Advantages of Italian Citizenship

Currently, the Italian passport ranks third according to the ranking index and provides visa-free access to 192 countries. The advantages of Italian citizenship include the following:

What is the Difference Between Permanent Residency and Citizenship in Italy?

What is the difference between permanent residency and citizenship in Italy? In response, it can be stated that with permanent residency, you will have the permission to live with other activities and work in Italy and attend school.

Italy is one of the few European countries where permanent residency can be obtained after 5 years. The right to travel freely to all EU countries and the Schengen Area, access to the labor market, and the possibility of starting a business are advantages of having permanent residency.

In contrast, Italian citizenship means obtaining the passport of this country, allowing you to enjoy the same benefits as those born and living in Italy, such as the right to vote, participate in elections, and hold government office.

Italian Citizenship Laws

Italy’s 1992 citizenship law is being revised to expand access. Under the new draft, children born in Italy to legally resident foreign parents, or those who attend Italian schools for at least 5 years, can gain citizenship through their parents. This also applies to foreign-born children under age 12.

Citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis) is available to those with Italian grandparents—proof through official documents is required. Children born in Italy to non-citizen parents can apply at 18 if they’ve lived there continuously. For adults, citizenship requires 10 years of legal residency (non-EU) or 4 years (EU citizens).

Acquiring Italian citizenship through marriage in Italy with an Italian citizen can be obtained after two years of residence in Italy or after three years of residency abroad.

Steps to Obtain Italian Citizenship

Italian citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis) is granted from birth with no residency required. For other methods like study, work, or investment, you must live in Italy for 5 years to get permanent residency, then reside for another 5 years to apply for citizenship—provided you haven’t spent more than 10 months outside Italy during this time.

To apply, submit the completed form and required documents via the Italian Ministry of Immigration and Citizenship website. After initial review, a municipality appointment will be scheduled. Final approval takes 2 to 4 years.

Language Requirement for Italian Citizenship

To obtain Italian citizenship, applicants must prove Italian language proficiency at B1 level—an intermediate level suitable for daily life, work, and study. The certificate must be issued by institutions recognized by the Italian Ministry of Education (MIUR) or Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI).

You can apply for the Italian language test (such as CELI B1) online through the Ministry of Interior’s website using SPID credentials. The CELI exam is offered three times a year—spring, summer, and fall—at the University for Foreigners of Perugia and authorized centers abroad.

Required Documents for Italian Citizenship

The necessary documents for Italian citizenship may vary across different consulates. Additionally, the requested documents in various methods may differ significantly or may require additional documents. Generally, below are the required documents for citizenship and nationality in Italy.

1. Live legally in Italy for at least 10 years
2. Hold valid residency documents
3. Show B1-level Italian language proficiency
4. Prove minimum annual income (approx. €8,264 for singles, €11,362 for couples, plus €516 per child)
5. Submit income tax payment records
6. Provide identity documents (e.g., birth & marriage certificates)
7. Have no criminal record
8. Submit a complete citizenship application
9. Pay the €250 application fee and provide a tax stamp
10. Include 4 passport photos

e spouse.

Italian Citizenship Test

To obtain Italian citizenship, you must prove Italian language proficiency at B1 level, demonstrating your ability to integrate into Italian society for work and study. The citizenship test includes a civil knowledge exam and a language test.

Accepted certificates include CELI Level 2 and CILS B1, which confirm you can handle everyday conversations and understand main points in common discussions. It is important to note that if you fail either of the two parts (oral and written), the entire test must be repeated. The structure and type of the test are as follows:

• CILS B1 cittadinanza :Listening 25%, comprehension and grammatical reflection 25%, writing 25% (duration of the test is 2 hours).
• CELI 2: Comprehension of written texts 25%, production of written texts 25%, understanding of oral texts 25% (duration of the test is 3 hours).

To obtain the CILS certificate, the applicant must demonstrate their ability in all parts. Three sessions are scheduled annually in March, June, and November. To pass the language tests for university admission, there is no need to follow a specific course with specific content or method. What matters is that you are well-prepared both in writing and speaking.

Is it Possible to Buy Italian Citizenship and Nationality?

