Citizenship by Naturalization in Italy

For non-EU citizens, a minimum of 10 years of legal residency is necessary to attain citizenship successfully. Italy defines legal residency as the duration for which you have been officially registered as a resident with your local municipality’s registry office, referred to as the “anagrafe” in Italian.

In the case of EU citizens, the mandatory legal residency period is shortened to four years. There are some specific exceptions where citizenship can be granted with shorter residency periods. For instance, if you are within two generations of an Italian citizen and have a parent or grandparent who was born in Italy, you are only required to have three years of legal residency to qualify.

Although the specific prerequisites may differ, your local Prefettura will generally request the following documents to process your application:

1. An original copy of your birth certificate, which must undergo proper translation and authentication. The requirements for translating and authenticating the document will be determined by the country that issued your birth certificate.

2. Criminal records documentation from all the countries where you currently hold citizenship. These records must also be accurately translated and authenticated. If you are a U.S. citizen, you typically need criminal background checks from both the federal government and every U.S. state and county where you have previously resided.

3. Payment of €250.

If you have Italian ancestry and have included this information in your citizenship by residency application, you will also be required to furnish official vital records pertaining to your ancestors.

For those considering applying for Italian citizenship by residency, there are three additional prerequisites to take into account:

1. Proof of Residency: To satisfy the residency duration requirements, you will need documentation from your local registry office, demonstrating your place of residence and the duration of your legal Italian residency in that jurisdiction.

2. Italian Language Proficiency: Applicants for citizenship by residency must meet the minimum requirements for Italian language proficiency and must obtain a language certificate from an accredited institution. Your proficiency in the Italian language should at least reach the B1 level, as outlined in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This level corresponds to a low-intermediate knowledge level, meaning you don’t need to be fluent but should possess at least an intermediate understanding of Italian. You can find more details about the B1 certificate here.

At present, there are four institutions authorized to issue language proficiency certificates to meet application criteria:

• The Dante Alighieri Society
• The University for Foreigners of Siena
• The Roma Tre University
• The University for Foreigners of Perugia

3. Minimum Income Requirement: Applicants must fulfill specific minimum income criteria to be eligible, and relevant evidence, such as bank statements, must be provided with your application. Over the past three years, your annual income must be at least € 8,263.31.

For married applicants, the annual income requirement is €11,362.05. If you have dependent children, you must provide additional income of €516.46 for each child. If you are currently not earning an income, you can include another individual’s income in your application if they are a member of the same household.

Criminal records typically have a validity period of only six months from their date of issuance, so it’s advisable to request them closer to your application date.

For married men, a marriage certificate is not mandatory as part of the citizenship application. However, if you are a married woman and have changed your name following marriage, you will need to provide an official copy of your marriage certificate or other Consular documentation that substantiates your name change.

While pursuing Italian citizenship by residency may appear challenging, we trust that this article has provided valuable insights and information to simplify the process. Should you have any additional inquiries about the application procedure, please do not hesitate to reach out to us atLexidy. Our team is always accessible and eager to assist!