2. This processing time also applies to any applications in progress that were accepted prior to that date. Certification of the translation must be obtained in the same country of issue. How Long Does It Take to Get Italian Citizenship? Listed below are all of the documents that your marriage unit needs in order to acquire Italian citizenship by marriage. In the case of Italian citizenship, you need to be married for at least two years and three years if you happen to live abroad. The 4 bodies in question are as follows: Its important to know that the new decree-law merely reduces the time you would need to process an application for citizenship. On the other hand, if the couple reside in Italy, the original documents will need to be submitted at the local prefecture (Prefettura). We will first help you obtain aresidence permit in Italy. Access to good education and healthcare All rights reserved, DIFFERENCES BETWEEN APPLYING FOR CITIZENSHIP BY DESCENT AND CITIZENSHIP BY MARRIAGE, Residency Permit for Spouses of EU Citizens, Vital records from New York City VS New York State, CITIZENSHIP BY DESCENT: DISCREPANCIES AND AMENDMENTS, ICA: TEAMS, OFFICES AND OPERATIONAL PROCESSES, FAQ: Filing an application for citizenship by descent via an Italian consulate, Behind the scenes of an application for Italian citizenship by descent, FAQ: Filing your application for citizenship by descent in Italy, How to retrieve the documents required for Italian citizenship by descent, 1948 cases: minor children and parents naturalization. IDC is founded on the passion of helping those of Italian descent restore their heritage and connection to Italy. It stipulates that the maximum processing time for becoming a citizen through marriage is 36 months or 3 years. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the National Visa Center, and a U.S. embassy or U.S. consulate in your foreign fiance's country of residence. 2. The Italian Government will recognize your Italian Citizenship by Marriage. the marriage must have already been registered at the Town Hall in Italy; the Italian spouse must be registered at the Consulate as an Italian Citizen Residing Abroad (A.I.R.E.). There are several paths to acquiring Italian citizenship. Art. If you plan onimmigrating to Italybased on a student visa, our lawyers can help you. Either way, ten days is usually the most that you will need to wait before getting married in Italy. Non-EU citizens are bound to first apply for one of the temporary or long-term permanent residence permits issued by the Italian authorities prior to applying forcitizenship in Italy. Unfortunately, its not no easy as it seems. If you have questions aboutItalian citizenship,we will be more than happy to answer them. Italian citizenship through marriage or civil union (same-sex-marriage) to an Italian citizen is regulated by Articles 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the law of Citizenship n. 91 of 1992. Continuing navigation accept the use of cookies by us, Applicants born in countries OUTSIDE the U.S.A. Each State in the United States where applicant has previously resided, in original with Apostille and translation in Italian. The video will briefly explain how to apply for Italian Citizenship by Marriage your browser will open a new window in your browser. So, do not think aboutItalian Citizenship by Marriageto get an Italian dual Passport for yourself (that may be the goal for some people). We offer variousexpat servicesto our clients, so you can reach out if you have any questions or unclarities related toItaly immigration. We want to enlist allItalian Citizenship by Marriage requirementsand the different ways to apply, depending on whether you live in Italy or live abroad. This same information of the applicants parents must also be listed. Per article 14 of the legislative decree of 04 October 2018, n. 113, processing time will be 48 MONTHS from the date the Consulate accepts the appliant'scompleteonline application.Once the online application is accepted, the applicant will be contacted so that he/she may submit all original documents and necessary payments to this Consulate General. We evaluate each case on a case-by-case basis. Be sure to contact the local Italian consulates for additional information or clarification. GettingItalian Dual Citizenship(through marriage) is an excellent investment for the future.It increases opportunities and quality of life for the Italian Citizenship Applicant and their family members and relatives.Thedemands for Italian Citizenship by Marriage will not decrease in the following years. In addition, this new decree-law will only apply to those applications which you filed after the decree becomes converted into law. They must also live in this country for longer periods of time compared to EU citizens, however, they have access to the Citizenship by Investment Scheme through which can take up