Italian citizenship by marriage
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The foreign spouse of an Italian citizen may acquire Italian citizenship under art. 5 of Law 91/1992. The procedure is initiated by an online application and requires complete, translated and legalised documentation. The Firm assists the applicant from the preparation of the application through to the oath.
Minimum duration of the marriage
| Without children | With children born or adopted | |
|---|---|---|
| Spouses resident abroad | 3 years from the date of the marriage | 18 months |
| Spouses resident in Italy | 2 years of legal residence following the marriage | 1 year |
Where the Italian spouse acquired citizenship after the marriage, the periods run from the date of that acquisition.
Further requirements
- Marriage transcribed in the Italian civil status registers and subsisting until the decree is adopted, with no legal separation, dissolution, annulment or cessation of civil effects.
- Registration of the Italian spouse resident abroad with AIRE, with up-to-date details.
- Knowledge of the Italian language at no lower than B1 level of the Common European Framework, certified by a recognised certifying body (CILS, CELI, PLIDA, CertIt) or by an Italian educational qualification (art. 9.1 Law 91/1992).
- Absence of the grounds for refusal set out in art. 6 of Law 91/1992.
Procedure
- The application is submitted online via the Ministry of the Interior portal.
- Residents abroad are subsequently summoned by the competent consulate to hand in the original documentation.
- The procedure must be concluded within 24 months of submission of the application, extendable to 36 months (art. 9-ter Law 91/1992).
- The oath must be sworn within six months of notification of the decree granting citizenship.
Documentation
- Recently issued birth record from the State of origin, bearing an apostille (or legalisation) and a translation.
- Criminal record certificate from the State of origin and from the States of residence since the age of 14, bearing an apostille and dated no more than six months earlier.
- Valid passport and, where applicable, residence permit.
- Certificate of knowledge of the Italian language at B1 level.
- Extract of the marriage record, which the Firm can request directly from the competent Italian town hall.
Foreign documentation must be translated and legalised by the Italian consular authority; the Firm handles the entire formality.
Costs
The application is subject to the 250 € fee provided for by art. 9-bis of Law 91/1992. The Firm issues a detailed, no-obligation quote for its professional services.
Ways to Italian citizenship
Sources: Law 91/1992, arts. 5, 6, 8, 9.1, 9-bis, 9-ter (current text, unchanged by Law 74/2025) · Ministry of the Interior, ALI Cittadinanza portal · Information pages of the Italian consulates. Information only, updated September 2026.