Citizenship
Italian citizenship by residence and by marriage: requirements, residence, B1 level, documents, the online application and processing times.
Italian citizenship is not automatic: every route has its own requirements, timing and documents — often foreign records that take time to obtain.
Here you will find guides to the most common routes — residence, marriage and descent — with general requirements, documents, the language requirement and the online application procedure.
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Italian citizenship by residence
Citizenship by residence (naturalisation) generally requires ten years of legal, continuous residence in Italy for non-EU citizens, four years for EU …
Italian citizenship by marriage
The foreign spouse of an Italian citizen can apply for citizenship after two years of legal residence in Italy from the marriage date, or after three …
Documents for citizenship
Applications generally require: a foreign birth certificate translated and legalised, criminal record and pending charges certificates, a historical r…
How to file a citizenship application
Citizenship applications are filed exclusively online through the Ministry of the Interior portal: you need SPID or CIE access (dedicated registration…
Guides in this section
Italian citizenship by residence
Italian citizenship by residence: how many years are required (10 for non-EU, 4 for EU citizens), income and language requirements, continuo…
Italian citizenship by marriage
Italian citizenship by marriage or civil union: two years of residence in Italy (three abroad), halved in the presence of children, document…
Italian language requirement: B1 level
The language requirement for Italian citizenship: CEFR B1 level, accepted certificates (CILS, CELI, PLIDA, CERT-IT), exemptions and how to p…
Documents for citizenship
Documents needed for Italian citizenship: birth certificate, criminal record certificate, historical residence certificate, B1 language proo…
How to file a citizenship application
How to file an Italian citizenship application online: SPID or CIE access, completing the form, attaching documents, paying the contribution…
Citizenship by descent (ius sanguinis)
Italian citizenship by descent after Law 74/2025: what changed for people born abroad, which conditions matter, where to apply and how to ch…
Useful tools
Official sources
This page is based on the official sources listed below. Open them to check the most recent information directly with the competent authority.
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ALI Portal — Citizenship (Ministry of the Interior) (opens in a new tab)
Ministero dell’Interno — DLCI · in italiano
Portale telematico ufficiale per presentare e consultare la domanda di cittadinanza italiana (accesso con SPID o CIE).
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Normattiva — Italian legislation database (opens in a new tab)
Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri · in italiano
Banca dati ufficiale del testo vigente delle norme italiane, incluso il Testo Unico sull’immigrazione (D.Lgs. 286/1998).
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Prefectures — Territorial Government Office (opens in a new tab)
Ministero dell’Interno · in italiano
Portale delle Prefetture, competenti su cittadinanza, sportelli unici per l’immigrazione e nulla osta.
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Ministry of the Interior — Historical election archive (opens in a new tab)
Ministero dell’Interno — DAIT · in italiano
Risultati ufficiali delle consultazioni elettorali e referendarie, compreso il referendum del giugno 2025.
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Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (opens in a new tab)
MAECI
Sito istituzionale della Farnesina: rete consolare, visti, legalizzazioni e servizi per i cittadini stranieri.
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AGID — Agency for Digital Italy (opens in a new tab)
Agenzia per l’Italia Digitale · in italiano
Agenzia pubblica competente su identità digitale (SPID, CIE), accessibilità dei siti e servizi digitali della PA.
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Important notice
The information published on ItalyDocsHub is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Procedures and requirements may change. For current information and advice regarding your specific situation, always consult the relevant official authority or a qualified professional.
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- ItalyDocsHub Editorial Team