Italy has outlined the requirements foreign nationals must meet to become eligible for citizenship through residency, with the general rule requiring applicants to have lived legally in the country for 10 years before they can submit an application.
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that individuals seeking naturalisation on the basis of residency must have maintained lawful residence in Italy for at least a decade to qualify for citizenship.
However, the 10 year requirement does not apply uniformly to every applicant.
Italy Citizenship: Who Qualifies for Shorter Wait
Certain groups of foreign nationals are eligible to apply after a shorter period of residency.
Applicants with Italian-born ancestors up to the second degree, along with individuals born in Italy, are required to have lived in the country for just three years before submitting their applications.
For nationals of European Union member states, the required period of legal residence is four years.
Meanwhile, stateless individuals, recognised refugees, and adults adopted by an Italian citizen after reaching the age of 18 must complete five years of residency.
A separate category applies to individuals adopted by an Italian national, who are required to have resided in Italy for seven years.
The rules also make an exception for people who have worked outside Italy on behalf of the Italian Government for a minimum of five consecutive years. Applicants in this category are not subject to any residency requirement.
How to Submit Italy Citizenship Application
Applications for Italian citizenship through naturalisation must be formally addressed to the President of the Republic of Italy.
Applicants are required to submit their applications through the Prefettura in the Italian province where they are officially registered as residents.
It is important to note that Italian consular offices located abroad do not have the authority to accept or process applications under this route.
Foreign nationals seeking citizenship through residency must therefore be physically present in Italy, officially registered as residents, and deal directly with the appropriate Italian authorities.
The different residency periods are designed to account for the varying levels of connection applicants may have with Italy.
These connections can be based on factors such as ancestry, place of birth, legal status, or family relationships with Italian nationals.
