The Value and Validity of the Italian Passport

The ranking of the Italian passport based on the Passport Index Guide ranks it third. The validity of the Italian passport for its holders means they can travel to 192 countries worldwide without a visa, while they need a visa to enter approximately 37 countries.

The ranking of the Italian passport is calculated based on the total number of countries that allow holders of this passport to travel without a visa, as well as countries that issue a visa or electronic travel authorization (eTA) for entry.

Advantages of the Italian Passport

The Italian passport, as one of the strongest passports in the world, offers numerous advantages. This passport provides its holders with the following facilities:

1. Visa-free travel to over 190 countries
2. EU citizenship rights
3. Health and education facilities
4. Access to labor markets
5. Possibility of dual citizenship
6. Election and participation in elections
7. Access to consular services
8. High value internationally

Conditions for Obtaining an Italian Passport

Migrants wishing to apply for an Italian passport must have resided in the country for at least 3 years. The conditions for obtaining an Italian passport depend on the method of migration and type of visa, which varies for different groups:

Children born in Italy and other children under 18 years old acquire citizenship by the law of blood. These children can only obtain an Italian passport if either or both of their parents have residency and citizenship rights in Italy.

This group must first reside in Italy for 2 years. After this period and proving the benefit of their investment to the country, they must wait one additional year. After 3 years of residency, entrepreneurs can apply for an Italian passport. They must also demonstrate that they have created job opportunities for Italian citizens.

Individuals who have entered Italy with a student visa cannot obtain a passport using this visa alone. They must find employment after graduation or marry an Italian citizen. If married, to prove the relationship’s authenticity, they must live together for at least 3 years. After this period, they can apply for permanent residency, and after 5 years, they can apply for a passport.

Required Documents for Obtaining an Italian Passport

To obtain an Italian passport, you must present specific documents. The required documents may vary slightly based on the type of application and the individual’s status, but generally include the following:

• Italian ID Card
• Certificate of Italian Citizenship
• Certificate of Proof of Residence in Italy
• Passport Application Form
• Passport Photo
• Identity and Records Documents
• Financial Documents
• Payment of Fees

Methods of Obtaining an Italian Passport

You can migrate to Italy just like other countries through 6 main methods. These methods include education, work, investment, birth, marriage, and asylum. However, it is important to note that the Italian passport cannot be immediately obtained through the mentioned methods; necessary processes and principles must be followed to acquire the Italian passport. Below, these various ways to obtain an Italian passport will be mentioned along with important and essential points.

• Passport through Investment
• Italian Passport through Education
• Italian Passport through Employment
• Italian Passport through Birth
• Italian Passport through Marriage
• Italian Passport through Asylum

Italian Passport through Investment

One of the ways to obtain residency and ultimately an Italian passport is immigration through investment in Italy. Investment programs in Italy include company registration and entrepreneurship or the purchase of government bonds. Students who graduate from Italy can apply for residency renewal through investment by establishing a company, entrepreneurship, or purchasing property in Italy.

You can obtain a 2-year residency card from Italy by investing a minimum of 2 million euros through the purchase of government bonds. After the second year, this residency can be extended for 3 years, and at the end of the fifth year, you can apply for permanent residency in Italy. Following the grant of permanent residency, you can apply for the Italian passport after 5 years.

Having property in Italy can assist your process, but remember that merely buying property cannot lead to obtaining residency and an Italian passport. Italy does not provide loans to non-residents for property purchases.

In this method, there is no fixed cost, and the required investment varies depending on the type of business, which must be proven to be profitable through a business plan. In this method, residency is renewed annually, and at the end of the fifth year, you can apply for permanent residency in Italy.

To take action via financial means, one must prove the ability to cover their own and their family’s expenses. Thus, it is required that if a person is alone, they earn 31,000 euros annually, and if accompanied by a spouse, they should have an annual income of 38,000 euros. This income must come from savings or foreign investments and not from current earnings in Italy.

Italian Passport through Education

To obtain an Italian passport through studying in Italy, you must first obtain admission from a reputable Italian university and receive a student visa (Type D). Upon entering Italy with a student visa, you can begin your studies and apply for a student work permit if you need to work.

After graduation, you must find a job and convert your Italian student visa into a work visa. With legal and continuous residency for 5 years and attaining permanent residency in Italy after studies, after 10 years you can apply for Italian citizenship. Upon receiving citizenship, you can apply for an Italian passport.

Italian Passport through Work

To obtain an Italian passport through work migration to Italy, you must first obtain a work visa. This visa allows you to work and reside in Italy for a specified period. After entering Italy and working, you must regularly renew your visa. After 5 years of legal and continuous residency, you can apply for permanent residency.

After obtaining permanent residency and residing in Italy for 10 years, you can initiate the process for Italian citizenship and nationality. Once citizenship is granted, you will be able to receive the Italian passport. For this process, you must submit identification documents, proof of citizenship, and documents related to your residency and employment along with application forms and required fees.

Italian Passport through Birth

Regarding obtaining an Italian passport through birth in Italy, it is important to mention the law Italy follows in granting citizenship. Generally, countries can be divided into two categories regarding citizenship by birth: countries following the law of the land and those following the law of blood.

