How to Get Italian Citizenship by Marriage (2026 Requirements)

Can I Get Italian Citizenship by Marrying an Italian Citizen?

Gaining Italian citizenship by marriage is a straightforward process, but it involves specific legal requirements and documentation.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about applying for Italian citizenship through marriage and how to ensure your application is successful.

What does Italian Citizenship by Marriage stand for?

This procedure (cittadinanza per matrimonio) allows non-Italian spouses to become citizens after a set period of time. This process is regulated by Legge No. 91/1992, which outlines the criteria and procedure for obtaining citizenship.

Who is Eligible?

To qualify for Italian citizenship through marriage, you must meet the following conditions:

1. Duration of Marriage:
   • If you live in Italy: You must be married for at least two years.
   • If you live outside Italy: You must be married for at least three years.
2. No Separation or Divorce: The marriage must be valid and registered in Italy, with no legal separation.
3. Clean Criminal Record: You must not have a criminal record in Italy or your home country.
4. No Threat to National Security: The application may be denied if you are considered a threat to Italian national security.

Required Documents

Before applying for Italian citizenship, gather the following documents:

• Valid Passport: A copy of your passport, along with a valid ID.
• Marriage Certificate: Certified and registered in Italy.
• Criminal Background Checks: From your home country and other countries where you’ve lived.
• Proof of Residence: If living in Italy, you must provide proof of residence. If abroad, proof of your Italian spouse’s registration is required.
• Payment Receipt: Proof of payment for the citizenship application fee (€250).
• Certified Marriage Certificate: A full or extract version of your marriage certificate is required. This document must be translated into Italian by a certified translator and properly legalized.
• Birth Certificate: You must provide your birth certificate, which should be translated into Italian and legalized for official use.
• Italian Language Proficiency (CILS B1): You must demonstrate at least a B1 level of proficiency in Italian. This is typically proven by passing a recognized language exam. For those needing help preparing, we offer courses to help you quickly and confidently achieve the required level of Italian proficiency.
• Criminal Record Certificate: You must provide a criminal record certificate from your country of origin and any other countries where you’ve resided. This document must be translated into Italian and legalized, if required by international agreements. Note that the certificate is valid for six months from the date of issue.
• Passport: A valid passport is required as proof of identity.
• Italian Tax Code and ID Card: Your Codice Fiscale (Italian tax code) and an ID card are necessary for identification.
• Proof of Payment for Citizenship Application: You must show a receipt confirming the payment of the €250 fee, which is valid for one calendar year.
• Revenue Stamp (€16): A marca da bollo (revenue stamp) worth €16 is also required for the application.

Important: Income is not required for this procedure.

Important: If your spouse has become a naturalized Italian citizen, you must provide the date of their oath of citizenship, their ID document, and a photocopy of their valid residence permit.

Important: Be sure to include information about any non-cohabiting children.

Requirements for Italians

To qualify for Italian citizenship via marriage, certain conditions must be met. Below are the main eligibility requirements:

1. Legal Marriage to an Italian Citizen: The most essential criterion is being legally married to an Italian citizen. The marriage must be officially recognized both in Italy and in the spouse’s home country.
2. Consistent and Legal Residency:
   • For Residents in Italy: You must have lived in Italy for a minimum of two years after getting married. The application should be submitted to the Prefettura in your area of residence.
   • For Residents Abroad: If you reside outside of Italy, you need to wait at least three years from the marriage date before applying. In this case, the application must be submitted to the Italian Consulate or Embassy in your country of residence.
   These waiting periods are reduced by half if the couple has children, either through birth or adoption (12 months if in Italy and 18 months if abroad).
3. Ongoing Valid Marriage or Civil Union: From the time the application is filed until the citizenship is granted, the marriage or civil union must remain legally intact, with no separation or annulment.Note: Having different residences can sometimes be interpreted by Italian authorities as evidence of separation, which can lead to a rejected application. With our two decades of experience, we have successfully assisted thousands of individuals in securing their Italian citizenship without unnecessary delays, ensuring smooth interactions with local authorities.

