{"id":217691,"date":"2025-10-12T13:03:01","date_gmt":"2025-10-12T13:03:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/?p=217691"},"modified":"2025-10-12T13:16:35","modified_gmt":"2025-10-12T13:16:35","slug":"italian-citizenship-by-marriage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/it\/immigration-citizenship\/italian-citizenship-by-marriage\/","title":{"rendered":"Italian Citizenship by Marriage: Eligibility and Requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Foreign spouses of Italian citizens can apply for Italian <a href=\"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/it\/immigration-citizenship\/citizenship-by-marriage-countries\/\">cittadinanza per matrimonio<\/a> after two years of marriage if living in Italy, or three years if living abroad, with reduced timelines for couples with children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Recent legal updates, including the reaffirmed B1 language requirement and stricter fraud checks, have reshaped the application process in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Questo articolo tratta di:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What are the new rules for Italian citizenship by marriage?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What are the qualifications for Italian citizenship by marriage?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How to apply for citizenship through marriage in Italy?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How long is the process to get citizenship through marriage in Italy?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What are the pros and cons of Italian citizenship by marriage?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I miei recapiti sono hello@adamfayed.com e WhatsApp +44-7393-450-837 se avete domande.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Le informazioni contenute in questo articolo hanno un valore puramente indicativo. Non costituiscono consulenza finanziaria, legale o fiscale e non rappresentano una raccomandazione o una sollecitazione a investire. Alcuni fatti potrebbero essere cambiati dal momento della stesura.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/CTA_5_final_-512x288.jpg\" usemap=\"#image-map\" alt=\"Discover How We Can Address Your Financial Pain Points\">\n\n<map name=\"image-map\">\n    <area href=\"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/subscribe\/\" target=\"_blank\" alt=\"Subscribe Free\" title=\"Abbonati gratuitamente\" coords=\"72,217,198,252\" shape=\"rect\">\n    <area href=\"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/contact\/\" target=\"_blank\" alt=\"Discover Now\" title=\"Scopri ora\" coords=\"303,217,429,252\" shape=\"rect\">\n<\/map>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What are the changes in Italian citizenship by marriage?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2025, legislative proposals such as <a href=\"https:\/\/italianismo.com.br\/en\/cgie-rejeita-mudancas-na-cidadania-para-descendentes-e-conjuges\/#:~:text=Among%20the%20most%20relevant%20new,three%20years%20of%20marriage%20abroad.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DDL 1450<\/a> and enforcement of Decree-Law 36\/2025 (Tajani Decree) have introduced significant potential changes to how Italy citizenship by marriage may work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Below is what is known so far:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Elimination of citizenship by marriage from abroad<\/strong><br>DDL 1450 proposes that foreign spouses who live outside Italy would no longer be able to apply simply after three years of marriage. Instead, citizenship would only be requestable after two years of legal residence in Italy. (i.e. marrying an Italian alone would no longer suffice unless you live in Italy).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strict deadlines for processing and judicial decisions<\/strong><br>The draft sets maximum time limits: 48 months to complete administrative procedures and 12 months to enforce final court decisions (for example, transcription of certificates) after a formal request.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Abolishment of oath or witness statements as evidence<\/strong><br>DDL 1450 intends to prohibit use of witnesses or oaths as evidence in citizenship recognition processes, tightening evidentiary standards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Increased consular costs<\/strong><br>Under the proposal, consular fees for citizenship applications made via consulates would rise from \u20ac600 to \u20ac700.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because these changes are still under parliamentary <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/it\/category\/review-articles\/\" title=\"recensione\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"2520\">recensione<\/a> (DDL 1450 is not yet law), there is uncertainty. Especially important is whether these new rules will apply retroactively or only to future applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The intention is to align marriage-based citizenship more closely with the concept of a genuine connection to Italy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How do you get citizenship if you are married to an Italian?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Foreign spouses can apply for <a href=\"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/it\/immigration-citizenship\/easiest-countries-to-get-citizenship\/\">citizenship in Italy<\/a> after:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Two years of marriage if living in Italy, or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Three years of marriage if <a href=\"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/it\/investment-options\/investment-options-for-italian-expats-living-overseas\/\">vivere all'estero<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These periods are reduced by half if the couple has biological or adopted children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Italian citizenship <\/strong>a<strong>pplication process:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Submit an online application through the Italian Ministry of Interior\u2019s portal (ALI system).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provide supporting documents, including marriage certificate, criminal record checks from all countries of residence, proof of language proficiency (B1 level), and identification.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The file is reviewed by the local prefecture (if in Italy) or the Italian consulate (if abroad).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Once approved, the applicant takes an oath of allegiance to the Italian Republic before the prefect or consular authority.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What are the requirements for Italian citizenship through marriage?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To qualify for citizenship by marriage to an Italian, applicants must meet:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Legal marriage recognized under Italian law.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Valid residence permits or <a href=\"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/it\/immigration-citizenship\/italy-investor-visa\/\">visas<\/a> if living in Italy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No serious criminal record in Italy or abroad.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Proof of financial stability (income or employment).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Language certification from an approved institution.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Supporting documentation must be translated into Italian and legalized with an apostille where required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What language do you need to apply for Italian citizenship by marriage?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Applicants must demonstrate B1 level Italian proficiency for citizenship, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This rule, introduced in 2018, ensures integration and the ability to participate in Italian civic life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Accepted certificates include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>CELI (Certificato di Conoscenza della Lingua Italiana)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>CILS (Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>PLIDA (Progetto Lingua Italiana Dante Alighieri)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How long does it take to get Italian citizenship through marriage?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"342\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ITALIAN-CITIZENSHIP-BY-MARRIAGE-342x512.jpg\" alt=\"Italian Citizenship by Marriage\" class=\"wp-image-217694\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ITALIAN-CITIZENSHIP-BY-MARRIAGE-342x512.jpg 342w, https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ITALIAN-CITIZENSHIP-BY-MARRIAGE-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ITALIAN-CITIZENSHIP-BY-MARRIAGE-768x1150.jpg 768w, https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ITALIAN-CITIZENSHIP-BY-MARRIAGE-scaled.jpg 551w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 342px) 100vw, 342px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sub><sup>Photo by Polina Chistyakova on Pexels<\/sup><\/sub><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Standard application time for marriage citizenship in Italy is about 24\u201336 months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Applications with children<\/strong>: may be expedited<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Complex cases<\/strong>: can take longer if additional background checks or missing documents are involved<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Ministry of Interior must finalize applications within 36 months by law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What are common reasons for Italian citizenship denial?