Visas and Residence Permits in Italy
All types of residence permits - Permesso: how to get it - Times at the Questura - Extension - Permanent residence (PMJ) - Citizenship
Contents
- Why get Italian citizenship in 2026
- All paths to Italian citizenship: from naturalization to marriage
- Naturalization — Italian citizenship after 10 years of residence
- Italian citizenship by marriage: terms and requirements 2026
- By descent (jure sanguinis) — Italian citizenship by blood
- Full list of documents for Italian citizenship
- Processing times for citizenship applications in 2026
- Dual citizenship: Italy, Russia, Ukraine
- After obtaining citizenship: oath, passport, obligations
- Conclusions
Why get Italian citizenship in 2026
What does Italian citizenship actually give you — and is it worth spending years to obtain it?
Italian citizenship is not just a nice passport with the Republic’s coat of arms. It is an EU passport, which opens visa-free access to 190+ countries worldwide. Italian citizenship is among the top five strongest passports globally, and in 2026 this is especially valuable for Russian-speaking immigrants whose possibilities with their original passports have been significantly reduced.
What Italian citizenship specifically provides:
- Freedom of movement within the EU — the right to live, work and study in any European Union country without residence permits or authorizations
- Visa-free travel to 190+ countries — including the USA (ESTA), the UK, Canada, Japan, Australia
- Voting — the right to vote in Italian elections and for the European Parliament, even while living abroad
- Pension — Italian pension with 20 years of contributions and reaching retirement age
- No more residence permits forever — no more Questura visits, permesso renewals, fear of refusal
- Full social protection — access to all benefits, NASPI, assegno sociale without restrictions
- Transmission to descendants — your children automatically obtain Italian citizenship
On pensions for citizens
“A benefit of citizenship is the Italian pension. 20 years of contributions as a citizen plus reaching retirement age — and you can be assigned from around €700 per month. Moreover, you can spend that pension in less expensive countries — live, for example, in Portugal.”
Participant of an immigration community
EU passport vs Residence Permit
With a permesso di soggiorno (residence permit) you are tied to Italy. With citizenship — you are a citizen of the entire European Union. Want to move to Germany or Spain — just register and live. No visas, quotas, waiting.
For many immigrants from Russia and the CIS, Italian citizenship became a strategic goal after 2022. A second passport is not a luxury but insurance. And Italian citizenship in this sense is one of the best options worldwide.
Practical view
“For me the main thing isn’t even visa-free travel. The main thing is you stop depending on the Questura. No renewals, no queues for the permesso, no stress at every trip. You just live normally.”
From a discussion in an immigration chat
All paths to Italian citizenship: naturalization, marriage, descent
What ways exist to obtain Italian citizenship — and which one fits you?
Italian law provides several routes to citizenship. The choice depends on your situation — whether you have Italian roots, a spouse who is a citizen, or you plan the long path through naturalization.
The most common path. 10 years of legal residence in Italy with a valid residence permit, then application via the portal. For EU citizens — 4 years, for refugees — 5 years, for stateless persons — 5 years.
Citizenship by marriage is the fastest route. 2 years of residence in Italy after marriage or 3 years if the couple lives abroad. Terms are halved if there are children.
If you have an Italian ancestor — you may claim Italian citizenship by blood (jure sanguinis). There is no generational limit, but there is a caveat regarding the maternal line before 1948.
The President of the Republic may grant citizenship for outstanding services to Italy. Investments alone do not grant citizenship directly — only a residence permit (investor visa), which may later lead to naturalization.
Italy DOES NOT sell citizenship
Unlike Malta or Cyprus, Italy has no “citizenship by investment” program. The investor visa only gives a residence permit. From that to citizenship — at least 10 years of residence. Do not trust intermediaries promising an Italian passport for money in 1–2 years.
Basic route
“Citizenship after 10 years of residence. Steps: get a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno), live 5 years, obtain long-term residence (permesso di soggiorno di lungo periodo). Then live another 5 years — and apply. That’s the simple version if you don’t have an Italian spouse.”
