Italian citizenship is a status whereby a person is recognized as having full national and political rights. Its automatic acquisition is regulated by the principle of jure sanguinis, i.e., “right of blood”. The status can also be acquired on application after a long stay in the State or restored by descent. A number of applicants can count on simplified conditions for acquiring citizenship, such as spouses of Italians and refugees. The Italian Republic is a member of the EU, so if your request is approved, you automatically acquire the status of an EU citizen as well.

Italian passport is a document that certifies the identity of a citizen within the Republic and on the territory of the European Union. With it you get many privileges within the EU - freedom of movement and residence, employment without restrictions, permission for commercial activity, the right to study in prestigious universities. As a citizen, you can also issue a passport, which allows you to travel without a visa in most countries of the world. In the standard order to obtain a document takes from 10 years from the date of moving to Italy with a residence permit.

Since EU citizens are equal in rights, it is possible to obtain all the opportunities of an Italian citizen with a passport of another EU state. For example, Slovenia, Romania and Bulgaria have fast-track citizenship programs - in just 8-14 months, without having to open a residence permit or large contributions. You can get more information at a free consultation with specialized lawyers of Immigrantinlaw.

Italian Law on Citizenship

The provisions concerning Italian citizenship are mainly regulated by the national law of the same name, number 91 of 05.02.1992. Additional important nuances are given in Presidential Decrees No. 572 of October 12, 1993 and No. 362 of April 18, 1994. Separate information on repatriation to Italy is supported by legal act No. 124 of March 8, 2006. The general principles of Italian law are the authorization of multiple citizenship, the granting of status by birth and descent, the possibility to declare the wish to issue a local passport upon request or to refuse it.

How can one obtain the status of an Italian citizen

Most often, foreigners obtain an Italian passport after ten years of residence in the country as a resident and after demonstrating integration into public life. This procedure is called naturalization and has no restrictions on the applicant's current citizenship or additional criteria. Spouses of Italians apply for a passport through marriage, with minimal requirements. Those who have or have had blood relatives in the country can obtain citizenship by birth/nativity. There is also repatriation for those who lost their passport against their will and their descendants.

Registration by naturalization

The President of Italy can grant citizenship by decree to a foreigner who has been legally residing in the Republic for at least 10 years. If you hold a passport of another EU country, the period of residence is reduced to 4 years.

Three years of legal stay will be enough for those who had or have native Italians in their family up to grandparents. A similar period of time will be required to live in Italy for people who were born and were permanently in the state until adulthood. Refugees and stateless persons submit a request 5 years after moving.

Naturalization is possible if you have no criminal record, no problems with the law and demonstrate a positive attitude towards Italy. You will also need to pass a language exam (level B1) and obtain a CLIQ (Certificazione Lingua Italiana di Qualità) certificate. Applications for citizenship are accepted from adults who are willing to swear an oath of allegiance to the Republic if approved. The President has the right to shorten the naturalization period to 5 years if a person has worked for Italy abroad, or to grant a passport without prior residence for special merit.

Italy is not interested in the influx of immigrants, so it does not support investment programs for citizenship, which in addition go against the legal norms of the European Union. It is impossible to obtain a passport here, for example, when buying real estate. Large investments in the economy of the republic are also not considered as a basis for simplified acquisition of citizenship status. Financial investments can be used to open a residence permit and subsequent standard naturalization.

To move to Italy and subsequent naturalization, you can apply for a residence permit on one of the following grounds:

• Official employment.
  You can get a job vacancy in Italy if there are no willing EU citizens to apply for it. Residence permit is also issued in case of intra-corporate transfer, long internship or business trip. In addition, there is the EU Blue Card - a document of highly qualified specialists with special preferences (for example, the right to family immigration).
• Investment.
  Italian residency can be granted for investments in the economy of the country. The required investment amount is between 250,000 and 2,000,000 euros, depending on the area. The purchase of real estate as such does not entitle you to a residence permit, but it is possible to buy, let`s say, a commercial property as an asset for a company.
• Family circumstances.
  It is possible to move to Italy if there are close relatives from among the holders of residence permit, residence permit or passport of the Republic. Usually immigration is approved for children, parents, spouses. Rarely, other relatives request reunification, for example, if they are supported by the host country.
• Studying.
  Immigration residence permits are issued to those who come to study in Italian higher education institutions. After graduation and obtaining a diploma, it is possible to apply for a residence permit to find a job. During the period of its validity, it is necessary to get a job, open a business or find another reason to stay in the country.
• Commercial activity.
  Naturalization in Italy is available to those who open a business in Italy. The residence permit is issued within the framework of annual quotas after approval by a specialized body, such as the Chamber of Commerce or the local health department. The start-up capital must be sufficient to realize your business plan.
• Professional activity.
  Italy approves a resident card for those who plan to officially perform professional tasks without being employed. Examples are scientific researchers, church representatives, participants in volunteer missions. An invitation from a relevant organization is required for relocation.
• Humanitarian circumstances.
  Like other countries of the European Union, Italy grants refugee status to those who are forced to leave their home country for objective reasons, e.g., war, persecution due to race, nationality, religion. One can also count on additional (say, for those sentenced to death) or temporary (currently relevant for Ukrainians) protection.
• Other grounds.
  Moving to Italy is possible for financially secure and self-employed persons, as well as for those who need long-term medical treatment. It is also possible to immigrate for short-term reasons, e.g., for seasonal work, and then find another reason to stay in the Republic (e.g., marriage).

