Would you like to obtain Italian citizenship? There are several paths available to you! If you have Italian ancestors, you may qualify for “jus sanguinis” citizenship, a right of blood that passes from generation to generation. You must prove your descent from an Italian alive on March 17, 1861, and that no ancestor has naturalized in another country before 1992 and before the birth of the direct descendant.
If you are married to an Italian citizen, after two years of residence in Italy or three years abroad, you can apply for citizenship. The presence of children can reduce these periods. EU citizens living in Italy can apply after four years, while for non-EU citizens, the period is ten years. Finally, if you have been working for the Italian state for five years, even abroad, you are entitled to citizenship.
Applications are submitted online or at prefectures and consulates, depending on the case. The required documents vary: birth, marriage, death certificates, and non-naturalization for “jus sanguinis”, while marriage and residence also require an Italian language certificate at level B1.
Our assistance includes help in collecting and submitting documents, advice for apostilles and translations, and application monitoring. Contact us for an initial consultation!
Requirements
The main conditions under which a foreign citizen can obtain Italian citizenship are as follows:
- Having Italian ancestors. This type of request, also known as jus sanguinis, involves the recognition of citizenship as a right already existing and possessed by the applicant. The main requirements to obtain the recognition of Italian citizenship are as follows:
- The applicant must have an ancestor officially recognized as Italian;
- The Italian ancestor was alive on March 17, 1861;
- Neither the Italian ancestor nor any of their direct lineal descendants of the applicant has voluntarily requested and obtained foreign citizenship (i.e., “naturalization”) before August 5, 1992, and before the birth of their descendant, thus transmitting the right through a direct and uninterrupted bloodline;
- Being married to an Italian citizen (same-sex unions are also accepted). In the case of marriage to an Italian citizen, the request for citizenship will be possible after three years from the date of the marriage if the couple resides abroad, two years in case of residence in Italy. However, in some cases, a shorter period of time is required (in the case of children);
- Having legally resided in Italy for a continuous period of time. The period of continuous residence in Italy required to obtain Italian citizenship for residence is 4 years for citizens of an EU Member State and 10 years for non-EU citizens;
- Having been employed by the Italian state for at least 5 years.
How to Apply
The methods of application for obtaining or recognizing citizenship vary depending on the type of request and the condition of the applicant.
- In the case of an application for recognition of citizenship jus sanguinis:
- The application is submitted directly to the Italian consulate if the applicant resides abroad;
- If the applicant resides or intends to reside in Italy and has an address to be used as a residence, the request can be submitted at the Italian municipality;
- If one of the Italian ancestors along the direct bloodline is a woman who gave birth to a descendant before 1948, the available procedure to obtain formal recognition of Italian citizenship is a judicial proceeding before the Tribunal of Rome;
- In the case of an application for citizenship through marriage or residence, the application is made electronically at the Prefecture.
Required Documents
- In the case of an application for citizenship jus sanguinis:
- Official documentation attesting to the transmission of the right to the recognition of citizenship (birth, marriage, death certificates appropriately translated into Italian and legalized or apostilled as required by the regulations);
- Certification of the ancestor’s non-naturalization;
- In the case of an application for citizenship through marriage:
- Marriage or civil union certificate with an Italian citizen;
- Certificate of Italian language knowledge, at least level B1. However, this requirement does not apply to those holding a long-term residence permit or who have signed an Italian integration agreement;
- Certificate of residence in Italy for at least 2 years from the date of marriage or civil union;
- If the applicant resides abroad, proof of residence in the foreign country for at least 3 years from the date of marriage or civil union;
- If the applicant moves to Italy after residing abroad for three years, from the date of the marriage, the applicant must have registered their residence at an Italian Municipality in order to immediately submit the application.
- In the case of an application for citizenship through continuous residence in Italy:
- Certificate of residence in Italy;
- Proof of sufficient income in the three years preceding the application;
- Certification of pending criminal charges;
- Certificate of Italian language knowledge, at least level B1. However, this requirement does not apply to those holding a long-term residence permit or who have signed an Italian integration agreement;
Our Assistance
- Assistance in collecting all relevant documentation necessary to demonstrate the fulfillment of all requirements for obtaining or recognizing citizenship;
- Advice on how to obtain the necessary apostilles/legalizations and certified translations of foreign public documents;
- Registration of an account on the ministerial portal and submission of the application on behalf of the applicant once all documentation is prepared;
- Monitoring the status of the application;
- Establishing contacts with all public entities involved in the procedure to resolve potential problems, overcome obstacles, and promote a positive outcome of the application.
Write to us or fill out the editable questionnaire, and we will provide you with an initial consultation on the possibility of obtaining or recognizing citizenship within 24 hours!
