ITALY: CITIZENSHIP

ITALY: OUR MISSION

Italy is known for its beautiful Mediterranean coasts, large ancient structures, and unrivalled cuisine. In fact, to become an Italian is probably every single history maniac, beach goer, and food-lover’s ultimate dream. No wonder why here at Inimex, we receive a large number of clients inquiring about the possibility to join Italian citizenship. Thus, we created this page to inform you of all important details about citizenship in Italy.

Almost every person who wishes to obtain Italian citizenship has to claim it via one of the following three paths:

    1. Naturalisation: you have stayed on Italian soil long enough to blend into its culture and people;
    2. Descent: you have Italian ancestry, and thus are Italian by blood;
    3. Marriage: you have married an Italian citizen, and wish to become a part of your partner’s nation.

The requirements for different methods are detailed in each section, but here we have omitted many subtle items that may not apply to most people looking to acquire Italian citizenship, yet nonetheless they are very important if you happen to satisfy certain conditions. Should you require any consultation regarding any of these methods, Inimex’s Italian office can help you. Just contact us through our phone number or WhatsApp/Viber: +39 347 837 3322 (Italy). Skype: linimex.

ITALY: CITIZENSHIP BY DESCENT

Italy is based on the principle “ius sanguinis” (right of blood) without any generational restriction.

Basically, it means that any person who can prove to have an Italian generational relative and has not renounced his or her Italian nationality may apply for an Italian citizenship (La legge n.91 del 1992). It is a very generous and broad term for anyone who can prove the right of blood provided to have an Italian ancestor without generational limits. If the relative comes through the maternal branch, there is a limit (01/01/1948), the date on which the Italian Constitution was decreed. But even if it is earlier, a petition can be made by trial.

Requirements

To acquire Italian citizenship via ius sanguini, you have to prove your lineage with the emigrated ancestor and their original Italian citizenship. You and your ancestors should satisfy the following conditions:

    1. No interruptions in the transmission of citizenship, not necessarily Italian;
    2. The first ancestor who migrated out of Italy was never naturalised into another citizenship before passing on the right of blood by having a child;
    3. None in your lineage renounced their descendants’ Italian citizenship.

Documents

Other than the normal personal details, you must produce the following documents in order to apply for citizenship by right of blood, and all documents not in Italian have to be translated into Italian:

    1. To prove your ancestor who migrated out of Italy, his/her:
      i.Birth certificate;
      ii.Marriage certificate;
      iii.Document proving he/she has never renounced on the Italian citizenship;
    2. To trace your lineage to that said ancestor:
      i.All marriage certificates, legalised, for all couples of your lineage, up to the said ancestor you derive your claim from;
      ii.All birth certificates, legalised, for all ancestors of your specific lineage;
      iii.All death certificates of all ancestors of your lineage.

ITALY: CITIZENSHIP BY MARRIAGE

Being married to an Italian citizen does not automatically grant you Italian citizenship. There are certain criteria that have to be met in order to apply for Italian citizenship.

Requirements

The requirement of becoming an Italian citizen varies depend on how long you are married to the Italian national and where you reside:

    1. If you reside in Italy at least 2 years, you may apply for Italian citizenship if your marriage has no children; or, 1 year, if your marriage has children;
    2. If you reside outside Italy, you may apply for nationality after at least 3 years, if your marriage has no children; or, 1 and a half years, if your marriage has children;
    3. No interruption or separation took place or is taking place.

Documents

In order to apply for citizenship by marriage, you have to produce the following list of documents:

    1. Valid passport;
    2. Proof of your residence.
    3. Marriage certificate, translated into Italian if necessary;
    4. Proof of cohabitation during the required period, such as a purchase or loan contract under both spouses’ names;
    5. Birth certificate, translated into Italian;
    6. Criminal Records Certificate from country of origin and any country you have resided in;
    7. Your partner’s proof of Italian citizenship.

ITALY: CITIZENSHIP BY NATURALIZATION

Naturalization is the method to acquire Italian citizenship through a certain period of legitimate residency in Italy. Regardless of which method you acquired your residency, as long as you cannot claim citizenship via marriage or descent, you have to apply for Italian citizenship via naturalization.

Requirements

As in many other countries, the process of obtaining nationality by naturalization is subject to changes due to the possible hardening of the laws. However, all foreign citizens have to reside in Italy legally for a certain amount of time to qualify based on a multitude of conditions:

    1. Depending on the country of origin of the applicant:
      i. For non-EU citizens, they will have to reside in Italy legally for at least 10 years to be eligible for nationality;
      ii. For EU citizens, the requirement is 4 years.
    2. The requirement of the following exceptions is 3 years:
      i. Persons born in Italy by foreign parents
      ii. If any of the applicant’s parents or grandparents were Italian citizens by birth.
    3. Regardless of the case, the applicant’s family also has to meet a minimum annual income threshold in the 3 years prior to application in Italy, and it varies depending on the applying family’s size:
      i. Solely just one applicant: 8263.31 Euro;
      ii. Applicant with dependents: 560.00 Euro additional for each dependent, capping at 11,362.05 Euro.

Documents

The following is a sample list of documents required to obtain Italian citizenship via naturalization:

    1. Valid passport;
    2. Residence card;
    3. Birth certificate translated into Italian;
    4. Marriage certificate, if any;
    5. Criminal Records Certificate from country of origin and any country you have resided in;
    6. Proof of accommodation in Italy;
    7. Income Tax Form from the last 3 years.

