Eligibility quiz
Did at least one of your parents or grandparents have Italian citizenship from birth?
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 Prefettura for the province where you live. Your online application will be sent to this office.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Prefettura handles Italian citizenship by residence applications for your city?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for your citizenship application.
See required documentsFill in your application
Sign in to the Italian citizenship portal with SPID or CIE and fill in the residence application. Select the category for a parent or grandparent who was Italian by birth and enter their details.
Fill in your applicationPay the fee online
Pay the €250 contribution using the payment process in the citizenship portal. Enter the electronic revenue-stamp details as requested.
Pay the feeSubmit your application
Upload your documents as PDFs in the requested fields and submit your application through the portal. It will be sent to the Prefettura for the province where you live.
Submit your applicationWait for the decision
Follow your application in the citizenship portal and respond if the office asks for more information or documents. If your application is approved, you will be notified through SEND.
Follow your applicationTake your citizenship oath
Within six months after you are notified of approval, take the oath at the town hall where you live. The town hall will record your citizenship, and you can then get an Italian passport.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I take the oath for Italian citizenship by residence at the comune di your city?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificates
Get your birth certificate and your parent’s birth certificate to help show your connection to your Italian grandparent. Your grandparent’s citizenship certificate may be accepted instead of your own birth certificate; check with your office.
Grandparent’s citizenship certificate
Get a certificate showing that your Italian grandparent was an Italian citizen by birth. Ask the Italian town hall or other office that holds their citizenship record.
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 joinCiudadania Italiana
Spanish Facebook group for people interested in Italian citizenship
Join on FacebookItalian citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis)
English Facebook group for people interested in Italian citizenship
Request to joinConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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