Citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis) after 2025
With Decree-Law 36/2025, converted into Law 74/2025, Italy restricted citizenship by descent for people born abroad who hold another citizenship. Today, broadly speaking, it is recognised when at least one of these conditions applies:
- The application or court case was filed by 27 March 2025 (11:59 pm, Rome time).
- A parent or grandparent holds, or held at the time of death, only Italian citizenship.
- An Italian-citizen parent lived in Italy for at least 2 continuous years after acquiring citizenship and before your birth.
There are also specific rules for minor children of Italian citizens, as well as constitutional challenges and pending court cases, so each case must be reviewed with the full documentation.
Citizenship by marriage or civil union
- 2 years of legal residence in Italy after the marriage, or 3 years if living abroad.
- These periods are halved if you have children born or adopted.
- The marriage must still be in place when the decision is made.
- Italian language certificate at B1 level and no relevant criminal convictions.
The application is filed online on the Ministry of the Interior portal; the decision can take up to 24-36 months.
Citizenship by residence (naturalisation)
| Situation | Years of legal residence |
|---|---|
| Non-EU citizens (general rule) | 10 years |
| EU citizens | 4 years |
| Refugees and stateless persons | 5 years |
| Descendants of Italians and other cases provided by law | 3 years (specific requirements) |
You also need sufficient income in recent years, a clean criminal record and a B1 Italian certificate. It is a discretionary grant: a well-prepared file makes the difference.
Tracing your line and documents
For citizenship by descent you need to rebuild your family line with birth, marriage and death records, the certificate of non-naturalisation of your Italian ancestor, plus translations and apostilles. We help you obtain records from Italian Comuni, correct name discrepancies and prepare the file.
How we help
- We check whether your case meets current law.
- We obtain records in Italy and check translations and apostilles.
- We file the application with the Comune, Consulate or Ministry.
- Where appropriate, we start or follow the court route.
- We appeal refusals and administrative silence.
Documents usually required
- Birth records for the whole line, apostilled and translated
- Marriage and death records for the line
- Certificate of non-naturalisation of the Italian ancestor
- Italian birth record of the ancestor (from the Comune)
- B1 Italian certificate (marriage and residence)
- Criminal records from your home country and Italy
- Proof of residence and income (residence route)
The exact list depends on your case, your home country and the office (Questura, Consulate or Comune). We give you the final list in the consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still apply through my great-grandfather?
Do I need to speak Italian?
How long does citizenship by marriage take?
Can I live in Italy while my citizenship is processed?
What if my citizenship application is refused?
Last updated: 2026-10-23. This guide is general information and does not replace a lawyer's advice on your specific case. Italian immigration rules change often.