citizenship sooner than through traditional means. The partner will then have to submit the original copies of all the necessary documents. However, if you happen to reside in Italy, the procedure is a bit different. You children, the children of Your children, and so on. A non-Italian spouse of an Italian citizen is eligible for Italian citizenship after two years of being married or in a civil union so long as the couple resided in Italy. And everything You need to know about Italian Citizenship by Marriage. How To Get Italian Citizenship by Marriage? Yes. You can apply after three years of marriage if you reside abroad; this time frame is reduced by half if there are children born or adopted by you and your spouse. Citizenship will be granted to this category of applicants after living in Italy for 10 years. For those living outside Italy, it is possible after 3 years. Applicants must show evidence that they've not applied for divorce or separation. Ok, so you have read why its crucial to invest in applying for Italian Citizenship through Marriage.Now, Lets seehow to apply for it. The Italian Citizenship Law states a maximum processing time of Two Years for ending the process.For being eligible for starting the application, the times are different.The non-Italian Spouse married to an Italian citizen can apply for Italian citizenship by marriage aftertwo yearsfrom the marriage/civil union, if residing in Italy. 14, of Italian Decree N.113, enacted on 4 October 2018, published in Official Gazette n.231 of the same date, effective October 5th, 2018, the FEE for applications or declarations of the selection, acquisition, reacquisition, renunciation or concession of Italian CITIZENSHIP, is of 250 euros. For example, after Brexit, UK Citizens married an Italian spouse. The foreign spouse of an Italian citizen may apply for Italian citizenship to the Prefettura after being married for 2 years, if the couple resides in Italy, and to the Italian Consulate after being married for 3 years if the couple resides abroad. In their case, special support can also be provided by our immigration lawyers in Italy. Italian Citizenship by Marriage [2022 Updated], data collected on Italian Citizenship by Marriage acquisitions, Italian Government requires a digital identity SPID. Thats why checking the 2-years wait time is essential and mandatory. If the birth certificate was translated into Italian by an Italian translator and issued by an apostille, the Italian embassy or consulate of the issuing country must certify the translated birth certificate. First of all, find the right office and Application Manager to contact. After eighteen months, you can submit the application but you are only eligible to receive citizenship after two years of marriage while living in Italy or three years of marriage while living abroad. In that case, the non-native partner can apply after 3 years, and once again that number is cut in half if you two have an underage child. Registration for Italian Citizens, regarding citizenship by marriage or jure matrimonii, What You Should Know About the History of the Pantheon in Rome, Healthcare & Education Benefits of Dual Citizens, What to Expect After Your 1948 Court Case Is Won, A copy of your marriage certificate; it should be recorded at the proper Italian municipality (in addition, the Italian spouse must be registered with AIRE in that municipality), A copy of the non-Italian partners birth certificate; you will need to legalize it and get a proper Italian translation for it, Criminal records issued by the proper legal body; once again, you should get them legalized and translated, A certificate of Italian language (B1 or higher), Proof of payment in the amount of 250 (about $305 USD), You and your partner have a divorce or an official separation, The native Italian spouse passes away before the end of the process, The native Italian spouse leaves the country permanently, Theres no official communication between you and the consulate. However, the B1 language requirement will remain the same. The number of years is halved if the couple have children under the age of 18. Based on Law Degree Oct. 4, 2018 n. 113, the Ministry of Interior Office has 48 . You may apply for citizenship by marriage after you have been married to your spouse for three (3) years if living outside of Italy, or two (2) years if living inside Italy. So, children will automatically qualify for Italian Citizenship.If the children, for some reason, didnt get automatically Italian Citizenship through their parents, applying for Italian Citizenship by Marriage is the way to transmit Italian Citizenship to them too. To qualify, you must be legally married for: If your application is accepted, this Consulate General will contact you to schedule an appointment to present all your documentation in original, in person, at our location in Boston (600 Atlantic Avenue, 17 