How to Get Italy CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 10 years
- Language
- Test or certificate
- Dual citizenship
- Accepted
- Civic test
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- Income or economic resources must be shown
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Accepted in both directionsNew citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship.Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship.
- Available routes
- Naturalisation (residence)Marriage or civil partnershipDescent (citizen parent)Birth in the countryChild of a new citizenAdoptionOther family members of citizensFormer citizens (reacquisition)Citizens of specific countriesEthnic or cultural affinityRefugeesStateless personsSpecial achievementsPublic or military service
- Region
- Europe
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024GLOBALCIT baseline, plus 1 later in-force change applied where the data records a new value.
- Last checked
- 5 November 2026
What changed since 2024
- In force
Decree-Law 36/2025, converted into Law 74/2025 (23 May 2025): citizenship by descent for people born abroad limited to two generations (a parent or grandparent born in Italy, or a parent resident in Italy for 2 years before the birth).
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. 1 later in-force change in the timeline above takes precedence where it differs.
Naturalisation (residence)
Residence in Italy is the basis of this route, together with the other conditions below. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
- Residence
- 10 years
Person has been resident in Italy for 10 years.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Language
- Required, with a test or certificate
Certified knowledge of the Italian language at a level no lower than B1 level.
- Civic knowledge
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Person may not have a problematic criminal record.
- Income or economic resources
- Income or economic resources must be shown
Sufficient income in the last 3 years required.
Marriage or civil partnership
Marriage to a citizen of Italy is the basis of this route, together with the conditions below. Where the legal conditions are met, an application leads to a mandatory grant of citizenship.
Person has been the spouse of a citizen for 3 years. If person has been resident in Italy for 2 years, 3 years of marriage is not required. The provision applies also to foreign citizens who established a same-sex civil partnership with italian citizens. Other conditions: no serious crimes, no threat to security of Italy, certified knowledge of the Italian language at a level no lower than B1 of the 'Common reference framework for knowledge of languages'.
Descent (citizen parent)
For a person with a parent who is a citizen of Italy, the rules below set out how this route works. Italy grants citizenship by operation of law, requiring no decision from any authority.
In force, 28 March 2025: Decree-Law 36/2025, converted into Law 74/2025 (23 May 2025): citizenship by descent for people born abroad limited to two generations (a parent or grandparent born in Italy, or a parent resident in Italy for 2 years before the birth).
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Italy to a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen.
Birth in the country
This route concerns people born in Italy, and only in the situations described below.
In force, 28 March 2025: Decree-Law 36/2025, converted into Law 74/2025 (23 May 2025): citizenship by descent for people born abroad limited to two generations (a parent or grandparent born in Italy, or a parent resident in Italy for 2 years before the birth).
Person is born in Italy and has resided there legally and without interruption since birth until the age of majority.
person declares the wish to acquire Italian citizenship within a year of the age of majority.Person has been resident in Italy for 3 years (discretionary)
Child of a new citizen
This route covers children of a person who becomes a citizen of Italy, subject to the conditions below. Italy grants citizenship by operation of law, requiring no decision from any authority.
Person is a minor who resides with a parent who is acquiring citizenship. Person can renounce acquired citizenship after coming of legal age, if in possession of other citizenship (see L01)
Adoption
For people adopted by citizens of Italy, the rules below set out what applies.
Person is a minor who is adopted by a citizen.
Person is an adult who is adopted by a citizen and has been resident in Italy for 5 years. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Other family members of citizens
This route covers certain family members not covered by the marriage or descent routes in Italy.
Person is the child or grandchild of someone who was a citizen by birth and the person has been resident in Italy for 3 years. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Person is the child or grandchild of someone who was a citizen by birth and the person has done military or civil service for Italy, in the country or abroad, or is 18 years and has been resident in Italy for 2 years before the age of 18.
Former citizens (reacquisition)
This route covers people who previously held citizenship of Italy, subject to the conditions below.
Person is a former citizen and has done military service in Italy, or takes up residence in Italy or establishes it within 1 year of the declaration, or lost citizenship because of civil or military service in another country, leaves that position and has been resident in Italy for 2 years.
Person has been resident in Italy for 1 year (person can refuse by declaration).
Citizens of specific countries
For citizens of certain countries, the law of Italy sets separate rules, shown below. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
Person is a citizen of an EU Member State and has been resident in Italy for 4 years. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Ethnic or cultural affinity
This route covers people with an ethnic or cultural link to Italy, subject to the conditions below. Where the legal conditions are met, an application leads to a mandatory grant of citizenship.
Person is a former Italian citizen (a) or a descendant in a straight line (b) residing in a State in the territories belonging to Italy transferred to the Yugoslav Republic under the signed Peace Treaty in Paris on 10 February 1947 or by virtue of the Treaty of Osimo of 10 November 1975. Other conditions: person provides proof of knowing Italian language and culture .
Refugees
This route covers people recognised as refugees in Italy, subject to the conditions below. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
Person is a recognised refugee and has been resident in Italy for 5 years. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Stateless persons
Statelessness, or the risk of it, is the basis of this route in Italy.
Foundlings
Person is found in Italy of unknown parentage.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Person is born in Italy to parents who are unknown or stateless, or is not entitled to citizenship of the parents' country.
Stateless persons
Person is stateless and has been resident in Italy for 5 years. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Special achievements
For people whose achievements or contributions are recognised by Italy, the rules below set out what applies. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
Person has rendered distinguished services to Italy or the acquisition of citizenship would serve outstanding public interests.
Public or military service
This route covers people who have served Italy in a public or military role, subject to the conditions below. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
Person has been in civil service for Italy, in the country or abroad, for 5 years. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation. See also the rules for reacquisition.
Not available in Italy: Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Investment. Coded by GLOBALCIT for 1 January 2024 and updated with in-force changes.
Dual citizenship
Both groups can hold a second citizenship under the law of Italy: new citizens, and citizens who naturalise abroad.
- New citizens
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship
Compare with neighbours
See how Italy compares with every country in the residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Albania | 7 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Croatia | 8 years | Test or certificate | Citizens abroad only |
 Greece | 7 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Montenegro | 10 years | Required, no test | Not accepted |
 Slovenia | 10 years | Assimilation only | Citizens abroad only |
 Spain | 10 years | Test or certificate | New citizens only |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 9(1)(f).
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (2026, November 5). How to Get Italy Citizenship. https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/italy/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/italy/">How to Get Italy Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, last checked 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become an Italian citizen?
The law of Italy sets 10 years of residence for ordinary naturalisation. Other legal conditions also apply.
Does Italy allow dual citizenship?
Yes, in both directions: new citizens and citizens who naturalise abroad can hold another citizenship.
Do I need a language test for Italian citizenship?
The law of Italy requires language ability, shown by a test or certificate.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Italian citizenship?
There is no civic knowledge requirement for Italian citizenship.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Italian citizenship?
Your current citizenship does not need to be given up to get Italian citizenship. The law of your current country may have its own rules on this.
Can I get Italy citizenship by marriage?
Yes, Italy provides a marriage route. Procedure: entitlement.
Can I get Italy citizenship by descent?
Yes, the law of Italy provides citizenship by descent from a citizen parent. Procedure: automatic. A change in force since January 2024 also affects this: see the timeline above.
Can I get Italy citizenship by investment?
The data shows no investment route for Italy.
Related pages
Also see: Italy passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.