Italian citizenship: the honest orientation

Note the two 2025 corrections to common knowledge: 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: B1 Italian (recognised certificate; long-term-permit holders and 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, +€516 per dependent child, per the 2025 ministry Vademecum); and clean records. You apply online on the DLCI portal with SPID/CIE, pay €250, and wait: the decision is due within 24 months, extendable to 36. The grant is discretionary. Cohabiting minor children acquire with you — since 2025, only if they've 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), a person born abroad with another citizenship is recognised as Italian by descent only if: their application (or a booked consular appointment) was already in by 27 March 2025 — those keep the old unlimited rules; or a parent or grandparent holds, or held at death, exclusively Italian citizenship; or a parent lived in Italy for 2 continuous years after acquiring citizenship and before the birth. Beware: the "grandparent born in Italy" test reported by many sites was in the original decree but was replaced at conversion — check the consulate pages for current practice.

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.