Take the next step towards making Italy your home. We guide you through applying for Italian citizenship based on residence, marriage or descent, helping you avoid mistakes and delays.
Because becoming Italian should be a milestone, not a bureaucratic battle.
Italian citizenship
- Immigration
Italian citizenship by descent (iure sanguinis): FAQs
You may qualify for Italian citizenship by descent if you have an Italian ancestor and meet the legal requirements.
New rules and restrictions introduced in 2025 mean that having an Italian ancestor is no longer enough. Your line of descent, your ancestors’ citizenship and your family circumstances must also be checked.
Etnopoint can help you trace your family line and find out whether you can apply for recognition of Italian citizenship.
The documents you need depend on your family line, but generally include:
- Birth certificates for family members in the line of descent
- Marriage certificates and any death certificates
- Documents proving your ancestor’s Italian citizenship
- Any certificates relating to your ancestor’s naturalisation in another country
- Applicant’s identity document
- Any other documents required for your circumstances
- Documents issued abroad may need to be translated and legalised or apostilled.
Etnopoint can help you trace your family line and check which documents you need before applying.
It depends on where you live.
If you live abroad, you normally apply through the Italian consulate responsible for your area.
If you legally reside in Italy, you may be able to apply through your local municipality, subject to the applicable rules.
Etnopoint can help you find out where to apply and which process applies to you.
Processing times depend on where you apply, your documents and the checks required.
For applications submitted abroad from 1 January 2026, the statutory processing time is 36 months.
Complete, accurate documents can help you avoid delays and requests for additional information.
It depends on when naturalisation took place and the Italian citizenship status of your family line.
In some cases, an ancestor’s naturalisation can break the chain of Italian citizenship passed down to their descendants.
The rules on citizenship by descent changed in 2025. Check your full family line and citizenship history before applying.
Etnopoint can help you check your ancestors’ citizenship history and whether you’re eligible to apply.
Yes, but it depends on when the Italian woman's child was born.
If the child was born on or after 1 January 1948, citizenship through the maternal line can be recognised through the administrative process.
If an Italian woman’s child was born before 1 January 1948, you may need to take the case to court in Italy.
Etnopoint can help you trace your family line and find out which route is available to you.
No. You do not need a B1 Italian language certificate to have Italian citizenship recognised by descent (iure sanguinis).
The B1 requirement mainly applies to citizenship applications based on residence or marriage.
Etnopoint can help you check which requirements apply to your family.
For citizenship by descent, records tracing your family line must be accurate and consistent.
Mistakes in names, dates, places of birth or other details may mean you need corrections or extra documents before applying.
Etnopoint can help you check your documents and identify potential issues before you submit your application.
Citizenship through marriage: FAQs
A foreign or stateless person married to an Italian citizen can apply.
You can generally apply:
- After 2 years of legal residence in Italy following your marriage.
- After 3 years of marriage if you live abroad.
These waiting periods are halved if the couple has children, whether biological or adopted.
Your marriage must still be valid when citizenship is granted, and you and your spouse must not be legally separated.
You will generally need to:
- be married to or in a civil partnership with an Italian citizen;
- have waited the period required by law before applying;
- show at least B1-level proficiency in Italian, unless you are exempt;
- provide a birth certificate and criminal record certificate from your country of origin, if requested;
- have no grounds that would prevent you from being granted citizenship.
The marriage must remain valid, and the spouses must not be legally separated during the application process.
You will generally need:
- Identity document
- Residence permit, if you live in Italy
- Birth certificate from your country of origin
- Criminal record certificate from your country of origin and any other countries where you have lived
- Marriage or civil partnership documents, if required
- Proof of B1-level Italian, if required
- €16 revenue stamp
- Receipt for the €250 application fee
- Any other documents required for your circumstances
Documents issued abroad may need to be translated and legalised or apostilled.
Etnopoint helps you check which documents you need and make sure everything is complete and correct before you apply.
For applications submitted from 20 December 2020, the process must be completed within 24 months, extendable to a maximum of 36 months.
Actual processing times vary depending on how complex your case is, the checks carried out by the authorities and whether your documents are complete.
Etnopoint helps you track your application and respond to any requests during the process.
To apply for Italian citizenship through marriage, you must prove you have at least B1-level Italian, unless you qualify for a legal exemption.
Some people are exempt, including holders of certain residence permits and those covered by other exemptions under the law.
Etnopoint can help you check whether you need a B1 certificate or qualify for an exemption.
No. To obtain citizenship through marriage, your marriage or civil union must still be valid, and you must not be legally separated at any point between applying and the end of the process.
Etnopoint can help you check your family history before you apply.
Yes. Once you have applied, you can check your application status online through the Ministry of the Interior’s portal.
Etnopoint’s support doesn’t stop when you submit your application: we check its progress regularly and help you through to the end of the citizenship process.
If you are asked for documents or further information, we can help you provide them correctly.
If your application is approved, you will receive a decree granting Italian citizenship.
Once the decree has been served, you must take the oath at your local municipality within 6 months.
Italian citizenship takes effect after you take the oath.
No. There is no minimum income requirement for Italian citizenship through marriage.
