In short. Italian law allows dual citizenship: since 16 August 1992 an Italian who acquires another citizenship keeps the Italian one, and the law does not ask anyone who becomes Italian by marriage or residence to give up their original citizenship. The law of the other country matters too, however: the dual citizenship Italy allows is not accepted by every state on the same terms. The 2025 reform did not abolish dual citizenship, but it restricted citizenship by descent for people born abroad who hold another citizenship.
Can you become Italian without losing your current passport? Can an Italian living abroad take a second citizenship? If you searched for “dual citizenship Italy”, this guide sets out the Italian rules in plain language: what the law says, what depends on the other country, what changed in 2025 and what holding two citizenships means in practice. Loss and renunciation of Italian citizenship are a separate subject, to be covered in a dedicated guide.
Reviewed 28 October 2026. The guide covers Italian law only and is not personalised advice: the rules of the other country must be checked with its own authorities.
Does Italian law allow dual citizenship?
Yes. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the citizenship law (Law 91/1992) recognises the right to hold more than one citizenship at the same time. Under article 11, a citizen who holds, acquires or reacquires a foreign citizenship keeps the Italian one, but may renounce it if they live, or settle, abroad. The rule applies from 16 August 1992, when the law came into force, and it leaves untouched any different provisions of international agreements (art. 26, paragraph 3).
The same approach covers people who become Italian. The requirements for citizenship by marriage (art. 5) and by residence (art. 9) do not include renouncing the citizenship of origin, and the oath in article 10 concerns loyalty to the Republic and respect for the Constitution and the laws.
The rules were different before 16 August 1992. For some people who lost Italian citizenship by 15 August 1992, a declaration of reacquisition can be made between 1 July 2025 and 31 December 2027 (art. 17): see the guide on how to reclaim Italian citizenship.
In which situations can you hold two citizenships under Italian law?
The most common situations at a glance:
| Situation | What Italian law provides | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| You are a foreigner who becomes Italian by marriage or residence | Renouncing your citizenship of origin is not among the requirements | Arts. 5, 9 and 10 |
| You are Italian and you acquire or reacquire another citizenship (from 16 August 1992) | You keep the Italian one; you may renounce it only if you live or settle abroad | Art. 11 |
| You are a minor living with a parent who acquires or reacquires Italian citizenship | You follow the parent, on the conditions set by law; at majority you may renounce, but only if you hold another citizenship (an option, not an obligation) | Art. 14 |
| You were born abroad and hold another citizenship | Since 2025, citizenship by descent is subject to the limits of art. 3-bis | Art. 3-bis |
| You lost Italian citizenship by 15 August 1992 | In some cases you can reacquire it by a declaration made between 1 July 2025 and 31 December 2027 | Art. 17 |
What depends on the other country?
This guide covers the Italian side only. Each state decides for itself who its citizens are: some may not accept dual citizenship, or may accept it only on certain conditions, and international agreements may set special rules. We do not list countries, because the rules change and should be read at the source.
Before you apply, it is therefore sensible to ask the authorities of the other country, for example its embassy or consulate, whether acquiring Italian citizenship makes you lose or restricts your original citizenship, and which obligations remain, for example on military service. The same applies the other way round: if you are Italian and want to take another citizenship, check that state’s rules first. Remember that renouncing Italian citizenship is a formal act, possible only in the cases provided by law.
What changed in 2025 for people born abroad?
Decree-Law no. 36 of 28 March 2025, converted by Law no. 74 of 23 May 2025, added article 3-bis to Law 91/1992. It does not ban the dual citizenship Italy allows; it restricts citizenship by descent (ius sanguinis). A person born abroad who holds another citizenship is treated as never having acquired Italian citizenship, even if born before the reform, unless an exception applies. The main exceptions, which are alternatives to one another:
- a recognition application filed, an appointment communicated or a court case started by 23:59 (Rome time) on 27 March 2025;
- a parent, adoptive parent or grandparent who holds, or at death held, only Italian citizenship;
- a citizen parent or adoptive parent who lived in Italy for at least two continuous years after acquiring citizenship and before the child was born or adopted.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, article 3-bis creates no new route of transmission and does not repair a line of descent that was already broken. The Constitutional Court has not declared it unconstitutional (judgment 63/2026). By order 147/2026, however, it asked the Court of Justice of the European Union whether article 9 of the Treaty on European Union and article 20 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union preclude a rule like this (case C-816/26), and it suspended its own proceedings. Requirements and documents are in the guide to Italian citizenship by descent.
Dual citizenship Italy: what are the practical effects?
This is what the Italian official pages say. For obligations towards the other country, its own law applies.
- AIRE. An Italian citizen who settles abroad must register with AIRE, the register of Italians resident abroad (art. 6, Law 470/1988). Those who go abroad for no more than 12 months, for example, do not have to. According to the Ministry’s page, registration is free and is done through the consulate; the same page points to new provisions in Law 11/2026, so check your consulate’s current instructions. The page lists no exception for people who also hold another citizenship.
