In short. Citizenship through marriage or civil union is assessed under the periods and conditions in Article 5 of Law 91/1992. The relationship and other requirements must be checked through the decision under the rules in force.
Italian citizenship by marriage is open to the foreign spouse of an Italian citizen after 2 years of legal residence in Italy. If the couple lives abroad, the wait is 3 years from the wedding. Both periods are halved if you have children born to or adopted by the couple.
You also need Italian at B1 level and no serious criminal convictions. The rules are set out in Article 5 of Law no. 91 of 5 February 1992. This guide covers the requirements, special cases and the mistakes that most often lead to a refusal.
For an overview of every route to becoming Italian, start with our complete guide to Italian citizenship (in Italian) (in Italian).
Who can apply for Italian citizenship by marriage?
The foreign or stateless spouse of an Italian citizen can apply. The same route is open to partners in a civil union with an Italian citizen, as long as the union is registered in Italy.
Your nationality does not matter. What matters is that Italy recognises the marriage. If you married abroad, the certificate must be registered with the competent Italian municipality before you apply.
Your spouse may be Italian by birth or by naturalisation. If they became Italian after the wedding, the 2 years start from the date of their citizenship oath.
What are the requirements?
You must meet the requirements when you apply and keep meeting them until the decree is issued. The main ones are:
- 2 years of legal residence in Italy after the marriage, if you live in Italy;
- 3 years from the wedding date, if you live abroad;
- half those periods (1 year or 18 months) if you have children born or adopted together;
- a marriage that is still valid, with no legal separation, divorce or annulment;
- Italian language skills at B1 level or above;
- none of the convictions or security grounds listed in Article 6.
Unlike citizenship by residence, there is no minimum income requirement for this route. If marriage does not apply to you, read our guide to citizenship by residence and income thresholds.
What does legal residence mean?
Legal residence means being registered with your municipality’s registry office while holding a valid residence permit. The period must be continuous. Being struck off the registry as untraceable can break it.
How do you prove B1 Italian?
Most applicants upload a B1 certificate from a recognised body. Holders of an EU long-term residence permit and people who signed the integration agreement are exempt. See our guide to the B1 Italian test for citizenship for details.
What happens if your spouse dies or you separate?
Legal separation, divorce or annulment ends your right to citizenship by marriage. This applies even after you have filed. The marriage must still exist when the decree is adopted.
The death of the Italian spouse no longer blocks the application. The Constitutional Court settled this in ruling no. 195 of 2022. If you had already met the requirements, you can still become a citizen after being widowed.
Moving abroad after you apply does not cancel the file. You need to inform the Prefecture, which transfers the case to the competent Italian consulate.
Which documents do you need and what does it cost?
Applications are filed online through the Ministry of the Interior portal. In short, you need:
- a marriage record issued by the Italian municipality;
- your birth certificate, legalised or apostilled and translated into Italian;
- criminal record certificates from your home country and any other country you lived in;
- a B1 certificate or a document that exempts you;
- an ID document and your residence permit;
- Fees and contributions depend on the permit, procedure and competent office. Verify the current amount and payment method through official channels before paying.
The foreign criminal record certificate is valid for 6 months and must be valid on the filing date. For legalisation, translations and name mismatches, see our checklist of documents for Italian citizenship.
How does the procedure work and how long does it take?
If you live in Italy, you file online and your local Prefecture handles the case. If you live abroad, you apply through the Italian consulate. Once the file passes the initial checks, it gets a reference code (K10/C for marriage).
By law the authorities have 24 months to decide, extendable to 36 months. This applies to applications filed from 20 December 2020. Our guide to citizenship processing times explains how to track your file.
The decree is notified by the Prefecture or consulate. You then have 6 months to take the oath at your town hall. You become an Italian citizen the day after the oath.
Do your minor children become Italian too?
Minor children who live with you become Italian at the same time. Since Law 74/2025, however, there is an extra condition. The child must have lived legally in Italy for at least 2 continuous years, or since birth if younger than 2.
Which mistakes lead to a refusal?
Article 6 lists the grounds that bar citizenship by marriage:
- a conviction for crimes against the personality of the State;
- a conviction for an intentional crime carrying a maximum sentence of at least 3 years;
- a foreign sentence above 1 year for a non-political crime, if recognised in Italy;
- proven reasons of national security.
Rehabilitation removes the effect of a conviction. If criminal proceedings for these offences are pending, the application is put on hold until a final judgment.
Many refusals, however, come from practical errors. Typical ones are an unregistered foreign marriage, an expired criminal record certificate or an invalid B1 certificate. Names spelled differently across documents also cause trouble.
Before refusing, the authorities must send you a notice with their reasons, and you have 10 days to reply. Read our guide to the citizenship pre-refusal notice. After a refusal under Article 6, you can reapply after 5 years.
Why work with an immigration specialist?
Citizenship by marriage looks simple, but every detail matters. One wrong date or an unlegalised document can cost you months.
For administrative and document assistance, send a request through the contact page. SH does not provide legal advice or representation; no outcome is guaranteed.
Scope of assistance
This content provides general information; it is not legal advice and does not guarantee an outcome. SH Immigration Specialists provides administrative and document assistance. Legal advice, appeals and representation must be handled by a qualified professional.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a minimum income for citizenship by marriage?
No. The law sets no income threshold for citizenship by marriage. Income requirements apply to citizenship by residence.
Can I apply if we live abroad?
As a general rule, the law provides three years where the couple lives abroad, halved where the spouses have children born to or adopted by them, subject to Article 5 of Law 91/1992. Check registration and requirements on the official portal.
Does a civil union count like a marriage?
Yes. A foreign partner in a civil union with an Italian citizen can apply on the same terms as a spouse, provided the union is registered in Italy.
What if my Italian spouse dies during the process?
The marriage or civil union generally must continue until the decree. The effect of a spouse’s death or other changes, including any children, depends on current law and the case; seek qualified advice.
Can I reapply after a refusal?
A new application may be possible, but first review the decision, refusal reasons and any deadlines. A qualified professional can assess the case.
Official sources
- Law 91/1992, art. 5 — Normattiva (Italian legislation)
- Ministry of the Interior citizenship portal
Sources checked on 27 September 2026. Laws, procedures and fees can change; verify the current version before filing an application.
