Getting Italian citizenship through marriage is one of the most common ways for foreign spouses to become Italian citizens. While being married to an Italian citizen can make you eligible, the process is not automatic. You must meet specific requirements, prepare the right documents, and comply with recent updates in Italian law.
This guide explains everything you need to know about Italian citizenship by marriage: eligibility, requirements, documents, the B1 language test, and how the application process works in 2025.
Italian Citizenship by Marriage: Eligibility and Waiting Periods
Marriage to an Italian citizen can qualify you for citizenship, but there are strict rules around timing.
- Living in Italy: You may apply after 2 years of marriage, or after just 1 year if you and your spouse have minor children (biological or adopted).
- Living abroad: You may apply after 3 years of marriage, or 1.5 years if you have minor children.
Your marriage must also be legally valid and properly registered in Italy. If you married abroad, the marriage certificate must be transcribed in Italy before you can apply. Couples living outside Italy must ensure the Italian spouse is registered with AIRE (the registry of Italians abroad) and that both spouses share the same official residence.
Same-Sex Marriages and Civil Unions
Since 2016, same-sex marriages have been recognized in Italy as civil unions (unioni civili). This gives foreign partners the same right to apply for Italian citizenship as heterosexual spouses.
Although civil unions are not identical to traditional marriage in every respect—for example, joint adoption rights remain limited—foreign partners in a civil union are fully eligible to apply for citizenship under the same residency and waiting periods.
Pre-1983 Marriages
Women who married Italian men before April 26, 1983, automatically obtained Italian citizenship by law, even if the marriage later ended in divorce or the spouse passed away.
This rule reflected the gendered nature of Italian citizenship laws at the time, which gave women derivative citizenship through their husbands but denied the same right to foreign men married to Italian women.
The rule was abolished with the 1983 citizenship law reform, which created a more equal system. However, women who married before the cutoff date are still recognized as Italian citizens today, even if they never applied formally or held an Italian passport.
To prove this entitlement, they typically present:
- The marriage certificate,
- Proof of the husband’s Italian citizenship at the time of marriage,
- Any additional civil records needed to confirm status.
In these cases, the process is not an application for citizenship, but a request for recognition of a status already held since the date of marriage.
Requirements for Citizenship by Marriage
B1 Italian Language Requirement (and Exceptions)
Since December 2018, applicants must demonstrate at least a B1 (intermediate) level of Italian, certified by an approved institution.
Exemptions include:
- Individuals who completed formal education in Italy or in an Italian school abroad (with transcripts or diplomas as proof).
- Applicants with certified physical or learning disabilities that prevent language testing, supported by medical documentation.
- Notably, the B1 test is not required in recognition cases, such as women who automatically acquired Italian citizenship through marriage before April 26, 1983, or descendants applying for Italian citizenship by descent (jus sanguinis), since these applicants are not technically ‘applying’ for citizenship but rather requesting recognition of a status already held under the law.
Criminal Record Requirement
Applicants must not have serious criminal convictions or be considered a security threat to Italy. To prove this, you must provide criminal record certificates (issued within the past 6 months) from:
- Your country of birth,
- Any country where you hold citizenship,
- All countries where you have resided since age 14.
Documents Needed for Italian Citizenship by Marriage
Applications are submitted online through the Italian Ministry of Interior’s citizenship portal. You will need:
- Valid passport and ID
- Italian marriage certificate (registered in Italy)
- Birth certificate with Apostille/legalization + sworn Italian translation
- Criminal record certificates from all required countries
- Proof of residence
- Valid B1 Italian language certificate
- Payment receipt for the €250 application fee
All foreign documents must be correctly legalized or apostilled and officially translated into Italian. Errors in document preparation are the most common cause of delays.
Recent Changes in the Law
Law No. 74/2025 introduced several updates to Italian nationality rules, but the main impact on marriage applications is procedural. Consulates and municipalities are now stricter in reviewing documents and verifying eligibility.
Other key provisions—such as language requirements, processing times, and application fees—were already in force under previous reforms.
How We Can Help
Whether your goal is to live in Italy, connect with your spouse’s heritage, or enjoy the benefits of Italian dual citizenship, our team at With_Papers can guide you through every step of the process.
We offer:
- A free eligibility assessment
- Document review and preparation
- A cost and timeline estimate
- Step-by-step support through the online application process
📞 Call us at 917-310-2246 or fill out our contact form to schedule your consultation today.