Obtain Italian Citizenship in Italy

Immigrating to Italy has become easier in the last few years, as the government has simplified the procedure by introducing online systems through which applicants can submit their requests for various types of visas.

Those who have lived in Italy for long periods of time can also apply for citizenship provided that they meet certain requirements. There are several ways of obtaining an Italian passport. Below our immigration lawyers in Italy explain the requirements related to each situation in which the Italian citizenship can be obtained. You can also rely on us for assistance with your application for an Italian residence permit or citizenship or for obtaining golden visa in Italy.

The main ways of obtaining an Italian passport

The Nationality Law is the main legal act providing for the acquisition of Italian citizenship. Under this law, a foreigner can apply for Italian citizenship under one of the following conditions:

  1. automatically if at least one of the parents is an Italian citizen or the applicant was born in Italy even if the parents are not Italian;
  2. by adoption – it is possible for a foreign person who was adopted by Italian citizens to apply for Italian citizenship;
  3. a foreign person can also marry an Italian citizen and then apply for citizenship here;
  4. through a permanent residence, after living for a specific period of time in Italy;
  5. there is also the possibility of obtaining Italian citizenship by naturalization.

The provisions of the Nationality Law related to how to obtain an Italian citizenship can be explained by our immigration lawyers in Italy. If you want to obtain citizenship in other countries, such as Georgia, we may put you in touch with our local partners. 

The right to Italian citizenship

The easiest way of obtaining citizenship in Italy is if the foreigner has Italian parents, has been adopted by Italian citizens, if one was born in this country or if the person wants to be reinstated as an Italian citizen after living in another country for a long period of time. Those who fulfill any of these conditions can automatically obtain Italian citizenship with the least documentation.

There is also the possibility of claiming an Italian passport for those who:

  • have worked for the Italian government;
  • have served in Italian army;
  • have lived in Italy for 2 years before turning the age of 18.

Our Italian lawyers can advise on how to obtain citizenship automatically in this country.

Obtaining an Italian passport through marriage

Another way of applying for Italian citizenship is by marriage. The following requirements must be met in order to acquire citizenship by marriage:

  • after the foreign spouse has lived for 2 years in Italy after the marriage;
  • after living in Italy for 3 years if the marriage was registered abroad;
  • the foreign spouse must have a clean criminal record and the marriage must be valid when applying for citizenship.

The list of documents required to apply for citizenship after getting married in Italy as a foreigner is quite extensive, however complete information about it can be obtained from our immigration lawyers in Italy.

Obtaining citizenship by residency in Italy

One of the best ways of obtaining an Italian passport is after living in Italy based on a permanent residence permit. This will enable the applicant to get acquainted with the Italian language, history, and customs and will ensure a thorough knowledge of the Italian culture. These are all requirements needed when taking the interview for obtaining Italian citizenship.

The following residency conditions apply when seeking to obtain citizenship in Italy:

  • non-EU citizens can apply for Italian citizenship after living here for 10 years;
  • EU citizens can apply for citizenship after living in Italy for 4 years;
  • foreigners who lost their Italian citizenship and want to reapply can do that after 3 years;
  • refugees and foreigners adopted by Italian citizens must have lived in Italy for 5, respectively 7 years.

We can provide full information about the documents which need to be presented with the Prefecture of the Italian province where the applicant resides.

Immigration services offered by our lawyers in Italy

Those who want to immigrate to Italy should know that the procedure is not complicated, however, the requirements depend on the country of origin of the applicant. Also, the documents required to be presented with the Italian authorities depend on the case. This is why asking for legal help from our immigration lawyers in Italy can significantly ease your situation.

Our Italian immigration lawyers will offer specialized assistance tailored to your case, so you can benefit from a fast and secure application procedure. We can also help with the preparation of all the documents related to applying for Italian citizenship.

Please contact us for information and specialized assistance in obtaining Italian citizenship.