The application is based primarily on marriage to a Italian citizen, and on meeting the required time limits by law, your knowledge of Italian and the other requirements.
Citizenship by residence: FAQs
You can apply if you have lived in Italy with legal, continuous residence for the period required by law.
You will generally need:
- Point a): 2 years of legal residence if a parent or grandparent is or was an Italian citizen
- Point a-bis) 3 years of legal residence for those born in Italy
- Point b): 5 years of legal residence if you were adopted as an adult by an Italian citizen (or are the adult child of a naturalised citizen)
- Point d): 4 years of legal residence for citizens of an EU member state
- Point (e): 5 years of legal residence for stateless people
- Letter e), read with Article 10(2): 5 years of legal residence for refugees
- Point f) 10 years of legal residence for non-EU citizens
You will generally need:
- Continuous legal residence in Italy for the required period.
- Sufficient income in recent years.
- At least B1-level Italian, unless you qualify for an exemption.
- Birth certificate and criminal record certificate from your country of origin.
- No serious criminal record or other grounds for refusing citizenship.
Etnopoint can help you check whether you meet all the requirements before you apply.
The documents you need depend on your circumstances, but generally include:
- Identity document
- Residence permit or other proof of legal residence
- Birth certificate from your country of origin
- Criminal record certificate from your country of origin and, in some cases, other countries where you have lived
- Proof of income
- B1 Italian language certificate, if required
- Receipt for the application fee
- Any other documents required for your circumstances
- 1 tax stamp worth 16€
Documents issued abroad must be translated into Italian and, depending on the country that issued them and the applicable agreements, they may need to be legalised or bearing an apostille to be valid in Italy.
Etnopoint helps you check that your documents are complete and correct before you apply.
For applications submitted on or after 20 December 2020, the process must be completed within 24 months, although this can be extended to a maximum of 36 months.
Actual processing times vary depending on how complex your case is, the checks carried out by the authorities and whether your documents are complete.
Etnopoint can help you prepare your application correctly and track its progress.
To apply for Italian citizenship through residence, you must show that your Italian is at least level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
You can meet this requirement with a recognised qualification or language certificate.
Some exemptions apply. In certain cases, these include people with an EU long-term residence permit or who have signed the Integration Agreement. Specific exemptions also apply if a medical certificate confirms a severely limited ability to learn a language due to age, illness or disability.
To apply for citizenship by residency, you need a continuous legal residence in Italy for the required period.
If your registration was cancelled or there are gaps in your residence history, this may affect how the required years are counted.
Temporary absences from Italy, such as trips or stays abroad, do not automatically interrupt your period of residence.
Etnopoint can help you check your residence history before you apply.
Yes. To apply for citizenship through residence, you must show that you have had sufficient income for the past 3 years.
If your income is too low, the income of family members who live with you may also be counted in some cases.
Etnopoint can help you check whether your income meets the requirement before you apply.
You apply online through the Ministry of the Interior's portal.
Before submitting your application, make sure all your details and documents are correct and complete.
Etnopoint can help you prepare your documents, complete your application and track its progress.
Yes. Once you have applied, you can check your application status online through the Ministry of the Interior’s portal.
Etnopoint's support doesn't end when you apply: we check your application's progress regularly and help you through to the end of the citizenship process.
If you're asked for more documents or information during the process, we'll help you respond correctly.
If your application is approved, you will receive a decree granting Italian citizenship.
Once the decree has been served, you must take the oath at your local municipality within 6 months.
Italian citizenship takes effect after you take the oath.
If your application is rejected, the decision will explain why.
Depending on the reason and the stage of the process, you may be able to submit documents or comments, or consider an appeal.
Etnopoint can help you understand why your application was rejected and consider your next steps.
- Freedom to live and work across the EU
Live, work and study in EU countries with the rights granted to EU citizens.
- Italian passport
Travel more freely with a passport that gives you easier access to many countries.
- Right to vote
Have a say in Italian politics by voting in national, local and European elections.
- No residence permit renewals
You won't have to worry about residence permit expiry dates and renewals to keep living in Italy.
- More opportunities in Italy and Europe
Access more jobs, study options and public-sector recruitment exams reserved for Italian or EU citizens.
- More opportunities for your family
Italian citizenship can benefit your children and family too, depending on their circumstances and the law.
Benefits of Italian citizenship
Etnopoint supports you through every step of your Italian citizenship application, from the initial check to the final decision.
We can help you:
- Check the requirements for your citizenship route.
- Check and prepare the required documents.
- Check any foreign documents, translations, legalisations or apostilles.
- Complete and submit your application correctly.
- Respond to any requests for additional information or other communications.
- Regularly check your application's status using its assigned K10/K10C code.
- Support you until your citizenship application is complete.
Get support in person or online, whichever suits you best.
How we can help
- End-to-end support: we're with you from the first checks until your application is complete.
- Fewer mistakes, less worry: we check your paperwork carefully to reduce the risk of rejection due to errors, missing information or incomplete documents.
- Help with documents from abroad: we can arrange translations, legalisation and apostilles where needed.
- Application tracking: we regularly check your application's status using its K10/K10C code.
- Online or in person: get support in the way that suits you best.
- Clear communication: we explain every step in plain language, without the jargon.
