Italian Citizenship by Residency or Naturalization

Naturalisation is the process by which a foreign national can acquire Italian citizenship after having lawfully resided in Italy.

Applicants must demonstrate genuine integration, which includes stable income, accommodation, adequate knowledge of the Italian language, and a clean criminal record.

Obtaining Italian citizenship by residency or naturalisation is one of the most common routes for foreign nationals living permanently in Italy.

It is a significant legal status, granting full civil and political rights, including the right to vote.

In 2025, the Italian legislator introduced major changes to citizenship laws, particularly in the area of Citizenship by descent (iure sanguinis), tightening the criteria to prove a genuine connection with Italy.

However, among the changes introduced by Decree-Law No. 36/2025, converted into Law No. 74/2025, a specific provision was made for first- and second-generation descendants of Italian citizens who choose to move to and work in Italy.

For these individuals, the path to Citizenship by residency has been simplified: they are now eligible to apply after just two years of legal residence.

Italian Citizenship for those residing in Italy

While obtaining Italian citizenship is not a simple process, understanding the requirements and procedure allows prospective applicants to assess their eligibility.

Importantly, acquiring Italian citizenship does not require renouncing one’s original nationality, as Italy recognises dual citizenship.

In some cases, individuals may have resided in Italy for a significant period and also entered into marriage or a civil union with an Italian citizen.

In such cases, applicants may have two potential routes: applying for citizenship by marriage or by residency.

The choice depends on individual circumstances and which route offers the greatest advantages.

It is not always possible to follow the administrative route; in certain cases, judicial proceedings may be required instead.

Requirements for Citizenship by residency

Applicants must meet the following key requirements:

1. Continuous legal residence
2. Adequate income
3. Knowledge of the Italian language
4. Clean criminal record

1. Duration of legal residence

Applicants must have continuous and lawful residence in Italy, duly registered with the local civil registry, following legal entry and stay with a valid residence permit.

Interruptions in residency, due to time spent abroad or administrative removal from the registry,invalidate the continuity requirement. If an individual’s registry registration is cancelled, the new period of residency will be counted only from the date of re-registration. Gaps between residency periods cannot be aggregated.

Legal residence must not be confused with lawful stay.

Those eligible to apply for citizenship by residency include:

• Non-EU nationals who have resided in Italy for at least 10 years
• EU citizens who have resided in Italy for at least 4 years
• Stateless persons or recognised refugees who have resided in Italy for at least 5 years since status recognition
• Foreign nationals born in Italy who have resided there for at least 3 years

A person born and raised in Italy who fails to apply for citizenship by age 19 can still apply through the residency route.

However, unlike the automatic entitlement granted before age 19, post-19 applications are subject to the full legal requirements.

Additional eligible categories include:

• Adult foreign nationals adopted by an Italian citizen, after at least 5 years of residence in Italy following the adoption
• Adult foreign nationals recognised as children by an Italian citizen (i.e., through “affiliation”) before the Adoption Law No. 184/1983 entered into force, provided they have resided in Italy for at least 7 years

No residency requirement applies to foreign nationals who have worked for the Italian State for at least five years, even abroad. This falls under a distinct category: “Italian Citizenship by Service to the State.”

Legal residence: changes introduced by law no. 74/2025

The following categories benefit from the newly shortened residency requirement:

• Foreign nationals with parents or grandparents (up to the second degree in a direct line) who were Italian citizens by birth, now eligible after 2 years of residency (previously 3)
• Those same individuals, if hired in Italy under an employment contract, may also enter the country outside the annual immigration quotas and apply for citizenship after 2 years of continuous legal residence

The list of “countries with a history of Italian emigration” to which this rule applies has yet to be officially published.

Additional individual requirements

In addition to length of residence, applicants must:

• Prove sufficient income
• Have no serious criminal convictions
• Demonstrate linguistic and cultural integration

2. Adequate income

Applicants must demonstrate either personal or household income sufficient to support a dignified life in Italy.

The relevant income is that declared during the three years preceding the application.

Minimum thresholds (subject to annual updates) are:

• €8,263.31 for individuals with no dependants
• €11,362.05 for those with a dependent spouse, plus €516.00 for each additional dependant

If multiple household members contribute income, all earnings may be combined to meet the required threshold.

3. Knowledge of the italian language

According to Law No. 91/1992, Italian citizenship by residency is conditional upon the applicant possessing at least B1-level knowledge of the Italian language (as defined by the CEFR – Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

Language proficiency can be proven through:

• A qualification issued by a public or accredited private institution recognised by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (e.g., secondary school diploma or university degree)
• An official language certificate at B1 level (L2) issued by an authorised certifying body recognised by the Italian government, including:
  • University for Foreigners of Perugia
  • University for Foreigners of Siena
  • Roma Tre University
  • Dante Alighieri Society

Other acceptable documentation includes:

• A valid “Integration Agreement” as per Article 4-bis of Legislative Decree No. 286/1998
• A valid long-term residence permit (EU or CE)

Applicants do not need to attend preparatory courses; registration and sitting the exam is sufficient.

Qualifications issued by public institutions may be self-certified; private or accredited institution certificates must be submitted as authenticated copies.

However, not all applicants for citizenship by residency must prove language proficiency, some categories are exempt.

However, not all applicants for citizenship by residency are required to demonstrate knowledge of the Italian language. For example, individuals holding an EU long-term residence permit or those who have signed an Integration Agreement are exempt from this requirement.

Constitutional Court ruling: no language requirement for the elderly and disabled

It is important to note that Judgment No. 25/2025 of the Constitutional Court declared the unconstitutionality of Article 9.1 of Law No. 91/1992 insofar as it imposed an intermediate level of Italian language proficiency on all foreign nationals applying for Italian citizenship by marriage or naturalisation, without allowing for exceptions.

As a result, those who can demonstrate that they are unable to acquire sufficient knowledge of the Italian language—due to disability, illness, or age-related difficulties—must be exempted from the language requirement.

4. Clean criminal record

Approval of citizenship applications is subject to the applicant’s criminal history.

A clean criminal record, both in Italy and in any previous country of residence, is a key requirement.

Authorities will assess criminal records from age 14 onwards.

Regardless of the documents submitted, background checks will be conducted, and any serious criminal convictions may lead to rejection of the application.

Given the complexity of the process, legal advice from immigration law specialists is highly recommended.

Reacquiring Italian Citizenship

Law No. 74 of 23 May 2025 also introduced a significant change: the opportunity for individuals who previously lost Italian citizenship to reacquire it.

This temporary opportunity is available between 1 July 2025 and 31 December 2027.

It is specifically aimed at those who lost their citizenship under Law No. 555 of 1912, which did not allow dual citizenship.

To benefit from this window, the applicant must:

• Have been born in Italy
• Have resided in Italy continuously for at least two years

The only required step is submitting a formal declaration of reacquisition.

The legal team at Boccadutri Law Firm can assist you throughout the citizenship application process, including documentation gathering, submission, and interview preparation.

For personalised support and to verify your eligibility for Italian citizenship, contact our Immigration Department.

FAQ – Italian Citizenship by Residency

 
  
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
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Calogero Boccadutri

Calogero Boccadutri is the Managing Partner of Boccadutri International Law Firm. He has trial experience in Forex, Personal Injury and Administrative litigation.