has been opened. Law No. 74 of 23 May 2025 established the possibility for individuals who lost Italian citizenship under that earlier law to reclaim it. This opportunity is available for a defined period running from 1 July 2025 to 31 December 2027, and is specifically directed at those whose citizenship was lost as a consequence of the prohibition on dual nationality under Law No. 555 of 1912.

How long does it typically take to become a citizen of Italy?

The overall timeline from first arriving in Italy to receiving citizenship differs considerably depending on the route chosen, how efficiently documents can be assembled, and the volume of cases being handled by the relevant authority at any given time. The realistic timeframes for each route are set out below.

Depending on the chosen pathway, an individual may become eligible to apply for an Italian passport in as little as 12 months or as many as 10 years after the process begins. Once the application has been submitted — even with all documentation correctly in order — processing may take anywhere from 3 months to 3 years. Processing times as of 2025 continue to be lengthy; for the most current estimates, always consult the official guidance published at the Ministry of the Interior website, since these figures are subject to change.

What are the main reasons an application for citizenship in Italy might be refused?

Italian authorities may decline to grant citizenship in certain circumstances. The decision is made in accordance with applicable legislation, and applicants must always be provided with the specific grounds on which their application was refused. Every applicant retains the right to appeal against an adverse decision.

The most frequent grounds for refusal include:

• Incomplete or incorrect documentation: An application may be rejected if the application form is incomplete or if supporting documents are missing, improperly apostilled, incorrectly translated, or not certified as required.
• Insufficient residency: Failure to meet the minimum residency threshold, or insufficient evidence that the applicant is genuinely integrated into Italian society, is a common basis for refusal.
• Criminal record: Serious criminal convictions, whether in Italy or in any other country, may lead to an application being refused. The background check encompasses all countries of residence and citizenship since the age of 14.
• Failure to meet language requirements: Applicants who are unable to demonstrate Italian language proficiency at the B1 CEFR level, and who do not qualify for an exemption, will have their applications rejected.
• Threat to public order or national security: Applications — including those based on marriage — may be refused where the applicant has a serious criminal history in Italy or abroad, or where there are grounds to consider the applicant a risk to public safety or national security.
• Ineligibility under the updated descent rules: Applications based on lineage extending to great-grandparents or more remote ancestors will be refused under the 2025 legislative reform.
• Non-payment of fees: Applications where the required fee has not been paid, or has been paid incorrectly, will be declared inadmissible.

If your application is refused, you have the right to challenge the decision through administrative or judicial appeal proceedings. Given the intricacies of Italian citizenship law, obtaining advice from a qualified Italian immigration lawyer before lodging any appeal is strongly recommended.

Where can you find reliable, up-to-date information about citizenship in Italy?

Italian citizenship legislation has undergone considerable reform in recent years — most notably in March and May 2025 — and it is therefore essential to rely exclusively on official government sources for accurate, current information on requirements, fees, and processing times. Blogs, online forums, and third-party service providers may offer useful context, but should never be treated as definitive on matters of legal requirements.

• Ministry of the Interior (Ministero dell’Interno): The primary authority for naturalisation and marriage-based citizenship applications. interno.gov.it
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI): Responsible for citizenship applications processed through Italian consulates and embassies overseas. esteri.it
• Online Citizenship Application Portal: The portal for submitting naturalisation and marriage-based applications electronically. portaleservizi.dlci.interno.it
• Your local Italian consulate or embassy: For applicants based outside Italy. Consulates process descent applications and can advise on requirements specific to their jurisdiction.
• Your local comune (municipality): For applicants resident in Italy. The local civil registry office (Ufficio di Stato Civile) handles descent applications and citizenship by election.

Given the speed at which legislation in this area is evolving — illustrated by the far-reaching 2025 reform — always cross-check any information you encounter against the official government pages listed above before taking any action.

Frequently asked questions about Italian citizenship

Do children born in Italy automatically become Italian citizens?

