Italian Citizenship by Residence: the various stages and timelines of the procedure

Italian citizenship by residence is one of the main routes through which a foreign national may acquire citizenship after establishing and consolidating a connection with Italy over time. This is a complex administrative procedure that does not end with the submission of the application, but first requires verification of the eligibility requirements, preparation of the relevant documentation and, subsequently, completion of the various stages of the administrative review.

The procedure is primarily governed by Article 9 of Law No. 91 of 1992 and, in the event of a positive outcome, concludes with the issuance of the decree granting citizenship.

Who may apply for citizenship by residence

The fundamental requirement is lawful residence in Italy for a specified period, the length of which varies according to the applicant’s circumstances.

For nationals of countries outside the European Union, ten years of lawful residence are normally required, whereas for European Union citizens the required period is generally four years. The law nevertheless provides for shorter periods for certain categories: five years may be sufficient, for example, for stateless persons and political refugees, for foreign nationals of legal age who have been adopted by Italian citizens, and for adult children of persons who have acquired Italian citizenship. The period is reduced to two years in the case of direct-line ascendants of Italian citizens by birth, and to three years for foreign nationals born in Italy who have not exercised, upon reaching the age of majority, the right to acquire citizenship provided for by law. A five-year period is also provided for persons who have served in the employment of the Italian State, including service performed abroad.

However, it is not sufficient merely to have physically spent the required period in Italy: residence must be lawful and continuous. For this reason, before submitting the application, it is important to verify one’s civil-registration history, particularly where the applicant has moved between different municipalities. Any periods that have not been correctly recorded, commonly referred to as “gaps in residence,” may create difficulties during the administrative review. If the Prefecture identifies a possible interruption, it may issue a notice of intended refusal, giving the applicant ten days to provide the documentation necessary to demonstrate continuity of residence.

Preparing the documentation

Once the residence requirement has been verified, it is necessary to collect the documentation required for the application. The principal documents include an extract of the birth certificate, which must be translated into Italian and legalised where necessary, indicating the applicant’s paternal and maternal filiation. The applicant must also have a valid identity document, passport and residence permit, as well as a historical certificate of residence and a self-certification concerning the family status.

The application must also be accompanied by documentation relating to income for the previous three years, a certificate attesting to knowledge of the Italian language at least at B1 level, and criminal-record certificates from the country of origin and any third countries, together with the required translations and formalities. The documentation is completed by the receipt for payment of the prescribed fee, the revenue stamp and information concerning the applicant’s civil-registration history.

It is important that personal details be consistent across all documents. Differences in the name, place of birth or other personal particulars may require additional documentation to clarify the situation.

Particular attention must be paid to documents issued abroad. These must be translated into Italian and, where required, legalised. For countries that are parties to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961, legalisation may be replaced by an Apostille, whereas documents drawn up using the multilingual forms provided for by the Vienna Convention are not subject to the same formalities.

The income requirement

Another fundamental element is the applicant’s financial situation. For 2026, the article indicates a minimum income of €8,263.31 for applicants who have neither a spouse nor dependent children, and €11,362.05 for applicants with a dependent spouse, with an additional €516 for each dependent child.

The requirement must be demonstrated in respect of the three years preceding the submission of the application and must also be maintained until the time of the oath. If the applicant’s personal income is insufficient, the income of family members belonging to the same registered household may also be taken into consideration.

For certain categories of workers, the supporting documentation may have specific characteristics. The article, for example, refers to the situation of domestic workers, including household cleaners, carers and domestic employees, for whom an INPS contribution statement is indicated.

The questionnaire and submission of the application

The procedure also requires completion of a specific questionnaire consisting of 20 questions concerning various aspects of the applicant’s personal, family and employment circumstances. Once completed, the questionnaire must be uploaded in PDF format together with the remaining documentation.

The application is submitted exclusively online through the Ministry of the Interior’s portal. Upon transmission, an identification number is assigned to the case, enabling the applicant to monitor its progress throughout the administrative review.

Naturally, submission of the application does not automatically result in the acquisition of citizenship. From that point onward, the administrative procedure begins, during which the competent authorities verify the documentation and whether the prescribed requirements have been met.

What happens during the administrative review

During the examination, irregularities or errors in the application may come to light. If the Prefecture identifies an issue concerning, for example, the information entered in the application, it may, in certain circumstances, be possible to request that the application be corrected, including by means of certified electronic mail (PEC) or by appearing in person at the relevant offices.

If, on the other hand, the application is rejected because of an error and a new application must be submitted, the article specifies that this may be done without paying the €250 fee again.

The validity of the documents must also be carefully considered. In particular, the criminal-record certificate from the country of origin is valid for six months from the date of issue, making it important to coordinate the timing of obtaining the documentation with the timing of submission of the application.

The time limits of the procedure

One of the aspects of greatest concern to applicants naturally concerns the duration of the procedure. For applications submitted after 21 December 2020, the period indicated in the article is 24 months, extendable up to a maximum of 36 months.

It is important to distinguish this period from the time required to fulfil the residence requirement. The two periods belong to different stages: first, the applicant must complete the number of years of residence required in their particular circumstances; only thereafter may the application be submitted and the administrative procedure initiated.

A process requiring careful attention

Italian citizenship by residence is therefore the outcome of a process comprising several stages. Before submitting the application, it is necessary to verify continuity of residence, the applicant’s income situation and the presence of all required documents, paying particular attention to documents issued abroad and to their translation and legalisation.

After the application has been submitted electronically, the case proceeds to the administrative review stage, during which the competent authorities verify the requirements and the documentation provided. Given that the procedure may take up to 36 months, it is important to monitor the progress of the application carefully and to take timely action if any issues arise.

Thorough preparation of the application therefore makes it possible to approach the procedure with greater awareness and to reduce the risk that errors, inconsistencies or missing documentation may hinder the successful outcome of the application.

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The content of this article is intended to provide general information on the topic. For doubts or specific cases, it is advisable to seek specialized legal advice tailored to your particular situation.

Article written by Alessia Ajelli, Managing Associate of LCA Studio Legale, Italian lawyer specialized on Italian immigration and citizenship law, and Paolo Grassi, Trainee of LCA Studio Legale.