Italy follows the law of blood in citizenship grants. According to this principle, only a child born to an Italian father or mother will have Italian citizenship and passport. Additionally, a child born in Italy to unidentified parents may also attain Italian citizenship and passport.

Italian Passport through Marriage

According to Italian law, if a woman or man holds Italian citizenship, they can apply for residency for their non-Italian spouse upon marriage. Both parties must present documentation proving their single status along with valid passports.

Marriage in Italy can be registered in a church or municipality and may also take place in another country, in which case one can apply for a visa from the Italian embassy and subsequently apply for residency upon entering Italy.

It should be noted that permanent residency cards are issued to non-Italian individuals 3 years after marriage, after which they can apply for the Italian passport 5 years thereafter.

Italian Passport through Asylum

Malekpour Institute does not recommend immigration to Italy through asylum, as there are always legal and safe ways to migrate to Italy.

Seeking asylum in Italy is one of the riskiest and least recommended immigration methods. Asylum is meant for those facing serious threats in their home country with no option to return. Despite being part of the Geneva Convention, Italy offers limited support and services for refugees. The asylum process is long, with strict reviews, poor living conditions, and limited prospects for citizenship or permanent residency. Refugees in Italy often face tough and unstable situations.

Cost of Obtaining an Italian Passport

The costs of the Italian passport vary based on several factors, including the applicant’s age, the validity period of the passport, and whether it is a first-time application or a renewal. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the costs associated with the Italian passport:

Which countries can be traveled to with an Italian passport?

In answering the question of where you can go with an Italian passport, it should be noted that the Italian passport is one of the most powerful in the world, allowing its holders to travel to many countries without a visa.

According to the latest information and passport ranking index, holders of the Italian passport can travel to the countries listed below without a visa or with a visa on arrival.

Countries you can travel to without a visa:

Countries you can travel to with visa on arrival:

Steps to Obtain an Italian Passport

Obtaining an Italian passport is one of the final steps for individuals who intend to acquire Italian citizenship. This process involves various stages that depend on different conditions and prerequisites. Here are the main steps to obtain an Italian passport:

• Applying for an Italian Passport
  Once you have obtained Italian citizenship, you can apply for a passport. The steps to apply for a passport are:
• Apply online or at a local office
  Applying for a passport can be done online or at a local office (Poste Italiane). The application is usually available through the online system.
• Delivery of documents and payment
  At this stage, you will need to submit your documents along with the relevant fees. These documents include:
  – Identity card or proof of citizenship
  – New passport photo
  – Identity verification and personal documents
• Waiting to receive your passport
  After submitting your documents, the passport issuance process may take several weeks to several months. The usual time for issuing an Italian passport is around 40 working days.
• Receive your passport
  After the passport is approved and issued, you can collect it from the specified offices.

Important Points Regarding the Italian Passport

Regarding important points to consider in granting Italian passports to foreign individuals, it should be noted that none of the aforementioned methods yield immediate and automatic issuance of the Italian passport; all necessitate the passage of time and specific processes.

Given the economic conditions and high unemployment rate in Italy, it is recommended that before undertaking migration and obtaining residency in Italy, you assess your situation relative to other European Union countries, or to Canada and Australia.

• None of the methods will automatically grant an Italian passport to an individual.
• Obtaining a passport involves a specific time and process.
• Economic conditions and high unemployment rates make it difficult to obtain a passport.

Qualified Attorney for Important Italian Passport Matters

If you are interested in migration and living in Italy, you should know that one of the best ways to migrate to Italy is through education and residency for study. In this regard, you can seek advice from specialized immigration attorneys.

The expert attorneys of the Malekpour Institute can assist you in obtaining a student visa for Italy. If you are interested in obtaining an Italian passport, you should learn about the legal and accessible paths available.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Italian Passport

• How long does it take to obtain an Italian passport?

The time taken to obtain an Italian passport after acquiring citizenship is generally around 40 business days. This period may vary slightly depending on specific conditions and the region in question.

• Where can you go with an Italian passport?

With an Italian passport, you can travel to many countries worldwide without a visa. This passport allows its holders to travel to all EU countries, the Schengen Area, and many countries in Asia, America, and Oceania without a visa or with a visa on arrival.

• How many countries can you travel to with an Italian passport?

An Italian passport enables its holders to travel to 192 countries without the need for a visa. Additionally, 37 other countries issue visas on arrival.

• How long is the validity of an Italian passport?

The validity of the Italian passport depends on the applicant’s age. For adults, the passport is issued with a validity of 10 years, while for children and teenagers, the passports usually have a validity of 5 or 3 years.

With an Italian passport, you can travel to 192 countries visa-free and enter 37 more with visa on arrival. It also allows you to live, work, and study in all EU and Schengen countries, with access to top healthcare and education.

To obtain it, you typically need 10 years of legal residency in Italy and must meet citizenship criteria through birth, marriage, investment, or study. The passport costs around €100 for adults and €70 for children; citizenship application fees range from €250–€300.

For expert advice on Italian immigration, student visas, or citizenship, contact Malekpour Immigration Institute for a free phone consultation. Share your questions and comments below for expert responses.