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September 15, 2021
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December 13, 2021Claiming citizenship can be a scary and complicated process, however it should not be something that overshadows the joys of a new marriage. “Italian citizenship is currently regulated by Law No. 91/1992 which, unlike the previous Law, revalues the importance of individual intention in the acquisition or loss of citizenship and recognizes the right to hold more than one citizenship at the same time.[1]”
Claiming you Italian citizenship through marriage can be a fairly easy process, it all depends on where you are living, how long you have been married, and if you have any children. According to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, if you are a foreign-born person married to an Italian citizen but living abroad, three years after marriage you can apply for Italian citizenship. This time frame can be lessened if you have children with your spouse or have adopted a child[2]. The foreign spouse can acquire Italian citizenship upon request, if the following requirements are met: two years of legal residence in Italy after marriage or, if living abroad, three years after marriage.
The application for Italian citizenship can easily be filled out online at https://cittadinanza.dlci.interno.it. Along with filling out the application you will also need to submit the following documents: birth certificate of your country of origin, your criminal record in country of origin or any third countries of citizenship, a certified copy of the identification document, diploma, degree, or qualification issued by a public or equivalent educational institution or certification issued by a certifying body. You will also need to submit a payment of two hundred and fifty Euros with your application. After the application is approved you will be summoned to be identified and present any additional official documents needed (or go over the documents you have already submitted with your application). “In this regard, it is specified that, if the applicant is an EU citizen, the following deeds, i.e., copy of the marriage certificate, family status certificate and certificate of Italian citizenship of the spouse, are replaced by self-certification pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 445/2000 and most recently by Law No. 183/2011. The applicant who is a citizen of a non-EU country may be exempted from submitting copy of the marriage certificate, the family status certificate and the spouse’s certificate of Italian citizenship only if these deeds are already in possession of the diplomatic-consular Mission.[3]” The Interior Ministry has the right to request any other documents that it may deem necessary to complete your citizenship application.
Filing for your Italian citizenship can be a fairly easy process as it is explained above. Just follow the listed steps and be prepared with the needed documents and materials. For more explanations you can visit the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation website.
by Grace Wilson University of Arkansas in Fayetteville Majoring in International and Global Studies with a minor in Legal Studies. Currently (2021) attending the university’s Rome Center and Interning for Family Law Italy.
Family Law Italy Italy a boutique law firm is shortlisted by the US and UK Embassy in Rome.
info@familylawitaly.com website www.familylawitaly.com +39068075014
[1] “Citizenship” Ministero Degli Affari Esteri e Della Cooperazione Internazionale – Homepage, 8 Jan. 2021,
[2] “Becoming an Italian Citizen.” Ministero Degli Affari Esteri e Della Cooperazione Internazionale – Homepage, 17 May 2019,
[3] “Citizenship” Ministero Degli Affari Esteri e Della Cooperazione Internazionale – Homepage, 8 Jan. 2021,