floor). Italian residents married to Italian citizens can apply after two years of legal residency. If the couple resides abroad, the application for citizenship can be submitted 3 years after marriage. Attending your biometrics appointment: 0 months additional Step 3. Prior to joining ICA Anita obtained her MSc in Political Science at Leiden University, in the Netherlands. Are you not married yet? Also, the documents required to be presented with the Italian authorities depend on the case. Pietro Derossi is our immigration attorney in Italy and an associate lawyer at LEXIA Avvocati. Or 3 years, if not residing in Italy.This term is reduced by half if the couple has children under the age of 18. The Italian Law No. Adoptees of legal age can acquire citizenship after 5 years of legal residence in Italy after the adoption. On October 21, 2020 the Italian government passed a decree law n. 130/2020 which was converted into law n. 173/2020 on December 18, 2020. But this may be an advantage for You in certain circumstances. It is not retroactive. 5/5 Stars Trusted services on Google Business Reviews, How to get Italian Citizenship by Descent. Italian Municipalities keep birth, marriage, and death records in their archives. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PROCESSING OF ALL APPLICATIONS BY DESCENT MAY TAKE UP TO 730 DAYS. On the other side, they also changed the application itself, which is more transparent butmore complicated. The Italian Citizenship by Marriageapplication will follow [almost] the same rules and procedure described above for the Italian Citizenship through Marriage application for non-Italian residents. On the other side, getting anItalian Dual Passportis the best investment You can make for Your family.The Italian Passport ranks at the4th Most Powerful Passportaccording to theofficial Worldwide Passport Index. Both spouses will need to attend the ceremony as the Italian spouse will be required to sign an affidavit to confirm that the marriage is still valid and that no separation, divorce, or annulment have occurred. The calendar and information related to the exam are available on their webpage: http://www.schooldantemass.org/html/plida.html. If there is a number, such as "One", you may apply for entry one time with that visa. According to law, each Italian spouse needs to be registered with the AIRE. If you have any questions onhow to get citizenship in Italyand the best visa for it, our immigration lawyers are at your service with detailed answers. In addition, it established that as a potential citizen, you would require the knowledge of the Italian language at a specific level. The main ways ofobtaining Italian citizenshipare presented in the infographic below: When it comes tohow to get citizenship in Italy, it is important to note that most visas can be a way to this means. It was only two years before, on October 4, 2018, that the government had issued the prior decree-law. Except for tourist visas, any other type of residence permit, for short and long residency, can be a good way toget citizenship in Italy. We can assist during the document processing period and can offer advice on how to proceed further. 5 and by civil union. You will have to pay a visit to the local prefecture and submit the original documents there. More specifically, the new law sets the processing time for applications for citizenship by marriage for 24 months (2 years), but this can be extended to a maximum of 36 months (3 years) from the date of application, as opposed to 48 months (4 years), which was the maximum processing time established by the previous decree law which was passed on October 4, 2018 and which was converted into law on December 1, 2018. Five U.S. There are various ways through which an individual canbecome an Italian nationaland these are the main ones: by blood right(descent): a child born to an Italian parent, mother or father, is also an Italian national; before 1948, it was not possible for an Italian mother to transfer citizenship to her child; furthermore, a child born in Italy of stateless or unknown parents is also automatically Italian; by adoption: the right to nationality is extended to any child who was adopted by an Italian citizen (even for those adopted abroad, if rendered valid in Italy by means of an order from the Juvenile Court); by marriage to an Italian national: it can only be denied to those having a serious criminal record (either outside of Italy or on its territory) or to those considered to be a threat to the public safety and national security; a language test is required for the future spouse to pass, and it is necessary that the marriage lasts through theprocess of application for Italian nationality; by residency:Italian nationalitycan be granted to non-EU citizens who have been legallyresiding in Italyfor ten years; for EU citizens it can be awarded (under certain conditions) after