Italian citizenship: the honest orientation

Two 2025 corrections to common knowledge first: descendants of Italian citizens now need 2 years, not the widely-quoted 3, and "born in Italy" is its own 3-year category.

On top of the years, you need all of:

• B1 Italian, by recognised certificate. Long-term-permit holders and people with certified serious learning limitations are exempt — EU citizens are not.
• Income over the last three years above roughly €8,263.31 — €11,362.05 with a dependent spouse, plus €516 per dependent child (2025 ministry Vademecum).
• Clean criminal records.

You apply online on the DLCI portal with SPID or CIE and pay €250. The decision is due within 24 months, extendable to 36, and the grant is discretionary — meeting every requirement is not the same as being naturalised. Cohabiting minor children acquire with you, since 2025 only if they have legally resided in Italy for 2 years or since birth.

By marriage

The spouse of an Italian citizen qualifies after 2 years of legal residence in Italy from the marriage (or 3 years if residing abroad) — halved if you have children together. Unlike naturalization it is an entitlement, not a discretionary grant, but the B1 requirement and €250 contribution apply equally.

By descent (iure sanguinis) — the 2025 reform

Since 29 March 2025 (D.L. 36/2025, converted with changes by L. 74/2025), someone born abroad who already holds another citizenship is recognised as Italian by descent in only three situations:

• their application, or a booked consular appointment, was already in by 27 March 2025. Those keep the old, unlimited rules.
• a parent or grandparent holds — or held at death — exclusively Italian citizenship.
• a parent lived in Italy for two continuous years after acquiring citizenship and before the birth.

One warning, because it is the single most repeated error about this reform: the "grandparent born in Italy" test was in the original decree, and it was replaced at conversion. Many sites still print it. Check the page of the consulate that will handle your file.

Worth knowing

• Dual citizenship is allowed on the Italian side (art. 11) — check your home country's rules.
• The residence clock needs anagrafe registration the whole time — a reason to register early and keep it unbroken.
• For non-EU residents, EU long-term residence at year 5 is the natural staging post on the way to year 10.