For more in-depth information on citizenship requirements, feel free to contact us or browse through our resources on the website.

How to Apply

The application process for Italian citizenship through marriage involves several steps:

1. Submit the Application: Applications must be submitted online through the Ministry of the Interior’s website via the CIVES platform.
   • If you live in Italy: Submit your application to the local Prefettura.
   • If you live abroad: Apply through the Italian consulate in your country.
2. Background Check: Italian authorities will conduct background checks on your criminal history and evaluate if you pose any national security risks.
3. Approval Timeline: The processing time for citizenship by marriage can take up to 48 months, depending on the complexity of the application.

Required Information for Completing the Application

• Historical residences in Italy (you can request the dates from the municipalities where you have been a resident, even by phone).
• Date of first entry and most recent return to Italy, as well as any migration movements over the years.
• Composition of your family (full names, dates, and places of birth – bring the tax codes).
• Date of naturalization, reacquisition, or recognition of Italian citizenship.
• Date of marriage and the municipality where the marriage act was transcribed (knowing the date of transcription is also important).
• Your judicial status in Italy (if unsure, you can request a criminal record check from the Tribunal, including the free Penal Certificate and the paid Certificate of ongoing criminal proceedings).
• Details of your residence permit.

The documents mentioned in points 1 and 2 must be legalized by the Italian diplomatic or consular authority in the country where they were issued, except for exemptions provided by international conventions. The documents must also be translated into Italian, either by the aforementioned authority or, in Italy, by the diplomatic or consular authority of the country that issued the document (in this case, the foreign official’s signature must be legalized by the competent Prefecture), or by an official translator or interpreter who certifies the translation’s conformity to the original text.

For those declared refugees who cannot provide an extract of their birth certificate and/or criminal record, they may submit an affidavit in place of the birth certificate and a self-declaration stating their judicial status in their country of origin.

In which cases the application can be denied?

Italian citizenship by marriage can be denied in the following cases:

• If the required two or three years have not passed since the marriage, whether in Italy or abroad, unless the time period is halved due to the presence of children born or adopted during the marriage.
• If there has been a legal separation, dissolution, annulment, or termination of the marriage before the citizenship approval is granted.
• If the applicant has been convicted, even if the sentence is not final, for offenses that prevent citizenship under the law.

Legal Framework

The acquisition of Italian citizenship by marriage is governed by Law No. 91/1992. Under this law, applications are primarily handled by the local Prefettura, except in cases where national security concerns arise, which are handled by the Ministry of the Interior.

According to Articles 5 and 6 of the law, Italian citizenship can be granted if the applicant meets all the criteria, including a clean criminal record and no security threats. If any issues arise, the application may be delayed or denied.

Why Choose The Legal Wedding Planner for Citizenship Assistance?

At The Legal Wedding Planner, we specialize in providing legal assistance to foreign nationals married to Italian citizens.

Whether you’re applying for Italian citizenship by marriage or need help with your marriage paperwork, our team is here to help.

We simplify the process and ensure that all legal requirements are met, allowing you to focus on your new life as an Italian citizen.

Who will be your Legal Counselors in Italy?

Due to our experience in law firms and the foreign offices of the Italian public administration, we gained significant expertise in Consular affairs, and we are trained to solve the most complicated procedure such as:

• Marriage Nulla osta process, legalization procedure, Court hearings for the refusal of the town hall when there documents missing , legal translation, apostille procedure, emergency procedure for legalization.
• Immigration law services and consular support for non-EU citizens applying for a Schengen visa.
• Family reunification and family cohesion.
• Same-sex couples that want to celebrate a civil union in Italy when in their country the union is forbidden.
• Couples that come from countries where divorce is not allowed;
  Italians living abroadregistered at A.I.R.E. that need to recover their document to start the marriage banns in the Italian Consulate.
• Assistance with people that come from countries that do not release the nulla osta.
• American and Australian couples who needs assistance with “atto notorio” in an Italian Court or the Italian Consulate in the USA or Australia.
• People with refugee status who have requested asylum in Italy.
  
  For all other matters, please visit our FAQ section.