Citizenship by descent

If there were or are Italian citizens by birth in your ancestry before your grandparents, who subsequently lost this status, you can count on the issuance of a passport of the Republic in a simplified procedure. To do so, you will need to fulfill one of the following conditions:

• perform military service in the local Armed Forces;
• work for the state (including abroad);
• live in the country for 24 months or more (if you are an adult).

There are no additional requirements such as passing an Italian language exam.

Repatriation reinstatement

As part of the Paris Agreement of February 10, 1947, Italy ceded part of its lands to Yugoslavia. Those who lost their citizenship for this reason, as well as their direct descendants, can apply for the restoration of their passport without the condition of prior residence in the country. They will need to prove their origins through documentation and demonstrate a willingness to integrate into society, for example by attending thematic Italian communities in their home country to learn the language and cultural norms.

Obtainment through marriage

Italian citizenship can be acquired through a simplified procedure for husbands and wives of local passport holders. For this purpose, it is necessary to live together from 2 years from the date of marriage (from 3 years - if you are abroad together). The period is halved if a joint child is born or adopted. The family union must be concluded in the Republic or recognized by its legislation, and it must remain in force until the decree granting citizenship is issued. Language testing will also be required.

Citizenship by birth

Children of Italians (at least one of them) automatically receive the same legal status. If the other parent is a foreigner, a written consent is required from him/her to confer citizenship on the child. Similar rules apply to adopted children. Citizenship is also granted to a child found on the territory of the Republic or born in a stateless family.

The right of soil does not apply in Italy, but it is possible to obtain citizenship by birth and residence. This method is suitable for the children of foreigners who were born and permanently reside in the Republic, and in the period from 18 to 19 years inclusive have applied for a passport. If the child was born in Italy but lived abroad, he or she can return to his or her home country and apply for citizenship after 36 months.

To find out about the simplified way of obtaining the rights of an Italian citizen with a passport from another EU country, you can attend a free legal consultation. Immigrantinlaw's international law specialists will recommend the best immigration programs for your personal situation.

Who can apply for the status of an Italian citizen

The general requirements for those wishing to obtain citizenship in Italy include:

• the existence of a legal reason for granting the status;
• no criminal record in the Republic or abroad;
• loyalty to the Italian state;
• absence of links with illegal formations;
• in most cases, knowledge of the national language at B1 level.

You will be required to undergo legal migration procedures, pay administrative fees and take part in an oath ceremony if your request is approved.

The process of obtaining Italian citizenship

Registration of the status of an Italian citizen step by step:

1. Collecting documents and obtaining an entry permit.
   You select the grounds for relocation, form an appropriate dossier for a visa, and then make an appointment at the Italian consulate/embassy in your home country. When visiting the state body, you need to provide documents and leave your passport, which will be returned to you together with a D visa sticker if your request is approved.
2. Immigration and obtaining a resident card.
   The next stage of naturalization is to move to Italy and obtain a residence card within eight days of entering the country. The residence permit is requested at the territorial police station, where you need to submit a dossier and be photographed. The validity of the document is usually one year, but there are exceptions, for example, the card of highly qualified employees is issued for up to 2 years.
3. Compliance with the residency norms.
   As part of the general naturalization, you will need to stay in Italy for a further period of ten years. During this period, you will need to apply several times for the renewal of your residence card, which also takes place at the police department. You need to renew the status at least two months before the current right of residence is canceled.
   If you wish, 5 years after moving with a residence permit, you can open an Italian permanent residence permit. You will need to pass a language exam, demonstrate law-abidingness and financial security. Permanent residency status is also formalized with the police.
4. Passing a language test.
   You must prove your knowledge of the Italian language by taking an exam at an institution that is CLIQ-certified. These are the Universities of Perugia, Siena, Roma Tre and the Dante Alighieri Society. The result must prove that you have a B1 level of proficiency (intermediate spoken).
5. Formalizing the application for citizenship status.
   You apply for citizenship at the prefecture of your place of residence in Italy. You can also submit the application electronically via the official government website. The application must be accompanied by a package of documents. Requests are considered for two years, but an additional 12 months may be allowed, for example, if you need to clarify some information.
6. Passing the oath ceremony and obtaining citizenship.
   If your citizenship status is approved, you will re-visit the authorized body to take the oath. After the ceremony you will be issued a naturalization document, with which you can issue national passports.

