ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP

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ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP CAN BE ACQUIRED

  1. AUTOMATICALLY
  2. BY ELECTION
  3. UPON REQUEST

AUTOMATIC ACQUISITION
ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP IS ACQUIRED AUTOMATICALLY:

Minors who are children (natural, adoptive or recognised after birth) of a parent with Italian citizenship, both mother or father, or are children of unknown or stateless parents or parents that cannot pass their citizenship on to their children born abroad in compliance with the laws of the State of belonging.

Minors, even if not cohabiting (but on whom the parent still exercises parental authority), who are children of a parent that acquired Italian citizenship at any title become Italian citizens.

ACQUISITION BY ELECTION
It is possible to obtain Italian citizenship by election if born from foreign parents on the Italian territory and residing in Italy from birth until 18 years of age without interruptions. The application for the acquisition of Italian citizenship by election must be submitted within one year after turning of age.

Circular n. 22/07 of the Ministry of Interior of 7 November 2007
Circular n. K.60.1 of the Ministry of interior of 5 January 2007

HOW TO APPLY FOR CITIZENSHIP BY ELECTION
It is necessary to apply at the Ufficio di Stato Civile of the Municipality of residence and submit the following documentation:

  • valid identity card; title of residence; copy of birth certificate;
  • historical residence certificate (it is provided by the Ufficio Anagrafe of the Municipality). In case of late registration in the municipality of residence, it is necessary to enclose documentation proving the permanence of the minor in Italy in the period preceding the personal data registration (for example, medical certificates certifying vaccinations, school enrolments, etc.); receipt of the payment of 200.00 € at Poste Italiane onto the current account number 809020 – in the name of Ministero dell’Interno DLCI – Cittadinanza (Mod.  451).

ACQUISITION UPON REQUEST
APPLICATION CAN BE SUBMITTED:

  1. FOR MARRIAGE WITH ITALIAN CITIZEN
  2. FOR RESIDENCE

FOR MARRIAGE WITH ITALIAN CITIZEN
In this case the application can be submitted:

  • if residing in Italy: after two years from marriage;
  • if residing abroad: after three years from marriage.

In this period, the civil effects of the marriage must not have been resolved, annulled or ceased; the spouses must not be under legal separation and there must not be any impediment for the safety of the Republic.

The presence of children, born or adopted by the spouses, halves the time available for applying for citizenship.

Citizenship may be requested not only by the spouse of the foreign citizen naturalized before the wedding date, but also by the spouse of who acquired citizenship after said date. In this case, the two years must be calculated from the moment in which the spouse became Italian citizen.

HOW TO APPLY FOR CITIZENSHIP FOR MARRIAGE
The application for citizenship for marriage must be submitted to the Prefettura cognizant by territory.

DOCUMENTATION TO ENCLOSE IN THE APPLICATION:

  • certified abstract of birth certificate with complete generalities (estratto dell’atto di nascita), and criminal record from the country of origin and possible third countries of residence translated into Italian and legalized, or with apostille, by the Italian Embassy/Consulate in the country of origin; title of residence;
  • integral marriage certificate (atto integrale di matrimonio); the spouse’s citizenship certificate; receipt of the payment of 200.00 Euros at Poste Italiane; citizenship application for marriage (MOD. A) with a 16.00 Euro revenue stamp.

DOCUMENTS THAT CAN BE SELF-CERTIFIED:

  • historical residence certificate, family certificate proving the cohabitation of the spouses and possible presence of minors born or adopted during marriage, incomes of the past three years and lawfully stated. The incomes can also refer to the entire family unit

FOR RESIDENCE
In this case the application can be submitted as follows:

  • if descending from Italian citizens by birth (up to II grade) and residing lawfully in Italy for 3 years;
  • if of age adopted by Italian parents and residing lawfully for at least 5 years after adoption;
  • if having worked for the State, even abroad, for at least 5 years;
  • if community citizen or lawfully resident in Italy for at least 4 years;
  • if stateless or refugee and residing lawfully in Italy for at least 5 years;
  • if non-community citizen and lawfully residing in Italy for 10 years.

HOW TO SUBMIT CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION FOR RESIDENCE
Citizenship application for residence must be submitted to the Ministry of Interior, through the territorial cognizant Prefettura.

DOCUMENTATION TO ENCLOSE IN THE APPLICATION:

  • certified abstract of birth certificate with complete generalities (estratto dell’atto di nascita), and criminal record from the country of origin and possible third countries of residence translated into Italian and legalized by the Italian Embassy/Consulate in the country of origin; title of residence/certificate of recognition of the status of refugee or stateless/possible certificate of personal data registration for community citizens; receipt of the payment of 200,00€ at the Poste Italiane onto the current account number 809020 – in the name of Ministry of Interior DLCI – Cittadinanza (Mod. 451); citizenship application for residence (MOD. B) with a 16.00 Euro revenue stamp.

DOCUMENTS THAT CAN BE SELF-CERTIFIED:

  • historical residence certificate of all the municipalities in which the foreign citizen was resident for the periods provided for by law; family certificate; incomes received in the past three years and lawfully stated. The incomes can also refer to the entire family unit.

OTHER NECESSARY DOCUMENTS
Should the applicant descend from Italian citizens by birth (up to II grade) and reside lawfully in Italy for 3 years, it is necessary to enclose the certificate of the parent’s or ascendant’s Italian citizenship in straight line up to the II grade.

Should the applicant (of age) have been adopted by Italian parents and reside lawfully for at least 5 years after adoption, it is necessary to enclose the ruling of adoption issued by the Court.

Should the applicant have worked for the State, also abroad, for at least 5 years, it is necessary to enclose documentation relevant to the service provided.

Should the applicant be stateless or refugee, it is necessary to enclose the certificate recognising the status.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION?

  1. Once the application has been submitted, the Ministry of Interior launches preliminary investigations which envisage a series of verifications on the aspirant Italian citizen, which involves Questura, the Council of State, etc. If the opinions expressed by the cognizant Bodies are favourable, the Ministry issues a decree granting the Italian citizenship signed by the President of the Republic.
  2. The Decree is transmitted to the citizenship applicant by the territorial cognizant Prefettura and conferred by the Municipality of residence within 6 months with oath.
  3. It is possible to consult the progress of the application in real time through the citizenship website cittadinanza.interno.it. In order to consult the website it is necessary to go to the Prefettura where the application was submitted and ask for the K Code. Through this code it is possible to check the application online.
  4. Regulations envisage a maximum waiting period for the procedure of 730 days, that is two years, from the date of submission of the application.