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Applications for becoming an Italian citizen by marriage may be rejected due to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Incomplete or incorrectly filed documentation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Failure to demonstrate B1 language proficiency<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Criminal convictions or ongoing legal proceedings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Suspicion of marriage fraud or lack of genuine family ties<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Insufficient financial means<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How powerful is an Italian passport?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Il <a href=\"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/it\/immigration-citizenship\/most-powerful-passports-2025-index-comparison\/\">Italian passport is among strongest in the world<\/a>, granting visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to nearly 190 countries, along with full EU citizenship rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the Henley Passport Index (2025), Italy is ranked 4th globally, while the Arton Passport Index (2025) places Italy at 3rd, and the Nomad Capitalist Passport Index (2025) lists it in the top 5, factoring in taxation, dual citizenship, and global mobility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Holders of an Italian passport can live, work, and travel freely across the EU and Schengen Area, and enjoy access to Italy\u2019s strong healthcare, education, and social security systems.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Is it good to have Italian citizenship?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, the perks of having Italian citizenship include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Access to one of the world\u2019s most powerful passports<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The ability to live and work across the EU<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strong healthcare, education, and social welfare systems<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cultural and family ties in Italy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For expats with long-term plans in Europe, it represents a valuable asset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are there any downsides to Italian citizenship?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While generally advantageous, there are some potential drawbacks to citizenship in Italy:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Bureaucracy<\/strong>: Italy is known for lengthy administrative procedures<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tax obligations<\/strong>: Citizens are subject to worldwide income tax if considered <a href=\"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/it\/expats\/italy-tax-residency-rules\/\">tax residents<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Residency obligations<\/strong>: Some pathways (such as naturalization) require physical residence before applying<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Language and cultural adaptation<\/strong>: Integration can be challenging for non-Italian speakers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusione<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Citizenship by marriage in Italy remains one of the most accessible ways for expats to become Italian nationals, provided all requirements are met.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With its powerful passport, EU-wide rights, and cultural advantages, Italian citizenship offers long-term benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, applicants should be prepared for a lengthy process, strict documentation standards, and language requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Domande frequenti<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list\">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1759387139158\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Can my wife get an Italian passport if I have one?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Yes, but she must apply separately for Italian citizenship by marriage. Having an Italian spouse does not automatically confer nationality.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1759387147099\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">What is the new law for Italian citizenship in May 2025?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>In May 2025, Italy converted the Tajani Decree into Law 74\/2025, mainly affecting <a href=\"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/it\/immigration-citizenship\/citizenship-by-descent-countries\/\">citizenship by descent<\/a> with new limits for those born abroad.<\/p>\n<p>The rules for citizenship by marriage remain unchanged\u2014spouses can still apply after 2 years of marriage in Italy or 3 years abroad (halved with children), with a B1 Italian language requirement.<\/p>\n<p>A separate draft bill (DDL 1450) may tighten marriage rules in the future but is not yet in force.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1759387166655\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Can I stay in Italy if I get married?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Marriage to an Italian citizen allows you to apply for a residence permit for family reasons, which enables legal stay and work rights in Italy.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1759387175143\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Do I lose my Italian citizenship if I divorce?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>No. Once Italian citizenship is granted, it is not revoked in case of divorce.<\/p>\n<p>However, divorce before citizenship approval may weaken or invalidate your application.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Siete afflitti dall'indecisione finanziaria? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"288\" src=\"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Adam-Fayed-Contact_CTA3-512x288.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-117505\" style=\"width:683px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Adam-Fayed-Contact_CTA3-512x288.jpg 512w, https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Adam-Fayed-Contact_CTA3-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Adam-Fayed-Contact_CTA3-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Adam-Fayed-Contact_CTA3-scaled.jpg 825w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/it\/become-adams-client\/\">Diventa mio cliente<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/it\/good-match-quiz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fare il quiz sull'idoneit\u00e0 del cliente<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/it\/contact\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Contatto<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Adam \u00e8 un autore riconosciuto a livello internazionale in materia finanziaria con oltre 830 milioni di visualizzazioni di risposte su Quora, un libro molto venduto su Amazon e un contributo su Forbes.<\/strong><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Foreign spouses of Italian citizens can apply for Italian citizenship by marriage after two years of marriage if living in Italy, or three years if living abroad, with reduced timelines for couples with children. Recent legal updates, including the reaffirmed B1 language requirement and stricter fraud checks, have reshaped the application process in 2025. This [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":60,"featured_media":217695,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"no","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_10166176115445471_100883565069113":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[{"account":"facebook_10166176115445471_100883565069113","service":"facebook","timestamp":1760274202,"status":"error"}],"rop_publish_now_status":"done","footnotes":""},"categories":[11832],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-217691","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-immigration-citizenship"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/217691","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/60"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=217691"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/217691\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":221244,"href":"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/217691\/revisions\/221244"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/217695"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=217691"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=217691"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adamfayed.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=217691"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}