Are you married to an Italian citizen and wish to share the same citizenship?

Securing Italian citizenship through marriage is a significant milestone that many couples aspire to achieve. Applying for Italian citizenship by marriage offers not only a pathway to a new nationality but also practical benefits such as enhanced mobility within the European Union and access to Italy’s esteemed social services.

In this article, we will dive into the process of obtaining Italian citizenship by marriage, exploring the legal requirements, procedural steps, and key considerations for applicants. 

As a first step, you will need to meet some preliminary requirements, such as making sure your marriage has been duly registered in Italy and verifying that your spouse’s residency (either in Italy or abroad) is updated with your current address. For this specific process, consistency is key, so pay attention to all the small details of your documents in order to be sure everything is correct.

On a side note, please be aware that if you are in a same-sex-marriage, this is registered in Italy as “Unione Civile”. Same requirements apply.

On top of the above, you will need to prove your knowledge of Italian language with a B1 certificate (that’s a lower-intermediate level), which can be obtained by passing a language test with one of the 4 appointed institutions.

Click here to check your level with our free Italian Language test!

Once you meet all the preliminary requirements, you can start collecting the documents that will make up the core of your application: your criminal background checks. Depending on your current location and previous residencies starting from age 14, there will be a number of criminal background checks to collect. Each one of them will need to be obtained, notarized, apostilled and translated within 6 months from the date of issuance.

Talking about expiration, you will also need a fresh copy of your Italian marriage certificate which will also expire after 6 months from the date of release.

On the other hand, your birth record will also be needed (with apostille and translation). Some consulates require your birth record to be provided within the same 6-month deadline mentioned above.

Once you obtain all the above, your documents will need to be translated according to the latest consulate’s instructions. If you apply in Italy, your application will be filed according to the Prefettura’s provisions instead. 

All the records except your Italian marriage certificate will need to be translated. Given the peculiarity of all the documents involved and the complex language featured in the criminal background checks documents, it is highly recommended to rely on the expertise of a professional translator.

As soon as the translations are duly completed, it will be time to address the final step of the application process: the online submission of your citizenship application.

If you are unsure about where to start, or want to make sure everything is compliant with the most updated regulations, book your free eligibility consultation today and see if you are ready for the process.

The Italian ministry of Interior has a dedicated website called Portale Ali, where you’ll need to set up an account. If you are a resident of Italy, you will be required to access through SPID or CIE.

The very final step of the submission will be the payment of two administrative fees: one for €16 (marca da bollo) and one for €250 (citizenship application fee).

Once the payment is complete, you will be ready to hit the “send” button and your citizenship application will be formally filed.

Considering the complexity of the whole procedure, and also the fact that the submission website is completely in Italian, we recommend taking your time to carefully review all the steps of the online submission.

If you wish to be sure everything is complete and correct before your submission, or if you need help with the submission itself, we can offer a tailored service. Get in touch today!

After the submission is complete, the Italian authorities (either the Italian consulate or the Prefettura) will send you a formal invitation to their office, in order to collect the original documents.

The Ministry of Interior will have 2 to 3 years to provide you with a final outcome of your application. In case of approval, a formal Decree (decreto) will be issued stating that you are granted Italian citizenship. 

At that point, you will be invited to an Oath ceremony to swear fealty to the Italian Republic and at that time you may need to provide some criminal background check documents again to confirm you have no criminal record to present date.

Here at FTIC we know this process may seem quite intricate and complicated (and it is indeed, from a perspective), but thanks to our extended expertise in the spousal citizenship field, we are confident we can shed light on your path and make it way easier.

Whether you are newlyweds or have celebrated many anniversaries, get one step closer to realizing your Italian aspirations. Book your free eligibility consultation today!