Community participant, discussion on naturalization timing
Naturalization — Italian citizenship after 10 years of residence
What counts within those 10 years, what are the income and language requirements, and why does the process often take 13–14 years in practice?
Naturalization is the main route to Italian citizenship for most immigrants from Russia and the CIS in 2026. The law requires 10 years of continuous legal residence in Italy. In practice, from the first residence permit to receiving the passport it often takes 13–14 years considering processing times.
Requirements for naturalization
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✓10 years of continuous residence
With a valid permesso di soggiorno (residence permit) or long-term residence. Absences are allowed but not more than 6 months consecutively and not more than 10 months total over 10 years. For EU citizens the term is 4 years.
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✓Sufficient income
At least about €8,264 per year for a single applicant (amount is revised). For families — higher. Income considered over the last 3 years.
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✓Knowledge of Italian at B1 level
Certificate from an accredited center (CILS, CELI, PLIDA, Roma Tre). Mandatory since 2018.
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✓No criminal record
Clean criminal history both in Italy and in the country of origin. Administrative fines usually do not prevent citizenship.
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✓Regular tax payments
No debts to the Agenzia delle Entrate. Tax returns for recent years.
10 years means 10 uninterrupted years
If your residence permit expired and there was a break in legal status — the count restarts. Even if you lived in Italy but formally did not have a valid permesso — those periods are not counted. Keep track of renewals.
Stages of naturalization
“In order: you get a residence permit, live 5 years, obtain long-term residence (permesso di soggiorno di lungo periodo). Then you live another 5 years — and apply. Total minimum 10 years, but in practice more because processing takes another 2–3 years.”
From a discussion in an immigration community
How much you need to earn
The minimum income for naturalization is calculated based on the assegno sociale. In 2026 the guidelines are as follows:
| Household composition | Minimum annual income |
|---|---|
| Single applicant | ~8,264 EUR |
| Family of 2 | ~11,570 EUR |
| Family of 3 | ~14,876 EUR |
| Family of 4 | ~18,182 EUR |
| Each additional family member | +~3,306 EUR |
Spouse’s income is counted
When applying for naturalization you can combine the incomes of both spouses. If one of you doesn’t work — it’s not a problem, the important thing is the family’s total income exceeds the minimum.
B1 exam — what to take
Since December 2018, Italian language knowledge at B1 level is a mandatory condition for citizenship. Certificates from four accredited centers are accepted:
The most popular option among immigrants. Exam held 2–3 times a year. Cost about €100–150.
An alternative to CILS. Format differs slightly but is equally recognized.
Another option. Centers are available in most major cities.
Less common but fully accepted option.
Detailed guide on the topic
Who is exempt from the B1 exam
If you graduated from an Italian school or university, or hold a permesso di soggiorno di lungo periodo (long-term residence permit) — the B1 exam for citizenship may not be required. However, for long-term residence you already took an A2 test, and for citizenship the B1 is specifically required.
Italian citizenship by marriage: terms and requirements 2026
How many years after marrying an Italian can you apply for citizenship — and what do you need to prepare?
Italian citizenship by marriage is the fastest legal route to an Italian passport. Unlike naturalization (10 years), the spouse of an Italian citizen can apply after 2 years of residence in Italy or after 3 years if the couple lives abroad.
Main timelines
Timelines are halved if the couple has children or adopted children. That means — living in Italy with a child you can apply for citizenship by marriage already after 1 year.
Requirements for application
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✓Valid marriage
At the time of application and at the time of the decision the marriage must be valid. Divorce before the decision = refusal.
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✓Italian B1 language knowledge
The same requirement as for naturalization. Certificate CILS, CELI, PLIDA or Roma Tre.
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✓No criminal record
Clean criminal history. Certain categories of crimes (terrorism, mafia) are an absolute bar.
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✓Co-residence
Spouses must be registered at the same address (residenza). Verified through the anagrafe.
