Many people search for guidance on how to get Italian citizenship each year. For some, the motivation is to reconnect with Italian heritage; for others, it is the practical advantages of European Union citizenship, such as the freedom to reside, work, and study across 27 member states. Italian citizenship represents both a symbolic and a tangible link to one of the world’s most culturally significant nations.
More recently, Italy introduced significant reforms to its citizenship laws. These amendments adjusted eligibility criteria, particularly for citizenship by descent, and clarified obligations for new applicants. As a result, the legal framework has changed considerably, making it essential to understand the current requirements before commencing an application.
This guide outlines the recognised pathways to Italian citizenship, by descent, by marriage, and by residency, explaining the law as it stands in 2025, the documentation required, and the common challenges faced by applicants.
The Three Pathways to Italian Citizenship
Italian citizenship can be obtained through three principal routes: descent, marriage, or residency. Each pathway has distinct eligibility rules, timeframes, and requirements.
Understanding Italian Citizenship
Italian citizenship is primarily governed by Law No. 91 of 5 February 1992, which establishes the rules for acquisition, recognition, and loss of nationality. The law is founded on the principle of jus sanguinis (“right of blood”), meaning citizenship is generally transmitted from parent to child regardless of place of birth.
Unlike countries with broad jus soli provisions, being born in Italy does not in itself confer citizenship unless specific conditions are met. Over time, Italian citizenship law has been supplemented and amended. The most recent and significant update is Law No. 74 of 2025, which introduced important reforms to the eligibility rules for citizenship by descent.
Among other provisions, it limited recognition to applicants with an Italian parent or grandparent, clarified conditions where dual nationality at birth is involved, and updated procedures for reacquisition of citizenship by those who lost it before 1992.
Italy also recognises the principle of dual citizenship. Citizens are not required to renounce their existing nationality when acquiring Italian citizenship, provided the other country’s laws also permit dual nationality. This approach allows individuals to hold both Italian and foreign passports, with all the associated rights and obligations.
For authoritative references, applicants should consult the Italian Ministry of the Interior (Ministero dell’Interno) and the Gazzetta Ufficiale, where all relevant legislation is published:
1. Italian Citizenship by Descent (Jure Sanguinis)
New 2025 Rules
Until recently, Italian citizenship by descent had no generational limit: applicants could trace their claim back to a great-grandparent or beyond. This changed with Law No. 74/2025, which narrowed eligibility and introduced several new conditions.
The first key reform is a generational limit. As of March 2025, recognition is restricted to those with an Italian parent or grandparent who was still an Italian citizen at the time of the next birth in the line. Claims through more distant ancestors are no longer admitted.
The law also introduced an “exclusivity clause”. Where the Italian parent or grandparent simultaneously held another nationality, the child may not be recognised as Italian automatically. The presumption is that dual citizenship at birth prevents the transmission of Italian nationality, unless one parent was solely Italian.
Finally, the reform codified the minor child naturalisation cut-off. If the Italian parent or grandparent naturalised in another country before their child reached the age of majority (21 years before 1975, or 18 thereafter), that child is deemed to have lost Italian nationality and cannot transmit it further.
Examples
- Eligible: Your grandfather was born in Italy, remained Italian when your parent was born abroad, and was never naturalised until years later. You fall within the grandparent limit and the line is intact.
- Ineligible: Your great-grandfather was Italian but your grandfather was born abroad before 1948 to a non-Italian father; under current law, this case is excluded unless pursued through a court petition.
- Ineligible: Your Italian grandmother emigrated to Canada and naturalised as Canadian while your mother was still a minor; under the new rule, the line is broken.
Grandfathered Applicants
The 1948 Rule (Court Cases)
Italian nationality law originally discriminated by gender. Before 1 January 1948, Italian women could not pass citizenship to their children unless the father was also Italian. This created a class of descendants who were otherwise eligible but excluded solely due to maternal transmission.
Over the past two decades, Italian courts have consistently recognised these cases, holding that the constitutional principle of equality overrides the statutory limitation.
Applicants in such circumstances must pursue recognition through the Italian courts rather than via consulates or municipalities. Proceedings are typically handled by specialised lawyers and often conclude with favourable judgements that retroactively recognise citizenship.
Venues: Consulate vs Comune vs Court
Applicants must also consider where to submit their claim. Consulates abroad remain the standard route but are affected by severe backlogs in many jurisdictions.
Establishing residency in Italy allows an application to be made at the local comune, which can be faster but requires relocation.
Where eligibility is disputed (such as in 1948 cases) or delays are excessive, applicants may pursue recognition through the Italian courts.
Costs & Timelines
From 2025, the fee for citizenship by descent has been set at €600 per adult applicant, payable upon submission. Additional costs are incurred for translations, apostilles, and, where required, legal representation in Italy.
Typical timelines
- Consulate: 24–36 months from submission, with long waits for appointments in some jurisdictions.
