Immigration law
Italian citizenship by residence: requirements and timescales
Ten years for most foreign nationals, four for EU citizens. But years alone are not enough: here are all the requirements.
Italian citizenship by residence is governed by Article 9 of Law No 91/1992. It is the end of a long journey, so it pays to arrive well prepared: many applications are refused for requirements that could have been checked beforehand.
How many years of residence
The years of lawful residence in Italy required vary:
- 10 years for citizens of non-EU countries;
- 4 years for citizens of EU Member States;
- 5 years for refugees and stateless persons;
- shorter periods for certain categories, such as foreign nationals born in Italy or descendants of Italian citizens up to the second degree.
“Lawful residence” means both holding a valid residence permit and being registered with the municipal registry office (anagrafe). Gaps in registration can restart the count.
Income
You must show sufficient and continuous income, normally over the last three years. As an indicative reference, administrative practice requires at least around €8,263 a year for a single applicant, rising with a spouse and for each dependent child. Declared income is what counts.
Italian language
Since 2018, knowledge of Italian at least at B1 level of the Common European Framework is required, shown by an Italian qualification or a certificate from a recognised body.
Conduct
Criminal convictions for certain offences are a bar. Pending matters or reports can also weigh on the assessment, which for citizenship by residence is largely discretionary.
The application
- It is filed online on the Ministry of the Interior portal.
- You attach your birth certificate and criminal record certificate from your country of origin, translated and legalised (or apostilled), a language certificate and the receipt for the €250 fee.
- The file is handled by the Prefecture of the province where you live.
Timescales
By law the procedure must be completed within 24 months, extendable to 36 months. Once granted, the oath must be taken within six months of notification of the decree.
Refusal or no reply
- A refusal can be challenged before the Lazio Regional Administrative Court (TAR Lazio), because the decision is taken by the Ministry of the Interior.
- If the maximum period has passed with no reply, you can take action against the authorities’ silence.
A clarification
In 2025 the rules on citizenship by descent (ius sanguinis) for people born abroad were changed. This guide covers citizenship by residence, which follows the rules described above.
Read more: immigration law, including in Florence and Milan.
Avv. Ada Alia
A member of the Pistoia Bar since 2020, she handles criminal, family, immigration and personal injury matters. She meets clients in Italian, English and Albanian.
Read the profile