Application via the portal
The application for citizenship by marriage is submitted online via the portal https://portale.interno.gov.it. An electronic signature or SPID (digital identity) is required. All documents are uploaded digitally.
Experience of applying by marriage
“We applied for citizenship by marriage via the portal. We lived in Italy for 2 years, the child was six months old — we applied one year after the wedding. We collected documents for a month, uploaded everything to the portal. Then — waiting.”
Participant of an immigration community
Fake marriage — criminal case
The Italian police check the authenticity of the marriage. They may come to your home unannounced, talk to neighbors, check joint accounts. A sham marriage to obtain citizenship is a criminal offense in Italy with real prison terms.
Applying from abroad
If the couple lives outside Italy, the application can be submitted through the Italian consulate in the country of residence. The term in this case is 3 years (or 1.5 years if there are children). Consulates work slower than the Prefettura inside Italy, so actual waiting may be longer.
From abroad
“We live not in Italy, applied through the consulate. Three years after the wedding — we applied. They reviewed it for almost two years. Total from wedding to passport — five years. But we do not regret it, because moving to Italy to speed up the process wasn’t an option for us.”
From a community discussion
By descent (jure sanguinis) — Italian citizenship by blood
Do you have Italian roots — and how to check? What documents are needed, and what’s the catch with the maternal line before 1948?
Italian citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis — “by right of blood”) is a unique opportunity for descendants of Italian emigrants. Italy is one of the few countries with no generational limit. Did your great-great-grandfather leave Calabria in 1890? You might be entitled to Italian citizenship.
How it works
The principle is simple: if your Italian ancestor never renounced Italian citizenship before the birth of the next generation in the chain — you inherit that citizenship. The transmission chain must be continuous.
Identify who in your family came from Italy. Check that they did not renounce Italian citizenship (naturalization in another country before 1992 meant loss of Italian citizenship).
Birth, marriage and death certificates for each generation in the chain from the ancestor to you. All documents must have an apostille and be translated into Italian.
From the comune (municipality) of the town your ancestor came from, request their birth certificate. This will confirm that they were an Italian citizen.
Through the Italian consulate in your country or directly to the comune in Italy (if you reside there). Consulates often have queues of several years.
Restriction regarding the maternal line before 1948
Until January 1, 1948 Italian women could not transmit citizenship to their children. If your chain includes a woman whose child was born before 1948 — the standard consular route is not possible. You must file a case in an Italian court (Tribunale di Roma). Such cases are usually won but require a lawyer and cost from €3,000 to €5,000.
Experience with jure sanguinis
“My maternal grandfather was born in Naples in 1925, then emigrated to Argentina. He never renounced citizenship. I collected documents for one and a half years — certificates from each country, apostilles, translations. In the end I obtained an Italian passport without residing in Italy.”
From a discussion in an immigration community
For Russian-speakers
Among immigrants from Russia and Ukraine the jure sanguinis route is less common but not excluded. Italian colonists lived in Odessa, Crimea and other regions. If you have reason to believe there were Italians in your family — it’s worth checking with civil registries and archives.
Full list of documents for Italian citizenship 2026
What documents need to be collected to apply for citizenship — and which of them cause the most problems?
The document package depends on the basis (naturalization, marriage, descent), but the basic set for naturalization and marriage largely overlaps. All documents for Italian citizenship are submitted electronically via the portal.
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✓Birth certificate
With apostille and certified translation into Italian. If from the Russian Federation — apostille from the Ministry of Justice, translation by a sworn translator.
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✓Certificate of no criminal record
From the country of origin (Russia, Ukraine) and from Italy (certificato penale). Russian certificate — via MFC or Gosuslugi, with apostille and translation. Validity — 6 months!
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✓B1 Italian language certificate
CILS, CELI, PLIDA or Roma Tre. Permanent — if taken 5 years ago it still counts.
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✓Codice fiscale
Tax code — you already have it if you live in Italy.