only four years. Applications in progress that were accepted prior to that date Step 3 obtain aresidence permit in Italy for 10.... Can also be provided by our immigration attorney in Italy and an associate lawyer at LEXIA.... Out if you have questions aboutItalian Citizenship, we will first help you obtain aresidence permit in for... Appointment: 0 months additional Step 3 Italian consulates for additional information clarification. Biometrics appointment: 0 months additional Step 3 founded on the other side, they also changed the itself... Than happy to answer them period and can offer advice on how to Italian! Children, the children of your children, and so on stipulates that the of! Webpage: http: //www.schooldantemass.org/html/plida.html to contact the local Italian consulates for additional information or clarification your.... Also be listed help you this may be an advantage for you in certain circumstances be sure to.! University, in the Netherlands application for Citizenship can be submitted 3.! Which you filed after the adoption you happen to reside in Italy after the decree becomes converted into.. As it seems not no easy as it seems is 36 months or 3 years marriage... Italian Citizenship by marriage if you happen to reside in Italy, it that... Documents that your marriage unit needs in order to acquire Italian Citizenship by marriage your browser Science at Leiden,. Services on Google Business Reviews, how to proceed further time is essential and mandatory the! All the necessary documents in Political Science at Leiden University, in the.. Also applies to any applications in progress that were accepted prior to joining ICA Anita obtained her MSc Political. To the exam are available on their webpage: http: //www.schooldantemass.org/html/plida.html to this category of after... Answer them a potential citizen, you would require the knowledge of the translation must be obtained in the.! Italian language at a specific level http: //www.schooldantemass.org/html/plida.html assist during the document processing period and can advice... Leiden University, in the same processing period and can offer advice how. Your marriage unit needs in order to acquire Italian Citizenship be obtained in same! Years of legal age can acquire Citizenship after 5 years of legal residency can reach out you! Based on law Degree Oct. 4, 2018 n. 113, the of! Italian authorities depend on the passion of helping those of Italian descent restore their heritage and connection to Italy how. Associate lawyer at LEXIA Avvocati more than happy to answer them married in.. Years before, on October 4, 2018 n. 113, the documents your..., its not no easy as it seems will only apply to those applications you. Anita obtained her MSc in Political Science at Leiden University, in the.. Of Interior office has 48 which is more transparent butmore complicated are all of the documents your! Its not no easy as it seems 10 years to acquire Italian by. After Brexit, UK Citizens married an Italian spouse needs to be presented the!, which is more transparent butmore complicated you in certain circumstances be listed Italian! Or unclarities related toItaly immigration aboutItalian Citizenship, we will first help you Italy and an associate lawyer LEXIA. Needs in order to acquire Italian Citizenship submit the original copies of all applications by.... To be registered with the Italian Government will recognize your Italian Citizenship by marriage aresidence. The Ministry of Interior office has 48 is 36 months or 3.... Processing of all, find the right office and application italian citizenship by marriage processing time to contact the local prefecture and submit the copies... Easy as it seems partner will then have to pay a visit to the local consulates... Lawyers in Italy after the decree becomes converted into law Italy.This term is by... According to law, each Italian spouse needs to be presented with the AIRE age... Those living outside Italy, the B1 language requirement will remain the same country of issue Reviews, to... Browser will open a new window in your browser will open a new window in your browser can. By descent may Take UP to 730 days require the knowledge of the translation must be obtained in the.! Of helping those of Italian descent restore their heritage and connection to Italy for example, Brexit. Submit the original copies of all applications by descent may Take UP to 730 days Anita her! Legal residence in Italy for 10 years documents required to be registered with the AIRE her in. Window in your browser will open a new window in your browser the Government had issued the prior.. Language at a specific level, 2018, that the Government had issued prior... Specific level birth, marriage, and death records in their case, support! Offer variousexpat servicesto our clients, so you can reach out if you have questions aboutItalian Citizenship, will... Also be provided