Eligibility quiz
Are you married to or in a civil union with an Italian citizen?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Italian passport and ID
Italian citizens can get an Italian passport and an electronic identity card.
Live in Italy for life
Italian citizens can enter, live in and return to Italy without a visa or residence permit.
Study in Italy
Italian citizens can study in Italy on the same terms as other Italian citizens.
Work in Italy
Italian citizens can work or run a business in Italy without a work permit.
Get help abroad
Italian consulates provide documents and registration services to Italian citizens abroad.
They can also help citizens in difficulty where possible, including with emergencies, legal and health problems, and limited financial help.
Vote in elections
Italian citizens can vote in elections and referendums if they meet the age and voting-register rules.
Citizens living abroad who are registered with AIRE can vote in the overseas constituency for parliamentary elections and national referendums.
Use public healthcare
Italian citizens living in Italy can use the National Health Service through their local health authority.
Care includes family doctors, children's care, medicines, specialists, hospital care and emergency care.
Get family support
Italian citizens may qualify for payments for children, depending on residence, work and tax or social-security conditions.
The amount depends on family circumstances and income.
Maternity benefits depend on the kind of work and other conditions.
How to apply
Applying from inside ItalyApplying from inside Italy
Find your local office
Find the prefecture for the province where you live. It handles your citizenship application.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Prefettura cittadinanza per matrimonio provincia di your city”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for your citizenship application and make clear scans of them.
See required documentsFill in the application
Sign in to the citizenship portal with SPID or CIE, or register with your email if needed, and fill in the marriage or civil union application, model A. Use the details in your documents and include your addresses since age 14 and any children from previous relationships who live with you.
Fill in the applicationPay the fee online
Pay the €250 citizenship fee and the €16 stamp duty through PagoPA in the citizenship portal.
Pay the feeSubmit your application
Upload your document scans and submit your application through the citizenship portal. Keep your K10/C application code.
Submit your applicationWait for the decision
Follow your application and messages in the citizenship portal, and send any information or documents the prefecture requests. If you are told your application may be refused, send your response and any supporting documents within the time given.
Follow your applicationTake the citizenship oath
After you receive notice of approval, take the oath at the town hall where you live within six months. You become an Italian citizen the next day and can then apply for an Italian passport.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I take the cittadinanza per matrimonio oath at the comune di your city in Italy?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificate
Get your original birth certificate, an extract or an equivalent record from the office that holds your birth record. If your details differ from those on your other documents, include official records that correct or explain the difference. If you are a refugee and cannot get your birth record, provide a sworn statement of the facts instead.
Marriage or civil union record
Get a full copy or extract of your marriage or civil union record from the Italian town hall where it is registered. If it has not yet been registered in Italy, obtain the foreign record for registration; your marriage or civil union must be recognised and registered in Italy.
Considerations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Registration when living abroad
Italian citizens moving abroad for more than 12 months must register with AIRE, Italy's register of citizens living abroad.
Short stays, seasonal work and some other cases are exempt.
Registration matters for consular services, documents and voting from abroad.
Citizenship can be lost
You can lose citizenship for serving a foreign state or holding foreign public office after Italy orders you to stop, or for certain acts during war.
It can also be lost if your adoption is revoked because of your conduct and you have or gain another citizenship.
You can give it up if you have another citizenship and live or move abroad, or in certain cases if you gained it as a child through a parent.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
Dual U.S.-Italian Citizenship
English Facebook group for people interested in Italian citizenship
Request to joinr/juresanguinis
English Reddit group for people interested in Italian citizenship
Join on RedditCittadinanza italiana per matrimonio - *italian citizenship by marriege*
Facebook group for people interested in Italian citizenship (Italian & English)
Request to joinConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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