Of Italy’s numerous pathways to citizenship, one of the most common is through naturalization, or residency. Citizenship via this route requires that the applicant legally reside in the country for a certain period. In this article, we will cover the regulations for citizenship by residency, as well as a few extraordinary circumstances that affect it.
Time requirements
The amount of time needed to legally reside in Italy in order to qualify for citizenship by naturalization depends on a few factors. For non-EU citizens, the time of stay is 10 years. This drops down to 4 years for EU citizens. If you have an Italian-born parent or grandparent, the time requirement is only 2 years, though see below, because some regulations have recently changed.
In order to reside in Italy longer than 90 days, if you are not an EU citizen, you will need to procure a visa (EU citizens are allowed to live in Italy beyond this period by declaring residency at a municipality). There are many long-stay visas available to fit a variety of circumstances: the student visa, elective residency visa, investor visa, and the new digital nomad visa. To apply, you will need to submit an application with all the required documents to your local Italian consulate. Then, once you have arrived in Italy, you will then need to get a residence permit at the nearest immigration office (questura). In most cases, the residence permit can be renewed so long as the applicant continues to meet its requirements.
Application process
Once you have resided in Italy long enough to meet the requirements, you can submit the necessary documents through the Italian Ministry of the Interior’s website. You will need to provide the following documents:
- A copy of your birth certificate, professionally translated and legalized (an Apostille will suffice for many countries, but check local requirements)
- Background check(s)—for U.S. citizens, this includes both an FBI background check and checks from each state you have resided in since the age of 14
- Proof of payment of €250
- Residency certificate
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- A marca da bollo (revenue stamp) of €16
- Income tax returns from last three years
- Certificate of knowledge of the Italian language at least at the B1 level (see below for more on the language requirement)
- Copies of permesso di soggiorno, passport, and Italian identity card.
After your application has been approved, you will need to submit the original documents at your local Prefettura.
Those with Italian ancestry
As we mentioned in an earlier article, those who have Italian ancestry might find themselves unable to apply for citizenship by jure sanguinis, per the new regulations, but could instead apply for citizenship by naturalization through an expedited process. This had been a 3-year residence period in Italy, but due to the changes made by Law 74/2025 on May 23rd, 2025, this was shortened to 2 years. However, this only applies to individuals with Italian-born parents or grandparents.
Language requirements
As of March 7th, 2025, a change was also made to the Italian language requirement for those applying for citizenship through naturalization or marriage. As of 2018, this is a certificate of knowledge of Italian at the B1 level or higher. However, recently, it was decided that to provide no exceptions to this requirement for those with a serious inability to learn the langauge was unconstitutional. This includes individuals with disabilities, illnesses, or advanced age.
How long does citizenship take to get recognized?
Processing time for citizenship by naturalization takes up to 2 years, with the possibility of extending to 3 years. If your citizenship is approved, you will need to take an oath of allegiance within 6 months of the approval.
Will citizenship pass to your children?
The acquisition of Italian citizenship by minor children depends on how the parent acquired Italian citizenship as well as when. In the case that the parent naturalized as an Italian citizen before the child was born, then the child can receive Italian citizenship jure sanguinis so long as the parent has continuously resided in Italy for 2 years after he or she became an Italian citizen.
If the parent acquires Italian citizenship after the child was born, then the child can become an Italian citizen if he or she was cohabitating with the parent at the time of citizenship acquisition and so long as the child has resided in Italy for at least 2 continuous years.
Finally, there is the case of persons born in Italy to non-Italian parents who do not acquire Italian citizenship. Provided that such persons have resided in Italy continuously, they can apply for citizenship at the age of 18 by presenting a request to the Ufficio di Stato Civile at their municipality of residence.
Conclusion
Due to recent changes in citizenship laws, new regulations have been put into effect regarding citizenship by naturalization. This article has sought to provide an overview of the process and what those changes look like, but if you need further help with your application, don’t hesitate to contact Italian Citizenship Assistance at [email protected].