List of documents for the procedure

Usually, the following documents are required to apply for Italian citizenship:

• a completed application form of the established sample (including in electronic form);
• Identity document (passport) with photocopies;
• certificate of absence of criminal record in the countries where you have citizenship;
• a receipt for payment of the administrative fee for processing the request;
• civil status certificates (birth, marriage or divorce certificate, if applicable);
• certificate of Italian language proficiency at least at B1 level according to the CEFR system;
• proof of the basis for the status (e.g., birth certificates of ancestors by descent or information on the period of residence for naturalized foreigners).

Foreign documents are provided subject to the legalization/apostille and translation requirements established by the legislation in force.

What gives an Italian passport?

As an Italian passport holder, you get the following privileges:

• travel without a visa or with electronic authorization to more than 160 countries around the world;
• permanent residence in most liked EU country;
• the right to family immigration and to obtain European documents for relatives;
• employment in private and public positions in the EU countries without separate permits;
• obtaining in-demand education and a diploma that is recognized in most countries of the world;
• participation in grant, subsidy, scholarship and other financial programs of the European Union;
• general civil opportunities such as receiving social benefits, services in banks and hospitals, protection from extradition.

Individual selection of immigration program

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How to get an Italian passport

The Italian internal passport corresponds to the common EU model. It is a plastic ID-card with biometric data of the holder, his photo and basic information such as issue and validity dates. The process of issuing the document is as follows:

1. Making an appointment at the municipality.
2. Submission of documents and payment of state duty.
3. Taking fingerprints.
4. Receiving the document at the municipality or by mail.

You can apply for an Italian passport to travel abroad with an internal identity card. You need to submit the request to the police department together with the dossier, photos and a receipt for the payment of the state duty. You can pick up the finished document in person or receive it by post. You can also track the readiness of your Italian passport online on the police website.

Time and cost of obtaining an Italian passport

The waiting period for Italian citizenship depends on the basis on which it is requested. A national visa is issued within three months, a residence permit - up to 60 days, and the same amount of time each time its renewal is considered. Naturalization requests take 2-3 years to be decided. Passport production takes up to 6 days.

In total, it usually takes from 12 years to obtain Italian citizenship, taking into account the period of residence in the republic. The basic rates of state fees for migration procedures are presented in the table below.

When naturalizing in Italy, you will also need to pay for an apartment and residence in the republic, notary and interpreter services, and legal support. The total cost of citizenship can be several thousand euros, and the waiting period can last for more than a decade. It is possible to become an EU citizen under simpler, cheaper and faster programs, about which you will be informed in detail during a free consultation by Immigrantinlaw specialists.

Refusal to grant a citizenship

Italian citizenship is not granted if it contradicts the interests of the Republic or the norms of national security. Often requests are rejected due to mistakes in the dossier, concealment of important information, non-compliance with at least one of the requirements for the applicant. Citizenship status is revoked if you have ties with banned organizations (terrorists, extremists), serve in the army of another country or its state body. You can successfully obtain an Italian passport with competent legal support of international law specialists.

Dual and second citizenship in Italy

The treaty on dual citizenship in Italy has only been ratified with Argentina. The countries recognize each other's passports and limit the range of obligations of citizens, for example, payment of taxes is required only in one of the states. At the same time, the Republic does not prohibit second/multiple citizenship. When naturalizing in Italy, you do not have to renounce passport in your home country unless required by its laws. Each state will consider you only as its own citizen with corresponding rights and obligations.

About the author

Diana Weber

Lawyer of international law

Diane Weber is an international law specialist with 10 years of legal practice experience. Her portfolio includes successful stories of citizenship in different European Union countries under simplified procedures. Diana provides detailed advice and helps many people to achieve their immigration goals in a short period of time, including resolving visa issues, assisting in obtaining residence permits and citizenship in the EU countries. In her blog, Diana Weber enjoys providing readers with detailed information about the features of most popular programs for obtaining a second passport.