Given how long it takes to complete an Italian citizenship application, and the very long waits many people have to endure, it is natural to wonder what stage your application has reached.
When you check the Ministry of the Interior portal, you find messages such as:
- “The application is under istruttoria (examination) at the central offices.”
- “The decreto conclusivo (final decree) of the procedure is being prepared.”
- “The procedure has been completed and the related decision has been sent to the competent bodies for the consequent formalities and determinations.”
But what do these words mean?
It is hard to understand exactly which stage you are at when you receive these messages. Yet it is very important to know.
If you want to send a sollecito (formal reminder) because you have been waiting years for citizenship, you need to know which office is handling your application. Otherwise, sending emails will be pointless.
To know exactly whom to contact, you first need to understand how the procedure works, from when you submit the online form to when you take the oath and receive citizenship.
Here are the stages of an application for Italian citizenship by residence.
What happens in steps 1 and 2 at the Prefettura?
“Checks are under way on the information gathered concerning clarifications and additions with other offices involved in the procedure”
Portal message in Italian: “Sono in corso verifiche istruttorie sugli elementi acquisiti relativi a chiarimenti e integrazioni con altri uffici coinvolti nel procedimento”.
First of all, you submit the application online. You fill in the forms, attach the documents (in PDF) and pay a €16 marca da bollo (revenue stamp) and a €250 fee.
The data is stored in CIVES, the IT system that gathers all the information about you. This is the istruttoria (examination) stage, carried out by the Prefettura (Prefecture, the local office of the Interior Ministry), the Questura (police immigration office) and the Ministry of Justice.
What does step 3 mean?
“Investigative and background information has been gathered and is subject to the checks needed to conclude the procedure”
Portal message in Italian: “Sono stati acquisiti elementi istruttori e cognitivi, oggetti di necessari accertamenti utili alla definizione del procedimento”.
This means that the offices have collected all the relevant data.
What does step 4 mean?
“The final decree of the procedure is being prepared”
Portal message in Italian: “È in corso di predisposizione il decreto conclusivo del procedimento”.
Don’t be misled by the word “final”. It does not mean this is the last stage, but that the Prefettura is about to give its final opinion before sending everything to Rome.
Many people remain stuck at step 1/2 for years and then suddenly find themselves at step 4. In fact, the delays are due to the huge number of applications swamping the Prefetture.
Most applications get stuck at the Prefettura, because the preliminary checks have found problems with the various requirements (income, residence, certificates, etc.).
Once the Prefettura sends the application to the Ministry of the Interior, the procedure is completed relatively quickly. Only those flagged as dangerous in the State’s classified records will face problems after step 4.
What happens in step 5 at the Ministry of the Interior?
“The citizenship procedure has been completed and the related decision has been sent to the competent bodies for the consequent formalities and determinations”
Portal message in Italian: “La procedura di Cittadinanza è conclusa e il relativo provvedimento è stato inviato agli Organi competenti per i conseguenti adempimenti e determinazioni”.
The application is now in the hands of the Ministry of the Interior: Department for Civil Liberties and Immigration – Central Directorate for Citizenship.
Together with the Department of Public Security, checks are carried out on files covered by State secrecy to assess whether the individual poses a danger.
If there are no problems, the file goes to the President of the Republic, who signs the decree granting citizenship.
What does step 6 mean?
“The examination has been concluded favourably; the decision granting citizenship is being sent to the Prefettura, which will notify it. If you live abroad, the decree will be sent to the Consular Authority”
Portal message in Italian: “L’istruttoria si è conclusa favorevolmente; è in corso di trasmissione il provvedimento di concessione alla Prefettura che ne curerà la notifica. Se risiede all’estero, il decreto sarà inviato all’Autorità Consolare”.
You can breathe a sigh of relief. You have almost made it. Citizenship has already been granted to you and you are just waiting for notification from the Prefettura (or from the Embassy, if you live abroad).
What does step 7 mean?
“Application finalised. You will receive a communication from the Prefettura/Consulate”
Portal message in Italian: “Pratica definita. Riceverà una comunicazione dalla Prefettura/Consolato”.
From now on, it is up to you. You have 6 months to take the oath at the Comune (town hall). After that, citizenship will be granted to you.
What else should you know?
Remember that applications for citizenship by marriage are handled entirely by the competent Prefettura.
If you have been waiting years for your citizenship, rely on us to send a reminder to the competent authority and receive your documents promptly.
This content provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.