Italy does not confer citizenship automatically on the basis of birth on Italian soil. The principal exceptions are where at least one parent is an Italian citizen, where the child would otherwise be stateless, or where the child has resided continuously in Italy from birth until the age of 18 and submits a citizenship application within one year of turning 18. Italy’s system is founded primarily on bloodline (jure sanguinis) rather than on automatic territorial birthright (jus soli).

Can Italian citizenship be lost or revoked?

Italian citizenship may be voluntarily renounced, provided the individual concerned holds citizenship of another country. It may also be withdrawn in exceptional circumstances — for instance, where citizenship was obtained by means of fraudulent declarations, or in cases involving acts against the state. Naturalised citizens who obtained citizenship through false statements may have it revoked. Citizens who acquired Italian citizenship at birth occupy a stronger position; renouncing it requires a formal declaration and proof of holding another nationality.

What happens to a citizenship application if I move abroad during the process?

Relocating abroad after submitting an application for naturalisation or marriage-based citizenship may have implications for your case — particularly where continuous residency is a condition attached to your chosen route. You should inform the relevant authority without delay and seek specialist legal advice. For descent applications being processed through a consulate, the application is generally associated with the jurisdiction of the consulate that received it.

Is there a minimum income requirement for naturalisation?

Applicants who have legally and continuously resided in Italy for the requisite minimum period must also satisfy supplementary requirements in respect of income, language ability, and the absence of criminal convictions. The precise income thresholds are established by ministerial decree and may be revised; consult the Ministry of the Interior website for the figures currently in force.

Can I apply for citizenship by descent if my Italian ancestor emigrated many generations ago?

Under the 2025 reform, only applicants whose Italian-born ancestor is a parent or grandparent will be considered. Claims tracing lineage to great-grandparents or more distant relatives are no longer admissible. Applications lodged before 27 March 2025 continue to be processed under the previous, less restrictive rules.

Do I need to live in Italy to apply for citizenship by descent?

No — citizenship by descent can be applied for from abroad through your local Italian consulate. If you reside outside Italy, you are legally required to submit your application at the Italian consulate with jurisdiction over your place of residence, based on your specific qualifying circumstances. Some applicants alternatively choose to travel to Italy, establish residency in a comune, and apply locally, which can in some instances result in a faster outcome.

Are same-sex spouses of Italian citizens eligible for citizenship by marriage?

Both same-sex marriages and civil unions are recognised for the purpose of the citizenship by marriage route. Exactly the same residency periods and language requirements apply as for any other spousal application.

What is the A.I.R.E. registry and do I need to register?

Once Italian citizenship has been granted, the consulate forwards vital records to the Italian municipality where the relevant ancestor was born. Once those records have been registered by the municipality, the newly recognised citizen is enrolled in the A.I.R.E. (Registry of Italian Citizens Residing Abroad) and may apply for an Italian passport. For citizens living outside Italy, A.I.R.E. registration is important: it enables you to vote in Italian elections from abroad, renew your passport at a consulate, and access the full range of consular services.

Is Italy’s Golden Visa a direct route to citizenship?

Italy’s investor visa is not a direct pathway to citizenship. It grants a residence permit — not citizenship — to the investor and their immediate family, subject to a minimum qualifying investment of €250,000. Citizenship can only be pursued subsequently through the standard naturalisation process, once the required ten-year period of continuous lawful residence has been completed.

Can I reclaim Italian citizenship if my family lost it in the past?

Law No. 74 of 23 May 2025 created a mechanism for individuals who previously lost Italian citizenship to reacquire it. This window of opportunity runs from 1 July 2025 to 31 December 2027 and is specifically intended for those whose citizenship was forfeited under Law No. 555 of 1912, which at the time did not permit dual nationality. The reacquisition process requires only the submission of a formal declaration. For current procedural guidance, consult the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website or your local Italian consulate.