ITALY: OUR MISSION

Italy is known for its beautiful Mediterranean coasts, large ancient structures, and unrivalled cuisine. In fact, to become an Italian is probably every single history maniac, beach goer, and food-lover’s ultimate dream. No wonder why here at Inimex, we receive a large number of clients inquiring about the possibility to join Italian citizenship. Thus, we created this page to inform you of all important details about citizenship in Italy.

Almost every person who wishes to obtain Italian citizenship has to claim it via one of the following three paths:

      1. Naturalisation: you have stayed on Italian soil long enough to blend into its culture and people;
      2. Descent: you have Italian ancestry, and thus are Italian by blood;
      3. Marriage: you have married an Italian citizen, and wish to become a part of your partner’s nation.

The requirements for different methods are detailed in each section, but here we have omitted many subtle items that may not apply to most people looking to acquire Italian citizenship, yet nonetheless they are very important if you happen to satisfy certain conditions. Should you require any consultation regarding any of these methods, Inimex’s Italian office can help you. Just contact us through our phone number or WhatsApp/Viber: +39 347 837 3322 (Italy). Skype: linimex.

ITALY: CITIZENSHIP BY DESCENT

Italy is based on the principle “ius sanguinis” (right of blood) without any generational restriction.

Basically, it means that any person who can prove to have an Italian generational relative and has not renounced his or her Italian nationality may apply for an Italian citizenship (La legge n.91 del 1992). It is a very generous and broad term for anyone who can prove the right of blood provided to have an Italian ancestor without generational limits. If the relative comes through the maternal branch, there is a limit (01/01/1948), the date on which the Italian Constitution was decreed. But even if it is earlier, a petition can be made by trial.

Requirements

To acquire Italian citizenship via ius sanguini, you have to prove your lineage with the emigrated ancestor and their original Italian citizenship. You and your ancestors should satisfy the following conditions:

      1. No interruptions in the transmission of citizenship, not necessarily Italian;
      2. The first ancestor who migrated out of Italy was never naturalised into another citizenship before passing on the right of blood by having a child;
      3. None in your lineage renounced their descendants’ Italian citizenship.

Documents

Other than the normal personal details, you must produce the following documents in order to apply for citizenship by right of blood, and all documents not in Italian have to be translated into Italian:

      1. To prove your ancestor who migrated out of Italy, his/her:
        i.Birth certificate;
        ii.Marriage certificate;
        iii.Document proving he/she has never renounced on the Italian citizenship;
      2. To trace your lineage to that said ancestor:
        i.All marriage certificates, legalised, for all couples of your lineage, up to the said ancestor you derive your claim from;
        ii.All birth certificates, legalised, for all ancestors of your specific lineage;
        iii.All death certificates of all ancestors of your lineage.

ITALY: CITIZENSHIP BY MARRIAGE

Being married to an Italian citizen does not automatically grant you Italian citizenship. There are certain criteria that have to be met in order to apply for Italian citizenship.

Requirements

The requirement of becoming an Italian citizen varies depend on how long you are married to the Italian national and where you reside:

      1. If you reside in Italy at least 2 years, you may apply for Italian citizenship if your marriage has no children; or, 1 year, if your marriage has children;
      2. If you reside outside Italy, you may apply for nationality after at least 3 years, if your marriage has no children; or, 1 and a half years, if your marriage has children;
      3. No interruption or separation took place or is taking place.

Documents

In order to apply for citizenship by marriage, you have to produce the following list of documents:

      1. Valid passport;
      2. Proof of your residence.
      3. Marriage certificate, translated into Italian if necessary;
      4. Proof of cohabitation during the required period, such as a purchase or loan contract under both spouses’ names;
      5. Birth certificate, translated into Italian;
      6. Criminal Records Certificate from country of origin and any country you have resided in;
      7. Your partner’s proof of Italian citizenship.

ITALY: CITIZENSHIP BY NATURALIZATION

Naturalization is the method to acquire Italian citizenship through a certain period of legitimate residency in Italy. Regardless of which method you acquired your residency, as long as you cannot claim citizenship via marriage or descent, you have to apply for Italian citizenship via naturalization.

Requirements

As in many other countries, the process of obtaining nationality by naturalization is subject to changes due to the possible hardening of the laws. However, all foreign citizens have to reside in Italy legally for a certain amount of time to qualify based on a multitude of conditions:

      1. Depending on the country of origin of the applicant:
        i. For non-EU citizens, they will have to reside in Italy legally for at least 10 years to be eligible for nationality;
        ii. For EU citizens, the requirement is 4 years.
      2. The requirement of the following exceptions is 3 years:
        i. Persons born in Italy by foreign parents
        ii. If any of the applicant’s parents or grandparents were Italian citizens by birth.
      3. Regardless of the case, the applicant’s family also has to meet a minimum annual income threshold in the 3 years prior to application in Italy, and it varies depending on the applying family’s size:
        i. Solely just one applicant: 8263.31 Euro;
        ii. Applicant with dependents: 560.00 Euro additional for each dependent, capping at 11,362.05 Euro.

Documents

The following is a sample list of documents required to obtain Italian citizenship via naturalization:

      1. Valid passport;
      2. Residence card;
      3. Birth certificate translated into Italian;
      4. Marriage certificate, if any;
      5. Criminal Records Certificate from country of origin and any country you have resided in;
      6. Proof of accommodation in Italy;
      7. Income Tax Form from the last 3 years.