Italy (IT)
Italy is a parliamentary republic of 20 regions stretching from the Alpine peaks of the Dolomites to the sun-baked coasts of Sicily and Sardinia, celebrated worldwide for its unparalleled Renaissance art and architecture, UNESCO-laden historic cities from Rome to Florence and Venice, world-defining cuisine and wines, passionate football culture, and a relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle that has drawn expats, artists, and retirees for centuries.
Capital: Rome
Region: Europe
Language: Italian
Currency: EUR (€)
Cost of living: Moderate (index 65)
Emergency: 112
Premium
Citizenship & Permanent Residency
Long-term settlement options in Italy.
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Permanent Residency
Name
Long-term EU Residence Permit
Eligibility
Non-EU/EEA nationals who have legally and continuously resided in Italy for at least 5 years with a valid Permesso di Soggiorno. EU citizens can register permanent residence after 5 years (Attestato di Soggiorno Permanente at the Comune).
Duration
Indefinite (Permesso CE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo — time-unlimited)
Requirements
- ✓Minimum 5 years of continuous legal residence in Italy with a valid Permesso di Soggiorno
- ✓Absence from Italy must not exceed 6 consecutive months in a year, or 10 months in total over 5 years
- ✓Sufficient economic resources: income at or above the INPS social pension threshold (€7,080.41/year in 2026 for a single person)
- ✓Adequate housing (proven by rental contract or property deed)
- ✓No criminal record in Italy
- ✓Italian language proficiency certificate at A2 level minimum (or higher depending on prefettura — B1 is commonly requested)
- ✓Application submitted at the Questura
The Permesso CE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo is one of the most valuable immigration documents in Italy — grants the right to work and live in Italy indefinitely, with near-EU-citizen rights, and can be used as a basis for EU long-term residence mobility to other EU states. Time spent on some permit types (student, temporary) may not fully count. Always consult an immigration lawyer before applying.
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Citizenship
Name
Italian Citizenship by Naturalisation
Eligibility
Non-EU nationals: 10 years of continuous legal residence. EU citizens: 4 years. Stateless persons: 5 years. Foreign spouses of Italian citizens: 2 years of residence in Italy (or 3 years abroad) after marriage. Refugees: 5 years.
Duration
Permanent
Requirements
- ✓10 years (non-EU) / 4 years (EU) of continuous legal residence in Italy
- ✓No criminal convictions in Italy or abroad (serious crimes: automatic bar; minor offences reviewed case-by-case)
- ✓Minimum annual income: €8,263.31 for single; €11,362.05 for couples; +€516.46 per child (2026 thresholds) — or pension income above the social pension threshold
- ✓Italian language proficiency: B1 level or higher (CILS, CELI, or equivalent certificate from Dante Alighieri, Università per Stranieri) — requirement introduced 2018
- ✓Application submitted online via portale.interno.gov.it (MITE portal)
- ✓Biometric appointment at Prefettura
- ✓Renunciation of previous citizenship may be required by your home country (Italy allows dual citizenship)
Processing time for naturalisation has historically been extremely long — officially 730 days (2 years) but in practice 3–6 years due to backlog. Reforms in 2024 (DL 158/2023) aimed to speed up processing via the new online portal and digitised records. Italy allows dual citizenship — you do not need to renounce Italian citizenship to retain your original nationality, and vice versa (subject to your home country's rules). The citizenship oath is taken before the Sindaco (mayor) of your Comune.
Other Routes to Residency & Citizenship
Italian Citizenship by Descent (Jure Sanguinis) — Law 74/2025
Eligibility
Law 74/2025, effective 24 May 2025, significantly restricted Italian citizenship by descent. Claims are now limited to two generations: an applicant must have an Italian citizen parent or grandparent. Claims through great-grandparents or more remote ancestors no longer qualify unless: the applicant's parent (or adoptive parent) resided continuously in Italy for at least 2 years after acquiring Italian citizenship, and this residence occurred before the applicant's birth or adoption. This is a major break from the previous system that allowed claims going back unlimited generations.
Duration / Outcome
Permanent
Requirements
- ✓Italian citizen parent or grandparent (two-generation limit under Law 74/2025)
- ✓For great-grandparent claims (transitional): applicant's parent must have resided in Italy for at least 2 consecutive years after acquiring Italian citizenship and before the applicant's birth/adoption
- ✓Birth, marriage, death and naturalisation certificates in a documented chain to the Italian ancestor
- ✓Proof that no link in the chain renounced Italian citizenship before passing it to the next generation
- ✓Application at the Italian Comune where the ancestor last resided (if in Italy) or at the Italian consulate in your country of residence
- ✓All documents apostilled and sworn-translated into Italian
Law 74/2025 (effective 24 May 2025) ended the "infinite generations" Italian jure sanguinis system that previously allowed Italian-Americans, Italian-Brazilians and Italian-Argentines to claim citizenship going back 4–6+ generations. The two-generation cap dramatically reduces eligibility for much of the global Italian diaspora. Claims already in progress before the law's effective date may be assessed under transitional provisions — consult a specialist jure sanguinis lawyer immediately if you have a pending application or are evaluating eligibility.
Italian Citizenship by Marriage
Eligibility
Non-Italian spouses of Italian citizens. Residence requirement: 2 years of legal residence in Italy (or 3 years abroad after marriage). Civil union (unione civile) partners have the same rights since Law 76/2016.
Duration / Outcome
Permanent
Requirements
- ✓2 years of legal residence in Italy after marriage OR 3 years of marriage while residing abroad
- ✓Marriage certificate
- ✓Proof of Italian spouse's citizenship
- ✓Italian language B1 certificate
- ✓No criminal record
- ✓Application via portale.interno.gov.it
Timeframe reduced to 1 year of residence in Italy if the couple has children (natural or adopted). Residing abroad path (3 years): application at Italian consulate. This is the fastest naturalisation path for those married to Italian citizens. Note: periods of residence on student permits do NOT count towards the 2-year requirement. IMPORTANT — DDL S.1450/2025 (still under Senate review as of mid-2026, not yet enacted) proposes to eliminate the "residing abroad" 3-year path and require physical residence in Italy for all marriage-route applicants. If enacted, applicants abroad would lose eligibility. Monitor progress and consider applying sooner rather than later if currently eligible under the abroad route.
🌍 Dual Citizenship
✓
Dual citizenship is allowed — Italy fully allows dual (and multiple) citizenship — Italian law does not require you to renounce Italian nationality upon acquiring another, and vice versa. Many Italian-Americans, Italian-Australians and other diaspora hold both nationalities. Your home country's rules may differ — notably the USA does not formally recognise dual citizenship but has not stripped citizenship for naturalising abroad. Always check your home country's rules before proceeding.
Citizenship & Permanent Residency
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