Italian citizenship is based on the principle of jus sanguinis (right of blood), under which a child born to an Italian father or mother is Italian. However, it should be noted that as of January 1, 1948, maternal citizenship is transmitted to minor children, following a specific ruling by the Constitutional Court.
Currently, Italian citizenship is governed by Law No. 91 of December 5, 1992, which, unlike the previous law, places greater emphasis on individual will in the acquisition and loss of citizenship and recognizes the right to hold multiple citizenships concurrently, subject to various provisions outlined in international agreements.
WAYS TO ACQUIRE ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP AUTOMATIC ACQUISITION METHODS
By Descent
By birth on Italian territory, in cases where the parents are unknown, stateless, or do not transmit their citizenship to the child according to their home country’s laws. In the case of an unknown child found abandoned on Italian territory, with an undetermined civil status.
By acknowledgment of paternity or maternity, during the child’s minority (if the acknowledged child is of legal age, the child must elect citizenship within one year of acknowledgment).
Through adoption, either when a foreign minor is adopted by an Italian citizen through a decree issued by the Italian Judiciary Authority, or when adoption is pronounced abroad and recognized in Italy through an order issued by the Juvenile Court. If the adopted person is of legal age, they can acquire Italian citizenship through naturalization after residing legally in Italy for five years following the adoption (refer to the “Application-Based Acquisition Methods” section for naturalization).
APPLICATION-BASED ACQUISITION METHODS
Declaration of the applicant’s will If a foreign national is a descendant of an Italian citizen by birth (up to the 2nd degree), they can acquire citizenship if they (alternatively):
Complete military service in the Italian Armed Forces. Take on public employment under the Italian government, even abroad. Legally reside in Italy for at least two years after reaching legal adulthood. If a foreign national was born on Italian territory, they can acquire citizenship by legally and continuously residing in Italy from birth until reaching legal adulthood. Marriage to an Italian citizen Requirements include:
Legal residency in Italy for a minimum of six months following the marriage, or three years of marriage if residing abroad. Validity of the marriage. No criminal convictions. No impediments related to national security. The citizenship acquisition application must be addressed to the Minister of the Interior and submitted to the Provincial Prefecture if the residency is in Italy, or to the diplomatic-consular authority if the residency is abroad.
Naturalization Requirements include:
Ten years of legal residency. Sufficient income. No criminal record. Renunciation of the original citizenship (if applicable). The number of years may be reduced to:
Three years of legal residency for the descendants of former Italian citizens by birth up to the second degree and for foreigners born on Italian territory. Four years of legal residency for citizens of European Community member states. Five years of legal residency for stateless individuals, refugees, and foreign adults adopted by Italian citizens. Seven years of legal residency for individuals who are affiliated with Italian citizens. No residency period is required for foreigners who have served the state for at least five years, even abroad.
The naturalization application should be addressed to the President of the Republic and submitted to the Provincial Prefecture.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION
Self-certifiable documents:
General Certificate of Criminal Records (with stamp duty). Certificate of Family Status (with stamp duty). Historical residence certificate; if there have been multiple places of legal residence, an historical anagraphic certificate is required for each municipality (with stamp duty). Authenticated copy of tax return models 740 or 101 for the three years prior to the application, or certification issued by the relevant Direct Tax Office regarding income declarations filed in the three-year period immediately before the application.
Non-self-certifiable documents:
A request for citizenship acquisition, to be completed on a preprinted form available at the competent Prefecture based on the applicant’s place of residence. Original birth certificate from the country of origin, including all personal details. In cases of documented impossibility, an attestation issued by the Diplomatic or Consular Authority of the country of origin, properly translated and legalized, should indicate personal details (name, surname, date and place of birth) and the filiation of the applicant. Criminal record certificate from the country of origin and any countries where the applicant has resided (self-certifiable for European Union citizens only). Authorization for the competent authorities of the country of origin to release all information about the applicant, as required by the Italian Diplomatic Authorities, to be completed on a preprinted form available at the Prefecture. A declaration of renunciation of protection from the Italian Diplomatic Consular Authority to the authorities of the country of origin, to be completed on a preprinted form available at the Prefecture (only for applicants seeking citizenship by residency in Italy). Certificate of Italian citizenship of the spouse (only for applicants seeking citizenship due to marriage). After the application is submitted, the competent authority will request additional documents, including:
A certificate of pending charges issued by the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the relevant Territorial Court or the Court for Minors, based on the applicant’s place of residence. Data related to the applicant’s entry and stay in Italy. An extract from the marriage registers of the Italian municipality where the marriage was transcribed (only for applicants seeking citizenship through marriage).
To expedite the application process, the applicant may provide or send electronic copies, even without authentication, of the certificates in their possession.
Reacquisition of Italian Citizenship in Case of Loss In cases of loss, Italian citizenship can be reacquired:
Automatically
- after one year from the date of establishing residency in the territory of the Republic, unless renounced within the same period. Upon application
- by completing effective military service in the Italian Armed Forces.
- by taking or having taken public employment under the Italian government, even abroad.
- by submitting a declaration of intent to reacquire Italian citizenship to the Italian Consular Authority, if residing abroad, and establishing legal residence in Italy within one year of the declaration.
- by making a declaration, in the case of an Italian woman who automatically lost citizenship due to marriage to a foreigner, if the marriage took place before January 1, 1948.