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✓Proof of income
Tax declarations (CUD, Modello Unico, 730) for the last 3 years. Income must be above the minimum threshold.
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✓Certificato di residenza
Proof of registration at place of residence in Italy. Obtained from the anagrafe of the comune.
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✓Certificato di stato di famiglia
Household composition certificate from the anagrafe.
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✓Copy of valid residence permit or long-term residence
Permesso di soggiorno or carta di soggiorno.
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✓Marca da bollo of €16
Revenue stamp. Bought at a tobacco shop.
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✓Receipt of payment of €250
Contributo di €250 — the fee for application processing. Paid via bollettino postale (postal payment slip).
Detailed guide on the topic
Certificate of no criminal record from Russia in 2026
Given the current geopolitical situation, obtaining a certificate of no criminal record from Russia may be difficult for those living abroad. Options: via a trusted person in Russia, via Gosuslugi (if you have access), via the Russian consulate in Italy. Validity — 6 months, so do not order it too early.
Additionally when applying by marriage
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✓Marriage certificate
In Italian: certificato/estratto di matrimonio. If the marriage was registered abroad — with apostille and translation, transcribed in the comune.
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✓Documents of the citizen spouse
Carta d'identità or passport of the Italian spouse. Certificato di cittadinanza italiana.
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✓Birth certificates of children
If there are common children — to shorten the term by half.
Advice on documents
“The biggest headache is the certificate of no criminal record. It’s valid for 6 months, while processing takes years. But you submit it once with the application. If later they ask to update it — then you’ll redo it. Don’t panic in advance.”
From practical discussion in the community
Processing times for citizenship applications in Italy in 2026
1024 days by law — but how many in practice? And what to do if the Prefettura is silent?
Processing times are the most painful topic for citizenship applicants. By law (Decreto legge 113/2018) the Prefettura must make a decision within 730 days (24 months). Later the term was increased to 1,095 days (36 months), but in practice many wait even longer.
Uploading documents to portale.interno.gov.it. Payment of €250.
The Prefettura of residence checks documents. They may request additional papers.
Background checks, criminal record checks, verification of actual residence. Sometimes they visit your home.
The final decision is made by the Ministero dell'Interno. The longest stage.
Publication of the decree granting citizenship in the Gazzetta Ufficiale (Official Gazette).
Within 6 months after publication of the decree you must make the oath in the comune. Otherwise citizenship is annulled.
Practical timelines in 2026
Real processing times in 2026 — from 2 to 4 years. It depends on the Prefettura: in Milan and Rome queues are longer, in small towns — faster. If more than 1,095 days have passed without an answer — you can file a court appeal (ricorso) to speed things up.
On actual timelines
“In our Prefettura in Naples friends waited 4 years. Applied in 2020, received the decreto at the end of 2024. By law they should have decided in 2 years. But there’s no one to complain to — everyone waits.”
From a community discussion on timing
How to speed up the process
After the legal term expires (1,095 days) you can file a diffida (formal demand) with the Prefettura requiring completion of the review within 30 days. If that doesn’t help — ricorso to the TAR (administrative court). Lawyer fees €1,500–3,000, but courts almost always rule in the applicant’s favor.
Dual citizenship: Italy, Russia, Ukraine
Do you need to renounce your original passport when obtaining Italian citizenship? And what obligations arise?
Good news: Italy fully allows dual citizenship. You do not need to renounce your existing passport when obtaining Italian citizenship. But your other country may have its own rules.
Italy’s position
“The Italian Republic permits dual citizenship. Renouncing your previous citizenship is not required — neither for naturalization, nor for citizenship by marriage, nor for jure sanguinis.”
From a discussion of legal aspects of dual citizenship
Russia and dual citizenship
Russia does not prohibit dual citizenship but requires notification to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) of obtaining another citizenship or residence permit within 60 days after entering the Russian Federation. The penalty for failure to notify — up to 200,000 rubles or up to 400 hours of mandatory community service.
