Italian citizenship in 2026: how to get it
Three routes: 10 years of residence, marriage or descent after the 2025 reform. The Russian passport is kept and fees start at $300. Conditions, steps, costs, pitfalls.
A Russian citizen has three routes to an Italian passport: naturalisation after 10 years of lawful residence, marriage to an Italian citizen and recognition of citizenship by descent. Since the 2025 reform, descent mainly works for children and grandchildren of Italians who had no other citizenship. The Russian passport is kept: Italy does not require giving up a previous citizenship.
A detailed guide to citizenship by descent, from archives to court, is on the Italian citizenship by descent page. Here is the short answer for Russian citizens.
Three routes to Italian citizenship
| Route | Main condition | Review | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naturalisation by residence | 10 years of lawful residence registered in Italy, income, B1 language | Up to 24 months, extendable to 36 | ~$300 |
| Marriage to an Italian citizen | 2 years of living in Italy after marriage or 3 years of marriage abroad, B1 language | Up to 24 months, extendable to 36 | ~$300 |
| Recognition by descent | A parent or grandparent who held only Italian citizenship | Up to 36 months | ~$680 consular fee |
With children in common, the marriage periods are halved. The marriage must not be dissolved by the time of the decision. The 2025 reform restricted citizenship by descent for those born abroad, but did not change the rules for naturalisation by residence and marriage.
What is required of an applicant
- Lawful residence and registration at your address for all 10 years, without long breaks.
- Income over the last 3 years above the threshold: about $9,400 a year for one person, about $13,000 with a spouse and about $590 more per child.
- Italian at B1 level: a certificate has been mandatory since 2018, except for EU long-term residence permit holders.
- A Russian criminal record certificate and birth certificate with apostille and translation into Italian.
For most Russians the route starts not with citizenship but with a residence permit; see our article on how to get Italian residency.
How to apply by residence or marriage
- A residence permit and registration at your address in Italy.
- 10 years of lawful residence, or 2 years after marriage, with income above the threshold.
- An Italian language certificate at B1 and Russian documents with apostille.
- An online application on the Italian Interior Ministry portal, logging in with an Italian digital identity.
- A decision within 24 months, then the oath.
What happens to your previous passport
Italian citizenship is governed by Law No. 91 of 5 February 1992. It allows an Italian to hold a foreign citizenship, and a naturalising foreigner does not have to give up the previous one, whether by marriage or by descent. Russia must be told about the second passport through the Interior Ministry within 60 days. More in our article on Italy and Russia dual citizenship.
How much Italian citizenship costs
- The application contribution for citizenship by residence or marriage plus stamp duty: about $300 together.
- The consular fee for recognition by descent: about $680 per adult.
- Apostilles, sworn translations and the language certificate: at the rates of authorities, translators and exam centres.
In total, from $300 in state fees per adult for naturalisation or marriage. This excludes translations, apostilles, the language exam and Murblz support. A manager will calculate the support fee in chat. All costs for the descent route are in our guide to how much Italian citizenship costs.
From $300 in fees, but years of registration and income decide
The law does not stop you from applying for Italian citizenship on your own. But mistakes cost more than the fees: gaps in registration that delay the application, income below the threshold in even one year, a language certificate not from a recognised centre, Russian documents without an apostille, an ancestor's second citizenship that blocks the descent route. Murblz support removes these risks: Murblz specialists check the route, count periods and income, prepare documents and translations and run the application to the oath. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process, and in most cases a result on the first filing.
The support fee depends on the route and family size; a manager will calculate it in chat.
Pitfalls
- Gaps in registration. The ten years are counted by lawful residence with registration, and gaps delay the application.
- Income below the threshold in even one of the last three years.
- A language certificate not from a recognised exam centre.
- An ancestor's second citizenship. Since the 2025 reform, descent does not work if the parent or grandparent held another citizenship.
- Taxes. An Italian resident pays tax on worldwide income on a scale up to 43%, and Russia suspended the main part of its tax treaty with Italy in 2023. More on the taxes in Italy page.
Italian roots or the residence route? Tell us about your ancestors, your marriage and the years you have lived in Italy. We will check which route is open and calculate the timeline before you apply.
FAQ
How can a foreigner get Italian citizenship?
Can you keep your previous citizenship when getting Italian citizenship?
How many years do you need to live in Italy for citizenship?
What level of Italian is needed for citizenship?
Can you get Italian citizenship by descent after the 2025 reform?
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Don’t want to figure this out alone?
We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.
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