Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published a detailed list of five mandatory documents that foreign nationals married to Italian citizens must submit when applying for citizenship. The list, available on the ministry's official website, applies to all applicants, whether they reside in Italy or abroad.
Required Documents for Italian Citizenship
The first document is a birth certificate from the applicant's country of origin. This certificate must meet Italy's legalisation or apostille and translation requirements. In cases where obtaining such a document is genuinely impossible, a certificate issued by the diplomatic-consular authority of the country of origin, confirming the applicant's full personal details, will be accepted instead.
Secondly, applicants must provide a criminal record certificate. This certificate must cover not only the country of origin but also any third countries where the applicant has lived or holds citizenship.
Thirdly, a photocopy of a valid passport or identity card is required. Fourthly, applicants must submit proof of payment of the EUR 250 application fee.
Language Proficiency Requirement
The fifth document is a certificate confirming Italian language proficiency at a minimum of B1 level under the Common European Framework of Reference. Only qualifications issued by five recognised institutions are accepted: the University for Foreigners of Siena, the University for Foreigners of Perugia, Roma Tre University, the University for Foreigners "Dante Alighieri" of Reggio Calabria, and the Dante Alighieri Society.
However, not everyone is required to submit a language certificate. Those who have signed an integration agreement under Italy's Consolidated Immigration Act, holders of an EU long-term residence permit, and individuals who obtained an educational qualification from a recognised institution accredited by the Italian Ministry of Education are exempt.
Additional Exemptions and Procedures
Furthermore, applicants whose ability to learn a language is severely limited due to age, illness, or disability, as certified by a public health authority, are also exempt, following Constitutional Court Ruling no. 25/2025.
Once the online application is submitted, the applicant will be called in by the relevant diplomatic-consular office for identification and to present the original copies of all uploaded documents. EU citizens are permitted to replace the marriage certificate extract, family status certificate, and the Italian spouse's citizenship certificate with a self-certification under Presidential Decree no. 445/2000. Non-EU applicants may only skip those same documents if the consular office already holds them on file.
According to the ministry, these requirements aim to streamline the process while ensuring that all applicants meet the legal criteria for citizenship. The fee of EUR 250 is non-refundable and must be paid before the application is processed.
Applicants are advised to check the official ministry website for any updates or changes to the requirements. The ministry also reminds applicants that incomplete submissions may lead to delays or rejection.
In related news, Legit.ng previously reported that Australia's Department of Home Affairs has outlined the residence requirement foreigners must meet before applying for citizenship. Applicants must have lived in Australia on a valid visa for a number of years before the date they apply, with specific rules on time spent outside Australia.
