To become an Italian citizen, you need to qualify under one of the following categories: by birth if you have Italian parents, through descent if you have Italian ancestors, by marriage to an Italian citizen, through naturalization after legally residing in Italy for a certain number of years, or through adoption. Italy doesn’t offer direct citizenship by investment, but investors can obtain a residence permit that may lead to citizenship over time. Let’s explore the main ways to obtain Italian citizenship and what is required for each.
Benefits of Italian Citizenship
- Freedom of travel. An Italian passport allows visa-free entry or simplified visa processing in over 190 countries. For example, to travel to Australia, the US, or Canada, you only need to apply for an electronic travel authorization a few days before departure.
- Living in the EU without restrictions. Italian citizens can freely live, work, study, and do business in any of the 28 EU countries, as well as in Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
- Dual or second citizenships are allowed. Obtaining an Italian passport does not require renouncing your current citizenship—Italy permits multiple citizenships.
- Access to healthcare. According to the WHO, Italy’s healthcare system ranks 2nd in the world in terms of quality and accessibility. All Italian citizens have access to free healthcare through the National Health Service (SSN) and can obtain an EHIC card for medical assistance in EU countries.
- Affordable European education. In Italy, school education is free and mandatory until age 16. University tuition fees depend on family income, and working citizens can receive government and regional subsidies, discounts, and scholarships for their children’s education. Additionally, in EU universities, Italian citizens pay lower tuition fees compared to students from non-EU countries.
How to Obtain Italian Citizenship
Let’s talk about how you can get an Italian passport.
By Birth
Italy follows the principle of Jus sanguinis (“right of blood”), meaning citizenship is passed on from parents regardless of the child’s birthplace. If at least one parent is Italian, the child automatically becomes an Italian citizen. Additionally, children born in Italy can acquire citizenship if their parents are unknown or stateless.
Through Adoption
If an Italian citizen adopts a child, the child automatically receives Italian citizenship, but only if the adoption occurs before the child turns 18. If a child is already an adult, he has to go through naturalization, which requires at least 5 years of living in Italy.
By Descent
If a person has Italian ancestors, they may qualify for citizenship by descent (Jus sanguinis). The paternal line has no restrictions, but for the maternal line—only if the child was born after January 1, 1948.
To obtain Italian citizenship through ancestry, the applicant must prove their relationship with an Italian citizen and the uninterrupted transmission of citizenship across generations. This requires having official copies of birth, marriage, or death certificates from the Italian commune where the ancestor was born.
By Naturalization
If you are a citizen of a non-EU country and legally reside in Italy, you can obtain permanent resident status (il permesso di soggiorno di lungo periodo) after 5 years, and after another 5 years, you may apply for citizenship. For EU citizens, the required residency period is 4 years. For refugees, it is 5 years.
In Italy, the residency period for citizenship is based on official residence registration (residenza), not just the number of years holding a residence permit. You must register your residence immediately upon arrival and update it whenever you move. To apply for citizenship, your residence registration must be continuous for the full required period.
Through Marriage to an Italian Citizen
Spouses of Italian citizens can apply for citizenship after 2 years of living together in Italy (or 3 years if residing abroad). This period is reduced by half if the couple has children.
Can I Obtain Italian Citizenship by Investment
Italy doesn’t offer direct citizenship by investment, but it provides a pathway to residency through the Investor Visa for Italy program, which has been available since 2017. This is a great option for investors and their families to start living in Italy and eventually accumulate the required years of residency for citizenship.
To obtain a residence permit under this program, you have to invest from:
- €250,000 in an Italian startup
- €500,000 in an Italian company
- €1,000,000 in charity
- €2,000,000 in government bonds
Required Documents for Italian Citizenship
Applications for Italian citizenship should be submitted online either independently or through the nearest CAF (centers that assist with bureaucracy, taxes, and immigration in Italy).
Here are the required documents:
- An application form.
- Valid passports and notarized and translated copies of passports of all family members.
- A copy of the Italian residence permit.
- A criminal record certificates for all family members in Italy, each country of residence and country of citizenship.
- A receipt for the €250 government application fee.
- 4 photos.
- A stamp marca da bollo for €16.
- A certificate of passing the Italian language exam at B1 level (or proof of completing school or university in Italy).
- A marriage certificate and family composition certificate (if through marriage to an Italian citizen).
- Income and tax payment documents for the past three years. In 2025, the minimum annual income requirement is €8,263 for a single applicant, €11,362 for a married couple, and €516 per minor child (if by naturalization).
- A certificate proving the Italian citizenship of a parent or ancestor in a direct line up to the second generation (if by descent).
Depending on the way of obtaining the citizenship, additional documents may be required.
The application review process takes 2 to 4 years, and applicants can track their status online. If approved, the applicant will be invited to take an oath. After that, they will receive a citizenship certificate and can apply for an Italian passport.
This information is for reference purposes only. Astons does not provide services for obtaining Italian citizenship but can assist with residence permits and citizenship by investment under various international programs. For more details, contact our specialists.
FAQ
What documents are required for an Italian citizenship application?
Here are the required documents:
- An application form.
- Valid passports and notarized and translated copies of passports of all family members.
- A copy of the Italian residence permit.
- A criminal record certificates for all family members in Italy, each country of residence and country of citizenship.
- A receipt for the €250 government application fee.
- 4 photos.
- A stamp marca da bollo for €16.
- A certificate of passing the Italian language exam at B1 level (or proof of school or university graduating in Italy).
- A marriage certificate and family composition certificate (if through marriage to an Italian citizen).
- Income and tax payment documents for the past three years. In 2025, the minimum annual income requirement is €8,263 for a single applicant, €11,362 for a married couple, and €516 per minor child (if by naturalization).
- A certificate proving the Italian citizenship of a parent or ancestor in a direct line up to the second generation (if by descent).
Depending on the way of obtaining the citizenship, additional documents may be required.
Can I apply for Italian citizenship through descent?
Is it possible to hold dual citizenship in Italy?
How much does it cost to get Italian citizenship?
How long does it take to process an application?
Do I need to speak Italian to become a citizen?
What are the common mistakes in citizenship applications?