- Voting and consular services. AIRE registration is what lets you vote from abroad, as a rule by post, in general elections and referendums, and in European Parliament elections at the consular polling stations in EU countries. It is also the basis for consular services and for identity and travel documents issued by the consulate. Not holding an Italian passport does not make you lose your citizenship.
- Military service. Compulsory military service has been suspended in Italy since 1 January 2005. Serving in the armed forces of a foreign state leads to loss of Italian citizenship only if, after a notice from the Italian Government, you do not leave that service within the time set (art. 12, paragraph 1). In a war with that state stricter rules apply (paragraph 2): when the war ends, among others, anyone who served without being obliged to, or who voluntarily acquired that state’s citizenship, loses Italian citizenship. Military duties towards the other country depend on its own law.
- Tax. As a rule, citizenship does not decide tax residence. For income tax, article 2 of the TUIR (Italy’s income tax code), in the text amended by Legislative Decree 209/2023, treats as resident anyone who for most of the year has residence, domicile or presence in Italy, and presumes resident, unless proven otherwise, anyone registered in the municipal population register for most of the year. The same article, however, also presumes resident, unless proven otherwise, Italian citizens removed from the municipal population register who have moved to states or territories other than those identified by decree of the Minister of Economy and Finance. Other states may apply different rules, so for tax questions ask a tax adviser.
When is it worth taking legal advice?
The general rules are enough to find your bearings, but some cases have to be read on the documents:
- you acquired another citizenship before 16 August 1992 and do not know whether you lost the Italian one;
- you were born abroad with another citizenship and want to know whether article 3-bis affects you;
- the other country asks you to renounce Italian citizenship, or its law changes your position after naturalisation.
How do you become Italian if you already hold another citizenship?
Each route has its own requirements. To see every way of acquiring or reacquiring citizenship, go to the page on the types of Italian citizenship. To get your bearings:
- you have lived in Italy for years: citizenship by residence, with the B1 level explained in the guide to the B1 Italian certificate;
- you are married to an Italian citizen: citizenship by marriage;
- you were born in Italy to foreign parents: citizenship for people born in Italy;
- you have minor children: citizenship for minor children.
Frequently asked questions
Does Italy allow dual citizenship?
Yes. Under Law 91/1992 a citizen who holds, acquires or reacquires a foreign citizenship keeps the Italian one, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists multiple citizenship among the principles of the law. The rule applies from 16 August 1992, subject to international agreements. The law of the other country also matters.
Do I have to give up my citizenship to become Italian?
Italian law does not list renouncing your original citizenship among the requirements for citizenship by marriage (art. 5) or residence (art. 9); the oath concerns loyalty to the Republic and respect for the Constitution and the laws. Your own country, however, may make you lose or restrict its citizenship, so ask its authorities before you apply.
If I take another citizenship, do I lose my Italian citizenship?
From 16 August 1992, as a rule, no: article 11 lets you keep it, and it is lost through formal renunciation or in the few cases set by law, subject to international agreements. For acquisitions before that date the rules were different, and reacquisition may be possible.
Did the 2025 reform abolish dual citizenship?
No. Decree-Law 36/2025, converted by Law 74/2025, added article 3-bis, which limits citizenship by descent for people born abroad who hold another citizenship, with exceptions. Article 11 remains valid, and citizenship by marriage or residence does not require renouncing your original citizenship.
Do dual citizens have to do military service in Italy?
As of 28 October 2026, there are no calls for compulsory military service in Italy: it has been suspended since 1 January 2005. Military duties towards the other country depend on its law, and under Italian law (art. 12) loss of citizenship concerns only limited cases.
Official sources
- Dual citizenship, loss and renunciation – Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Italian text)
- Law 91/1992, consolidated text including the 2025 reform – Consulate General of Italy in Cologne (Italian text)
- First operating instructions on Law 74/2025 – Ministry of the Interior (Italian text)
- Judgment no. 63/2026 on art. 3-bis of Law 91/1992 – Constitutional Court (Italian text)
- Order no. 147/2026, reference to the Court of Justice of the EU – Constitutional Court (Italian text)
- Registry of Italians resident abroad (AIRE) – Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Italian text)
- Military service under Italian law – Embassy of Italy in Athens (Italian text)
- Legislative Decree 209/2023, art. 1 (tax residence of individuals), Gazzetta Ufficiale no. 301 – Gazzetta Ufficiale (Italian text)
The sources were consulted on 28 October 2026. The rules of the other country, court decisions and consulate instructions can change: always check the latest instructions of the competent office.
How can SH Immigration Specialists help?
We can help you work out which route to Italian citizenship suits your case, prepare the documents and follow the application with the competent offices, while the rules of the other country must be asked of its own authorities. Legal advice, appeals and representation are handled by the lawyers of the SH Immigration Specialists law firm. The outcome depends on the competent authorities. For an assessment, contact us.
This content provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.
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