- Comune (Italy): Often 6–12 months, but requires establishing legal residence.
- Court (1948 or delayed cases): 1–2 years, faster than consular routes but with higher legal fees.
Additional costs may include
- Apostilles: €20–€50 per document.
- Certified translations: €30–€60 per page.
- Legal fees (court cases): several thousand euros, depending on complexity.
2. Italian Citizenship by Marriage (Jure Matrimonii)
Italian citizenship may be acquired by a spouse or civil partner of an Italian citizen, provided the marriage/union is valid, has been registered in Italy, and remains subsisting throughout the procedure.
Where the couple resides abroad, the Italian spouse should be enrolled with AIRE and the foreign marriage must be transcribed to the Italian civil register before the application can proceed.
Good character, suitable documentation, and compliance with language requirements are all assessed.
- Eligibility periods depend on residence and whether the couple has minor children. Applicants may apply after 2 years of marriage if resident in Italy (reduced to 1 year where there are children under 18) or after 3 years if resident abroad (reduced to 1½ years with minor children). Time is counted from the date the marriage/civil union is recorded in Italy. Separation, annulment, or divorce during the process will halt or invalidate the application.
- A B1 Italian language qualification (from a recognised provider) has been mandatory since 2018. The application is filed online via the Ministry of the Interior portal, followed by an in-person appointment at the Prefettura (in Italy) or the consulate (abroad) to present originals.
- The state fee is €250. Standard processing is 24–36 months from acceptance of the online file; background and security checks are routine. If approved, citizenship is perfected only after the oath of allegiance, which must be taken within six months at the Prefettura/consulate.
Notes: Children do not obtain citizenship through the marriage itself; however, under Italian law, minor children cohabiting with a parent who acquires citizenship may acquire it automatically when the parent takes the oath, subject to the authority’s confirmation and proper registration.
Core Documents Required
Once submitted, the case moves into administrative checks. Keep residence and marital status stable and notify any changes; citizenship is perfected only at the oath, after which you may obtain your Italian passport.
3. Italian Citizenship by Residency (Naturalisation)
Italian citizenship may also be obtained through long-term legal residence in Italy. This route is designed for foreign nationals who make Italy their permanent home and demonstrate integration into Italian society.
Applicants must not only meet the minimum residence periods but also satisfy requirements of good conduct, sufficient income, and language proficiency.
Eligibility periods vary according to status:
- 10 years for non-EU nationals.
- 4 years for EU nationals.
- 5 years for recognised refugees, stateless persons, or adoptees.
- 2 years (2025 reform) for those with an Italian parent or grandparent, provided lineage can be documented but descent-based recognition is not available.
In addition to residence, applicants must demonstrate clean criminal records, adequate income or financial stability, and a B1 Italian language certificate. Continuous residence is crucial: prolonged absences or gaps in permits can restart the qualifying period.
The application is submitted via the Ministero dell’Interno online portal. Supporting documents include a long-form birth certificate, criminal background checks from each country of residence since age 14, proof of legal residence in Italy (permesso di soggiorno), evidence of stable income, and the B1 language certificate. The Prefettura verifies the file and requests additional information where necessary.
If successful, the Ministry issues a Presidential Decree of naturalisation. Citizenship becomes effective only when the applicant takes the oath of allegiance within six months at the Prefettura. At that stage, the new citizen is entered into the civil register and may request an Italian passport and identity card.
While the residency route requires patience and long-term commitment, it remains a secure path for those who wish to fully integrate into Italian life.
For applicants seeking a faster entry into residency, alternatives such as the Italy Investor Visa (Golden Visa) can provide a starting point, which may later lead to naturalisation.
In both cases, the goal is the same: to establish a recognised and lasting connection with Italy.
The Italian Citizenship Application Process
Document Portfolio: Your Genealogical Puzzle
For all citizenship routes, but particularly for jure sanguinis, the file of supporting documents is the foundation of the case. Italian authorities will only recognise citizenship where there is a continuous and reliable paper trail linking the applicant to the Italian ancestor. Any gap, inconsistency, or poorly prepared record can stall proceedings for months or even years.
Common challenges include obtaining long-form birth, marriage, and death certificates from multiple jurisdictions, securing apostilles, and commissioning accurate sworn translations into Italian.
In some cases, records may need to be corrected through court petitions or supplemented with archival searches. It is rarely a quick process, and applicants should anticipate a preparatory phase lasting several months.
Italian Citizenship Application Timeline
Applying for Italian citizenship is not a single event but a structured process that unfolds over months, and in some cases years. Each stage has its own requirements and timeframes, from gathering records to taking the final oath.
Having a clear understanding of the sequence can help applicants prepare realistic expectations and avoid unnecessary delays.
While each application is unique, this roadmap highlights the common milestones most applicants encounter. The duration of each stage varies depending on the pathway chosen, the applicant’s country of residence, and the responsiveness of the authorities involved.
