Italian Citizenship by Naturalization: Years of Residency, Requirements, and How to Apply
How many years do you need to live in Italy before applying for citizenship? It depends on who you are: anywhere from 3 to 10 years. Practical guide with costs, documents, and how to file in Rome.
In a Nutshell
Naturalization is the path to Italian citizenship for foreigners who have lived in Italy long enough. It is not an automatic right — it is a discretionary grant by the President of the Republic. Even if you meet every requirement, the Ministry of the Interior can still refuse on grounds of security or integration concerns.
At a Glance
| Cost | €250 contribution + €16 marca da bollo (revenue stamp) + optional €100–130 B1 exam + translation costs |
| Timeline | Maximum 36 months from submission. In practice, in Rome: 24–36 months. |
| Where in Rome | Prefettura di Roma — UTG (regional state-government office representing the central state), Via Ostiense 131/L — application filed online via the Citizenship Portal |
| Documents | Legalized birth certificate, criminal record certificate, passport, residence permit, 3 years of tax returns, B1 language certificate, €250 payment receipt |
How Many Years of Residency You Need
The required period varies by your situation. Residency must be legal (backed by a valid permesso di soggiorno — residence permit for non-EU citizens) and continuous (unbroken registration in the Anagrafe — the civil-registry office at city hall).
| Category | Years required |
|---|---|
| Non-EU citizen | 10 years |
| EU citizen (27 member states) | 4 years |
| Recognized stateless person | 5 years |
| Recognized political refugee | 5 years |
| Descendant of Italian ancestors (up to 2nd degree) | 3 years |
| Born in Italy to foreign parents | 3 years |
| Adult adopted by an Italian citizen | 5 years from adoption |
| Already in the service of the Italian state | 5 years |
One important warning: even a brief deregistration from the Anagrafe can reset the entire count. Any time you move home, notify the Comune (city hall) of your new address promptly.
Other Mandatory Requirements
Beyond the years of residency, you must meet three conditions.
Sufficient income. In the three years before applying, your annual income must not fall below €8,263.31 if you live alone, €11,362.05 if you have a dependent spouse, plus €516.46 for each child. The combined family income counts: if your spouse earns enough, the requirement is met. You will need CUD statements, Modello Unico (Italy's self-employed tax return), or Modello 730 (Italy's simplified annual tax return for employees) for the three preceding years.
Italian language certificate at B1 level. Since 4 December 2018, you need a certificate from one of four recognized bodies: CILS, CELI, PLIDA, or the University of Rome Tre. You are exempt if you hold an Italian educational qualification (at least middle school level), if you were granted a long-term EU residence permit before 4 December 2018, or if you signed an integration agreement under DPR 179/2011.
Clean criminal record. You are disqualified by a final conviction for crimes against the state, a conviction of more than 3 years for non-negligent offences, or a foreign conviction of more than 1 year for non-political crimes. Pending proceedings do not automatically block the application, but they often put it on hold until a final verdict is reached.
How to Apply in Rome
The application is submitted exclusively online via the Ministry of the Interior's Citizenship Portal. You do not need to go to the Prefettura to hand it in.
- Register with a valid email address and obtain your username and password.
- Complete Modello B (naturalization, art. 9 of L. 91/1992).
- Attach all required documents as scanned PDFs.
- Transfer €250 to postal account 809020 made out to "Ministero Interno DLCI - cittadinanza" and upload proof of payment.
- Enter the serial number of your €16 marca da bollo (revenue stamp — buy it at a tabacchi and peel it onto official forms).
- Submit. You will receive a case number starting with K10/.
After submission, the Prefettura di Roma (Area III - Cittadinanza, Via Ostiense 131/L) takes charge of your file: it checks the documents, requests any missing items, and may call you in for an interview. The file is then forwarded to the Ministry of the Interior, which runs its own checks and — if everything is in order — obtains the Presidential decree.
Once the decree arrives, you have 6 months to take an oath of allegiance before the civil registrar at your Comune. The day after the oath, you are a full Italian citizen. Minor children living with you acquire Italian citizenship at the same moment.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Counting years from your arrival in Italy rather than from your first registration in the Anagrafe. The clock starts from your first valid registration in the civil registry. If you arrived in 2010 but only registered your address in 2012, the count begins in 2012.
- Letting your residence permit lapse. If your permit expires and you apply for renewal within 60 days, residency is still considered continuous. Beyond 60 days, you risk breaking the count.
- Using non-certified translators. All foreign documents must be translated by a translator listed on the Rome Tribunal's CTU register, with a court-certified sworn declaration (asseverazione) at the Tribunale di Roma (Via Lepanto, Rome). Translations by unlisted agencies are not accepted.
Special Cases
Periods abroad during the 10 years. Holidays or temporary work trips abroad do not interrupt residency as long as you remain registered in the Anagrafe in Italy. Even a single day of deregistration — for whatever reason — resets the entire count.
Change of status (e.g., from student to worker). All regular residence permits count toward the total, except permits issued for medical treatment lasting less than a year, business trips, and short stays.
Refugees. You qualify after 5 years and do not need to produce documents from your country of origin. The Ministry accepts substitute declarations.
Descendants of Italian emigrants (italo-discendenti) whose ancestor emigrated after 1861. If your Italian ancestor did not renounce citizenship before the birth of the next generation, you may already be Italian by iure sanguinis (bloodline) from birth. In that case, naturalization is unnecessary — you just need recognition at the Consulate or the Comune, through a much faster procedure.
Dual citizenship. Italy does not require you to give up your original citizenship. Be aware, however, that some countries (China, India, Japan, Austria, Germany for non-EU citizens, the Netherlands) revoke their own citizenship when you acquire Italian nationality. Check with your Consulate before proceeding.
Official Sources
- Ministry of the Interior — Citizenship
- How to acquire Italian citizenship
- Online Citizenship Portal (Ministry of the Interior)
- Prefettura di Roma
- Legge 91/1992 full text (Normattiva)
- DL 113/2018 — Decreto Salvini Sicurezza
- DL 130/2020 — Decreto Lamorgese
Legal references: Legge 5 febbraio 1992 n. 91, DPR 12 ottobre 1993 n. 572, DPR 18 aprile 1994 n. 362, DM 4 giugno 2010, DL 113/2018 conv. L. 132/2018, DL 130/2020 conv. L. 173/2020.