Buying Italian citizenship is not possible, as it cannot be obtained through investment, property purchase, or buying a passport. However, Italy offers an Investor Visa that grants residency to investors, which can lead to citizenship after gaining permanent residency and meeting legal requirements.

However, if you have obtained residency in this country through investment in Italy and it has been 10 years since you acquired this residency, you may apply for Italian citizenship. Therefore, it can be concluded that purchasing citizenship in Italy is not possible, and citizenship can be obtained through other methods.

Ways to Obtain Citizenship and Nationality in Italy

Based on the information mentioned in the previous sections, it can be understood that acquiring citizenship and nationality in Italy is possible through various methods, each requiring specific conditions and laws. Below is a checklist of the ways to obtain citizenship and nationality in Italy:

• Jure Sanguinis Based on the Principle of Blood
• Jure Matrimonii Through Marriage
• Court Applications of 1948

Before 1948, Italian women were unable to pass their nationality to their children. An amendment to the constitution was passed in 1948, granting women equal rights to men, whereby women could confer their Italian nationality to their children.

If you wish to proceed through this route, you must submit a complaint to the civil court in Rome and appear in front of a judge to review your documents and lineage records.

• Citizenship through Residency with Italian Ancestry

Before 1948, Italian women were unable to pass their nationality to their children. An amendment to the constitution was passed in 1948, granting women equal rights to men, whereby women could confer their Italian nationality to their children.

If you wish to proceed through this route, you must submit a complaint to the civil court in Rome and appear in front of a judge to review your documents and lineage records.

• Citizenship through Residency without Italian Lineage

In this section, individuals can obtain Italian citizenship and nationality through other methods such as study, work, investment, and even asylum.

This method includes applicants from outside the EU who have resided in Italy for 10 years and individuals who have lived, worked, or studied in Italy for 5 years as well as applicants over 18 years old who have been adopted by an Italian citizen or a stateless foreigner, or a EU citizen who has resided in Italy for 4 years.

Rights of Italian Citizens

The rights of citizens in Italy include freedom of belief and faith, the right to asylum from non-democratic countries, the right to work, and the right to dignity and equality before the law. Human rights are the basic rights of every citizen in every country.

In Italy, human rights have developed and progressed over many years, and human rights education is provided in this country. Additionally, there are specific rights for women, children, and those with other sexual orientations. By acquiring citizenship and nationality in Italy, you will enjoy the following rights as a citizen:

1. Live, work, and study in Italy and the EU without visas or restrictions
2. Access Italian health insurance and healthcare across the EU at little or no cost
3. Pass citizenship to future generations
4. Enroll in over 1,300 affordable or free EU university programs
5. Travel, work, and reside freely within EU countries
6. Enjoy protection under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
7. Pay lower taxes on property purchases
8. Gain the right to vote and participate in Italy’s political process

Frequently Asked Questions about Obtaining Italian Citizenship

• What is the difference between permanent residency and citizenship in Italy?

Permanent residency allows an individual to live, work, and study. However, citizenship (obtaining a passport) allows a person to live like an Italian and enjoy the rights of citizenship in the country (including the right to vote and hold government positions…).

• What are the steps to obtain citizenship and nationality in Italy?

The steps to obtain citizenship of Italy or to convert residency to citizenship are such that after the initial review of the application by the Immigration Office, the date for submitting the requested documents to the municipality will be communicated to the applicant.

In the next step, all documents submitted by the Immigration Office and the municipality will be reviewed, and within a period of 2 to 4 years, approval of citizenship and nationality in Italy will be issued to the applicant.

• What level of language certificate is required for obtaining Italian citizenship?

The language certificate of every applicant for citizenship and nationality in Italy must be at level B1 and obtained from an educational institution recognized by the Italian Ministry of Education MIUR or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs MAECI.

• How many years does it take to obtain Italian citizenship?

A minimum of 5 years of uninterrupted legal residency in Italy is required for stateless individuals or refugees with Permesso per Asilo Politico. A minimum of 10 years of uninterrupted legal residency in Italy is required for non-EU citizens or those with a permesso per Protezione Sussidiaria or other permessi.