Naturalisation based on a qualifying period of lawful residence and integration in Italy.
Residency to citizenship
- 01Existing legal residence
- 02EU long-term residencefrom 5 years
- 03Italian citizenshipusually 10 years
Each stage has its own eligibility requirements.
- Benefits
- A possible grant of Italian citizenship, followed by the oath and passport application.
- Eligibility
- The ordinary residence period is ten years for non-EU nationals, shorter periods apply to specified categories.
- Requirements
- Establish lawful residence, identity, income, criminal history and the applicable Italian-language qualification. The competent authority assesses the application under the relevant naturalisation category.
YOUR LONG-TERM PATHWAY
Residency to citizenship
- 01
Existing legal residence
This service is for people already building or completing the qualifying residence period. It is not an entry visa.
- 02
EU long-term residence · from 5 years
Usually available after five years of eligible lawful residence, with adequate income and the required Italian-language evidence.
- 03
Italian citizenship · usually 10 years
For most non-EU nationals, naturalisation requires ten years of legal residence. B1 Italian, qualifying income, a satisfactory criminal record and the nationality assessment are separate requirements, shorter periods apply to certain groups.
Permanent residence and nationality are separate applications. An investment or elective-residence permit is not a direct citizenship programme.
Each stage requires its own qualifying conditions and decision. The years shown are eligibility periods, not approval times.
