Italian citizenship by marriage or civil union allows non-Italian spouses or partners to apply for Italian citizenship (cittadinanza per matrimonio).

 

Eligibility Requirements for Italian Citizenship by Marriage/Civil Union

 

​Marriage or Civil Union: A non-Italian spouse or civil partner can apply for Italian citizenship after being legally married to or in a civil union with an Italian citizen for at least two years from the date of marriage/civil union if residing in Italy or three years if living abroad.

Reduced timeframe for children: These timeframes are halved if the couple has children together, either biological or adopted.​  

 

Documents Required for The Application of Italian Citizenship by Marriage/Civil Union

 

• ​Nulla Osta: You may need to obtain a "Nulla Osta" (Certificate of no Impediment to Marriage) from your home country, confirming that there are no legal impediments to the marriage.

• Proof of Legal Residence in Italy: The foreign spouse or partner must have legally resided in Italy for the required duration. If applying from abroad, the couple must have been married or in a civil union for the required duration, and the applicant must meet other residency requirements in their home country.

• Italian Language Proficiency: The applicant must prove a B1 level of Italian proficiency (basic conversational level) to be eligible for citizenship. This can be proven through various means, such as language certificates or exams. However, suppose the marriage between the non-Italian national and the Italian citizen took place before 27 April 1983. In that case, the foreign national automatically gets recognized as an Italian citizen without the Italian language certificate.  

• Criminal Record Background Check Certificate: The Applicants must submit a criminal record certificate (not older than 6 months) issued by the country of origin or by any third countries where he/she resided (starting from 14 years of age).

• Financial stability: The applicant must demonstrate stable economic conditions, which is verified through documentation like tax returns or employment contracts.

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Services and Assistance for Italian Citizenship by Marriage or Civil Union

 

Clear information is provided on required documentation and how to organize it in line with the general guidelines of Italian consulates. Support is also available for coordinating translations and ensuring documents are properly formatted.

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