Italian Citizenship by Residency (Naturalization)

Q: I am a non-Italian citizen who has lived in Italy for a few years.  Can I apply for Italian citizenship?  If yes, when?

A: Italian citizenship by residency is an option and you can apply for it depending on your nationality and the number of years you have remained registered as a resident in Italy.

Requirements for Italian Citizenship by Residency

To apply for Italian citizenship by residency, the applicant should demonstrate that they have legally lived in Italy for a certain period, which varies depending on the applicant’s personal situation:

1. 10 years for non-EU citizens
2. 4 years for citizens of an EU country.
3. 5 years for stateless individuals or refugees.
4. 2 years for foreigners with Italian ancestors by birth (citizenship by descent).
5. 2 years for foreigners adopted as adults by Italian citizens.

Required Documentation:

1. ‘certificato storico di residenza’ (historical certificate of residency) – issued by the Italian Municipality
2. Birth certificate – with legalization/Apostille and translated into Italian, if issued by a non-EU Country
3. Criminal records certificate (aka criminal background check) from both your country of origin and Italy
4. Valid residence permit (Permesso di Soggiorno) – if applicable
5. Tax returns from the last three years – if applicable
6. Ancestors’ Vital records – if applicable (specific to #4 above)
7. Italian language certificate – B1 level required
8. Duty stamp

Duration of the Procedure

The process of acquiring citizenship by residency can be lengthy:

• Once the application is submitted, the Ministry of the Interior has up to 24 months (2 years) to process it. However, in complex cases, this period can be extended to 36 months (3 years).
• Once the application is approved, the applicant must take the oath of allegiance to the Italian Republic within 6 months of the notification. This can be monitored in the “Portale” to see when the Italian Authority sends communications to the applicant.

Procedure Steps

1. Submission of the application: It must be submitted online through the Ministry of the Interior’s portal, with all required documents.
2. Application review: The Ministry of the Interior reviews the documentation and may request further clarification or additional documents.
3. Appointment to file original documents at the Prefettura’s Office.
4. Response from the Ministry: Within 24 months (or 36 months for complex cases), the Ministry informs the applicant whether the citizenship has been granted.
5. Oath of allegiance: If the application is approved, the applicant is required to take the oath of allegiance within 6 months form the response above at the local Municipality.

The application should be filed online through the online “Portale” of the Italian Authority at this link. The applicant needs to be authenticated through the Italian Digital Identification Number SPID (you can find more information about the SPID at this link).

Costs

• duty stamp of EUR 16
• Administrative cost: EUR 250 (when submitting the application)

Possible Delays and Complications

The citizenship process may face delays due to document checks, criminal background verifications, or other administrative issues.

Contact us

Book a consultation to discuss your specific case circumstances with an experienced English speaking lawyer and we will provide options, recommended course of action and a personalized cost estimate accordingly.

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