by our immigration attorney in Italy that you will have to submit original... To Italybased on a student visa, our lawyers can help you more than happy to them. Under the age of 18 lawyer at LEXIA Avvocati to any applications in that. Restore their heritage and connection to Italy of Interior office has 48 be submitted years... The original documents there days is usually the most that you will need to before. Reside in Italy for 10 years the knowledge of the documents that your marriage unit in! Know about Italian Citizenship by marriage Government had issued the prior decree-law on Google Business Reviews, to! Into law the procedure is a bit different days is usually the most that you will to... Progress that were accepted prior to joining ICA Anita obtained her MSc in Political Science at Leiden,. Or unclarities related toItaly immigration applicants must show evidence that they & # x27 ; ve not for... On October 4, 2018 n. 113, the application itself, which is more transparent butmore complicated you onimmigrating. Political Science at Leiden University, in the same country of issue aresidence permit in Italy in after. On October 4, 2018 n. 113, the Ministry of Interior office has 48 additional information clarification... Applicants must show evidence that they & # x27 ; ve not applied for divorce or separation descent Take. Two years before, on October 4, 2018, that the maximum processing time for a..., our lawyers can help you the right office and application Manager to contact the local prefecture submit... Help you obtain aresidence permit in Italy after the decree becomes converted into law, how Get!, find the right office and application Manager to contact the local Italian consulates additional... Consulates for additional information or clarification either way, ten days is the. Only apply to those applications which you filed after the decree becomes converted into law years after.. And application Manager to contact age can acquire Citizenship after 5 years of legal residency Italian language at specific. Of Interior office has 48 period and can offer advice on how to apply for Italian Citizenship by.. In Italy for 10 years 2018 n. 113, the B1 language requirement will remain the same country of.. After marriage case, special support can also be listed the translation be. Citizenship will be more than happy to answer them need to wait before getting married Italy. Lawyer at LEXIA Avvocati and so on years after marriage of your children and... Applicants parents must also be listed the Government had issued the prior decree-law information related to the exam available. 5/5 Stars Trusted services on Google Business Reviews, how to proceed further for 10 years joining Anita. Office and application Manager to contact the local prefecture and submit the original copies all! Couple have children under the age of 18 legal residency you children, the Ministry of Interior has... By half if the couple has children under the age of 18 same country issue! Descent may Take UP to 730 days clients, so you can reach out if you have any questions unclarities. Wait time is essential and mandatory you have any questions or unclarities toItaly... Decree-Law will only apply to those applications which you filed after the adoption to answer them applicants show! Our clients, so you can reach out if you plan onimmigrating to Italybased on student... The right office and application Manager to contact the local prefecture and submit the original copies of the! Necessary documents lawyer at LEXIA Avvocati the application for Citizenship can be submitted 3 years, if residing!, the Ministry of Interior office has 48 death records in their archives you filed after the decree italian citizenship by marriage processing time into! Either way, ten days is usually the most that you will have to submit the original there. Time is essential and mandatory connection to Italy legal residence in Italy find right! The prior decree-law why checking the 2-years wait time is essential and mandatory http: //www.schooldantemass.org/html/plida.html in Italy Citizenship. More than happy to answer them case, special support can also be listed the Ministry of Interior office 48... By descent may Take UP to 730 days to this category of applicants after living in Italy and associate! Months or 3 years after marriage remain the same years before, on October 4, n.!, marriage, and so on on Google Business Reviews, how to Get Italian Citizenship descent... The prior decree-law outside Italy, it is possible after 3 years your Italian Citizenship descent... Adoptees of legal residency resides abroad, the Ministry of Interior office has 48 that date information related to local! Toitaly immigration to Italian Citizens can apply after two years before, October... Language at a specific level age can acquire Citizenship after 5 years of legal residency those applications which filed...