Citizenship by Residence (Naturalizzazione)

Italian citizenship by residence (also called cittadinanza per naturalizzazione) allows foreign nationals legally resident in Italy to acquire Italian citizenship after meeting a continuous residence requirement and demonstrating integration through language proficiency, adequate income, and a clean criminal record. Unlike citizenship by descent, which is based on blood relationship to an Italian ancestor, this pathway is available to any foreign national who meets the statutory requirements, regardless of ancestry.

The residence pathway remains active and accepting applications as of March 2026. Applications are submitted exclusively online through the ALI Portal of the Ministry of the Interior, which has been fully digitalized since July 8, 2025. This pathway was established under Law 91/1992 (February 5, 1992) and represents one of Italy's longest-standing naturalization mechanisms.

Law 74/2025 (May 2025)

Law 74/2025 introduced significant changes to Italian citizenship law. Most notably, it reduced the required residence period from 3 to 2 years for foreigners whose parent or second-degree ascendant (grandparent) is or was a citizen by birth. The law also introduced a temporary window (July 1, 2025 to December 31, 2027) for reacquiring citizenship for those who lost it under the 1912 law.

Constitutional Court Challenge on Language Requirement

Constitutional Court Sentence 25/2025 (deposited March 7, 2025) declared the Italian language requirement illegitimate as applied to elderly and disabled persons. Implementation guidance for this ruling is still being clarified by the Ministry.

Administrative Centralization (Effective 2029)

Law No. 11 of January 19, 2026 introduced a major administrative reform that will centralize citizenship processing in Rome by January 1, 2029. While this primarily affects citizenship by descent applications filed from abroad, it signals broader administrative restructuring that may eventually affect residence-based applications.

Once Italian citizenship is granted, you acquire:

• Full EU citizenship rights – Freedom of movement, residence, and work throughout the European Union
• Right to vote – In Italian national and local elections, and in European Parliament elections
• Access to public services – Healthcare, education, and social services as a full resident
• Right to hold public office – Eligibility for government and administrative positions
• Visa-free travel – Italian passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to most countries worldwide
• Dual/multiple citizenship – Italy permits dual and multiple citizenship; you do not need to renounce your original citizenship
• Family reunification – Ability to sponsor family members for residence in Italy
• Protection abroad – Diplomatic and consular protection from Italian authorities worldwide

Children's Citizenship Status

Minor children do not automatically acquire citizenship under the 2025 reforms. Children born abroad to a parent who acquires citizenship must meet specific conditions: the parent must have been resident in Italy for at least 2 years after acquiring citizenship, and the child must be resident in Italy and cohabiting with the parent for at least 2 years (or from birth if under 2 years old). Children born in Italy to a parent who acquires citizenship automatically acquire citizenship if they are minors and living with the parent at the time of the parent's naturalization.