Thorough preparation at the beginning and persistence during the waiting periods are key to achieving a smooth outcome.
What to Expect at Appointment
Consulate
Applications lodged abroad are booked through the Prenot@mi system. Once an appointment is secured, the applicant must appear in person with all originals and certified copies.
Consular staff verify the documents, accept the €600 state fee, and issue an acknowledgement of submission. Because demand far exceeds available appointments, many applicants experience delays at this stage, sometimes stretching to years.
Comune
Those who establish legal residence in Italy may file directly with their local comune. Officials will first verify residence registration (anagrafe) and may carry out a home visit to confirm.
Once accepted, the municipal office liaises with civil registries and the Ministry of the Interior to validate the ancestral records and issue recognition. This route is typically faster but requires genuine relocation and compliance with residency rules.
Court
Applications requiring judicial recognition, such as 1948-rule cases or situations where consular inaction amounts to denial of justice, are filed through the Italian courts. Proceedings are conducted by a licensed lawyer under a power of attorney.
The applicant is usually not required to attend in person. If the court finds the evidence sufficient, it issues a judgement recognising citizenship, which is then recorded at the applicant’s comune of reference.
Troubleshooting & Common Pitfalls
Even well-prepared applications often encounter obstacles. Italian authorities apply the rules strictly, and even minor inconsistencies can delay or derail the process.
Below are some of the most frequent pitfalls applicants face:
Careful preparation, early cross-checking of details, and using official guidance can prevent many of these issues. Where problems arise, remedies are often available, but they add time and cost to the process.
Life After Obtaining Italian Citizenship
Acquiring Italian nationality is more than a legal milestone; it is an entry into the full rights and privileges of being both Italian and European. With an Italian passport, citizens benefit from visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to over 190 countries and the right to live, work, and study anywhere in the European Union.
Public healthcare, EU tuition rates at universities, and participation in Italy’s democratic system through voting are among the most practical advantages.
At the same time, Italian citizens are expected to fulfil certain obligations. Those residing outside Italy must register with the AIRE (Anagrafe degli Italiani Residenti all’Estero) and keep their records up to date whenever they change residence, marry, or have children.
Citizens are also called to vote in national elections and referenda, often facilitated through consulates abroad.
Tax Considerations
A frequent concern for new citizens is whether holding Italian nationality will automatically make them liable for Italian taxes. In practice, citizenship does not create tax residency. Italy applies taxation based on residence, not nationality.
An individual is considered a tax resident in Italy if:
- They are registered as a resident at the local anagrafe, or
- They maintain their habitual abode in Italy for more than 183 days in a calendar year, or
- Their “centre of vital interests” (family, economic, or social ties) is determined to be in Italy.
This means an Italian citizen living abroad and properly registered with AIRE will generally not owe Italian tax unless they relocate or establish substantial connections within Italy.
However, those who do move back become subject to Italian income tax and reporting obligations, including the requirement to declare worldwide income and certain foreign assets.
Reacquisition of Italian Citizenship (Former Italians)
Italian law provides pathways for individuals who previously lost citizenship to reacquire it. The standard route requires a formal declaration of intent at the local comune in Italy, combined with at least one year of continuous residence in the country.
In some cases, reacquisition may occur automatically after one year of residence, even without a declaration, provided the individual has not expressly renounced the right.
A special opportunity exists under the 2025 reforms. Italian citizens who were born in Italy but lost their nationality before 1992, often through automatic loss upon naturalisation abroad, are eligible for obtaining citizenship by simple declaration, without the one-year residence requirement.
This option is open until 31 December 2027, creating a limited window for many former citizens or their descendants to regularise their status.
Timeline note
- Standard reacquisition: Declaration + 1 year residence, or 1 year residence alone.
- Special 2025–2027 reacquisition: Declaration only, no residence needed, for those born in Italy who lost citizenship prior to 1992.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Movingto Makes the Difference in Obtaining Italian Citizenship
Securing Italian citizenship is more than a legal process, it is a chance to reclaim heritage, strengthen family ties, and open the door to the opportunities that come with an EU passport. The journey can feel overwhelming, with evolving laws, documentation hurdles, and long waiting times at consulates. That is why having expert guidance is crucial.
At Movingto, our team works alongside experienced Italian lawyers who specialise in jure sanguinis, marriage, and residency applications. From building a compliant document portfolio to navigating consulate backlogs and pursuing court recognition where needed, we provide tailored Italian citizenship assistance at every stage.
If you are ready to apply for Italian citizenship, whether by descent, marriage, or naturalisation, our team is here to simplify the process and protect your claim. With the right strategy, you can move from research to recognition with confidence, knowing your case is in professional hands.
Ready to Obtain Italian Citizenship?
At Movingto, we guide you through every stage of the process — from verifying eligibility and collecting documents to filing with the Italian consulate, comune, or court. Our team of expert lawyers ensures your application is handled with precision and care.
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