Notification to the MVD — mandatory
If you are a Russian citizen and obtained Italian citizenship — you must notify the MVD within 60 days after your next entry into Russia. The notification form is submitted in person or via Russian Post. Failure to notify — criminal liability under Art. 330.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
Ukraine and dual citizenship
The Constitution of Ukraine formally recognizes only a single citizenship. However, in practice there is no mechanism for automatic loss of Ukrainian citizenship upon obtaining a foreign one. Ukrainians who obtained an Italian passport usually continue to use both.
Situation in 2026
Ukraine is discussing changes to citizenship legislation that may legalize dual citizenship. Monitor updates. At the moment dual citizenship is formally not recognized, but there are no practical sanctions for holding it.
Practical consequences of dual citizenship
Enter Italy/EEA with your Italian passport, enter Russia with your Russian passport. Do not present both passports at the same time.
Citizenship does not determine tax residency. Pay taxes where you live more than 183 days per year. Two citizenships do not mean double taxation.
Italy abolished compulsory military service. Russia has not. Dual citizenship does not exempt you from obligations to each country.
After obtaining Italian citizenship: oath, passport, obligations
What happens after approval of the application — and what steps are needed to get an Italian passport?
When the Ministero dell’Interno approves the application, a decreto di concessione is published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale. But that is not the end — you must take the oath and register documents.
Within 6 months after publication of the decreto you must take the oath of allegiance to the Italian Republic and Constitution. The oath takes place in the comune of residence. It is a ceremonial procedure — dress appropriately.
If you do not take the oath within 6 months — the decreto is annulled and you must start over!
After the oath, go to the anagrafe of the comune to obtain a carta d'identità as an Italian citizen. Your old residence permit is no longer needed — surrender it.
Apply for the passport at the Questura or online via the Polizia di Stato website. Cost — €116. Validity — 10 years.
If after obtaining citizenship you live outside Italy — register with AIRE (Anagrafe degli Italiani Residenti all'Estero). This gives the right to vote from abroad.
Voting rights
As an Italian citizen you can vote in parliamentary elections, referendums and European Parliament elections. If you live abroad and are registered in AIRE — you vote by mail. If in Italy — at the polling station of your residence.
After the oath
“After the oath they congratulate you and give you a paper. Then you go to the anagrafe for the carta d'identità, then to the Questura for the passport. The whole process from the oath to having the passport in hand — 2–3 weeks. And then a strange feeling — you are no longer an immigrant.”
Community member, naturalization in 2024
Obligations of an Italian citizen
Citizenship grants rights but also duties:
- Tax obligations — if you are a tax resident of Italy you must declare worldwide income
- Jury service — you may be called as a juror
- Obeying the law — a serious crime may lead to loss of citizenship if it was obtained by naturalization
- Notification of dual citizenship — to your original country (Russia — notification to the MVD)
Assegno sociale for citizens
As a citizen of Italy you are entitled to the assegno sociale (social allowance) — even without sufficient work contributions. Requirement: 10 years of residence in Italy and reaching retirement age. Amount — about €534 per month in 2026.
About assegno sociale
“To receive assegno sociale you need to have lived 10 years in Italy. This is not a contribution-based pension — it’s a minimum social payment for those lacking sufficient contributions. Citizenship is required.”
From a discussion on pension provisions
Conclusions
Main paths: naturalization (10 years residence), citizenship by marriage (2–3 years) and jure sanguinis (Italian roots). Each path has its timelines and requirements, but all are viable.
By law 1,095 days, in practice up to 4 years. Be prepared to wait. After the deadline — file a diffida and ricorso in court.
Certificate of no criminal record, B1 certificate, proof of income — all require time. Start collecting six months before applying.
Italy does not require renunciation of previous citizenship. Russia requires notification to the MVD. Ukraine formally does not recognize dual citizenship, but there are no practical sanctions.
Visa-free travel to 190+ countries, freedom to live and work in the EU, pension, transmission of citizenship to children. Worth every year of waiting.
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