Five ways to obtain Italian citizenship

Italian citizenship is a dream for many who want to build their lives in this remarkable country, renowned for its history, culture and breathtaking landscapes. Here is an overview of every route to an Italian passport.

Naturalization

A foreign national must spend five years in the country on a residence permit to qualify for permanent residency. After a further five years as a permanent resident, they can apply for Italian citizenship. Residence throughout this ten-year period must be continuous.

By descent

If one of your relatives - a parent or grandparent, for example - was an Italian citizen, you can claim citizenship through a fast-track process in as little as three years.

Through marriage

If your spouse is an Italian citizen, you are entitled to a passport through fast-track naturalization after two to three years of living in the country.

By birth

A child born outside Italy to Italian parents receives Italian citizenship. Children of foreign nationals born on Italian soil, however, do not acquire citizenship by birth alone.

Through adoption

A child adopted by Italian citizens is automatically eligible for an Italian passport.

The benefits of Italian citizenship

• Visa-free travel to 190 countries, including the Schengen Area, the United States, Canada and Japan
• The right to live and work anywhere in the EU
• Access to high-quality healthcare
• Access to world-class education
• A secure fallback in a developed country

Paraguay - one of the most attractive citizenships by investment

Strategically located and open to the world, Paraguay is a land of opportunity. Its citizenship-by-investment program offers foreign nationals and their families a rare chance to obtain permanent residency for an investment from 70,000 US dollars, then a passport no earlier than three years of living in the country as a permanent resident, and enjoy all its advantages: visa-free travel to 145 countries, including the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom and Singapore; eligibility for the US E-2 visa; tax optimization with a 10% rate; and life in a country with a high standard of living and a favorable climate.

What changed in 2025-2026

In 2025 Italy sharply narrowed citizenship by descent. Under the law passed in May 2025, a person born abroad who holds another citizenship is Italian by blood only if a parent or grandparent held only Italian citizenship, or a parent lived in Italy for at least two consecutive years before the child's birth. Applications filed before 27 March 2025 follow the old rules. The route through great-grandparents is now closed for most people.

In summer 2025 a referendum proposed cutting the naturalisation period from 10 to 5 years, but low turnout meant it failed. The period remains 10 years.

Naturalisation: requirements and timeline

You also need B1 Italian with a certificate, income for the last 3 years above the threshold, about €8,300 a year for one person, a clean record and paid taxes. The fee is €250, about $290. By law a decision takes up to 24 months, extendable to 36.

Citizenship through marriage

A spouse of an Italian citizen applies after 2 years of legal residence in Italy after the wedding, or after 3 years of marriage if the couple lives abroad. With children together, the periods are halved. B1 is required here too, and the marriage must not be dissolved at the time of decision. The fee is the same €250.

Children born in Italy

A child of foreigners born in Italy who has lived there legally and without interruption until 18 can declare citizenship within a year of coming of age. This is not automatic birthright, so registration and residence must be continuous throughout.

Where to start: residence

For all 10 years before citizenship you must live in Italy legally and be registered at your address: years without registration don't count.

Taxes for new residents

From 1 January 2026 wealthy new residents can pay a flat €300,000 a year, about $336,200, on all foreign income, plus €50,000 per family member. Those who joined earlier keep their previous amount. Specialists moving to work get a relief: only half of their income is taxed, provided they live in Italy for at least 4 years. More on the Italy taxes page.

What the path to citizenship costs

What we do

We check whether you still qualify by descent after the 2025 law, choose a residence permit, count the years to naturalisation, prepare documents and the application, and support you through to the oath. If the Italian route is too long, we offer faster alternatives: Paraguay, Turkey or Vanuatu. We fix our fee in writing after a free consultation.

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