The process of applying for Italian citizenship requires the submission of a number of specific documents. On this page you will find a complete and up-to-date list of ALL DOCUMENTS REQUIRED to apply for Italian citizenship.
Documents Required for Applying for Italian Citizenship Based on Residence
Qui trovi una lista completa e aggiornata dei documenti necessari per richiedere la cittadinanza italiana per residenza.
- SPID credentials to be obtained from the post office.
- € 250.00 bulletin and € 16.00 revenue stamp to be paid on the website of the Ministry of the Interior with PagoPA.
- Birth certificate legalized and accompanied by legalized translation
- Criminal record certificate from the country of origin (and any third countries of residence) – VALID FOR 6 MONTHS – legalized and accompanied by a certified translation (not required if the applicant can demonstrate that they established residence in Italy before turning 14 and did not subsequently transfer their residence abroad prior to submitting the application). However, a very small number of Prefectures require a criminal record certificate regardless of the age at which the applicant established residence in Italy; our firm will be able to provide you with guidance depending on the relevant Prefecture.
- Photocopy of passport and ID card
- Statement of income received in the 3 tax years prior to the submission of the application
- Photocopy of residence permit (long-term resident permit not required) or permanent residence certificate for EU citizens
- Photocopy of ID card and social security number of all cohabiting family members
- EU/EC Long-Term Residence Permit or a qualification issued by a public or equal school upon completion of an educational cycle or attestation of knowledge of the Italian language Level B1
- Historical certificate of residence
Please note: If you meet these requirements to submit your application, you must also have the QUESTIONNAIRE FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS.
The questionnaire is designed to assess your level of integration. We recommend that you seek assistance from our firm, because the more you can demonstrate the level of integration you have achieved, the sooner you can become an Italian citizen.
Documents for applying for Italian citizenship by marriage
- SPID credentials to be obtained from the post office.
- € 250.00 bulletin and € 16.00 revenue stamp to be paid on the website of the Ministry of the Interior with PagoPA.
- Birth certificate legalized and accompanied by legalized translation
- Criminal record certificate from the country of origin, VALID FOR 6 MONTHS (and from any third countries of residence), legalized and accompanied by a certified translation (not required if the applicant can demonstrate that they established residence in Italy before turning 14 and did not subsequently transfer their residence abroad prior to submitting the application). However, a very small number of Prefectures require the criminal record certificate regardless of the age at which the applicant established residence in Italy; our firm will be able to provide you with guidance based on the relevant Prefecture.
- Photocopy of passport and ID card
- Photocopy of residence permit (long-term resident permit is not required) or permanent residence certificate for EU citizens.
- Photocopy of ID card and social security number of all cohabiting family members
- EU/EC Long-Term Residence Permit or a qualification issued by a public or equal school at the end of an educational cycle or certificate of knowledge of the Italian language Level B1. If you do not have the B1 Italian language test, at avvocatocittadinanza.it you will find qualified teachers who will help you pass the language exam with confidence and speed.
- Certificate/deed of marriage to Italian citizen (+ transcription in Italian registers if marriage contracted abroad) and Identification Document of Italian spouse (if by citizenship by marriage).
Please note: If you meet these requirements to submit your application, you must also have the QUESTIONNAIRE FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS.
The questionnaire is designed to assess your level of integration. We recommend that you seek assistance from our firm, because the more you can demonstrate the level of integration you have achieved, the sooner you can become an Italian citizen.
Certificates required to apply for Italian citizenship
In order to properly submit the citizenship application, it is necessary to retrieve certificates from the country of origin that must be translated and legalized at the diplomatic representation of the country of origin: the CERTIFICATE OF BIRTH and the CERTIFICATE OF CRIMINAL PREVENTS (unless the applicant can prove that he or she established first residence before the age of 14).
Birth Certificate
A birth certificate is a document that has no expiration date, in which the applicant's place of birth, father's name, and mother's name are indicated.
Criminal history certificate
A criminal history record certificate, also called a criminal record certificate, is a document showing any criminal record the client may have had in the country of origin.
It is valid for 6 months from the date of issue (not from the date of legalization, which is obviously later than the date of issue).
Methods of legalization of certificates
It is necessary to rely on an Italian Citizenship Lawyer to check for each individual state, what is the legalization mode provided to enforce the certificate before the Italian public administrations (in our case the Prefecture and the Ministry that have to evaluate the client's citizenship application).
Mode of legalization:
- Legalization and translation at the Italian diplomatic representation in the country of origin
Diplomatic missions are defined as Italian embassies and consulates abroad. Usually the embassy always has jurisdiction for legalization and translation and is established at the state capital. The consulate, on the other hand, is usually located in a secondary city other than the capital city and may or may not be competent for translation and legalization of certificates. This information can be extrapolated from the institutional websites of embassies and consulates in the sections devoted to services provided. Usually one will find indications of specific offices with specific email and telephone contacts regarding legalization.
- Apostille: The apostille is a certification that validates, with full legal value, at the international level the authenticity of any public act, and in particular of a notarial act, or administrative document. The authorities responsible for issuing the Apostille is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Other methods provided as an exception to the previous two: turn to Avvocatocittadinanza.it to make sure you proceed in the safest and fastest way.
N.B. In cases where certificates are to be issued abroad if double legalization is not to be carried out in the manner mentioned above, it is possible to legalize the original certificate and proceed with the translation and asseveration of the document in Italy through sworn translators. Sworn affidavit consists of a legal attestation of the translator's signature on the translated document, as well as of the authenticity of the signature itself. That is, it is a further validation of the signature that serves to certify the provenance of the documents and the qualification of the person who signed them. The asseveration is carried out at a designated office of the court, called the Office of Asseveration of Expert Reports and Translations.
When Certificates Can Be Issued in Italy
For some countries, there are exceptions, so you can also obtain your birth certificate and criminal record certificate in Italy at your country’s diplomatic missions. For more information, see the SUPERTABLE.
The attorneys on our team will be able to provide you with information on the specific exemptions applicable to your country, updated for the current year.
Affidavits and Substitute Declarations
In some cases, when a foreign certificate cannot be produced or is particularly difficult to obtain, it may be necessary to consider whether to use affidavits, substitute declarations, or alternative documentation.
Please note: These documents are not always sufficient, and they are not always accepted by the Prefecture or the Ministry.
For this reason, it is important to determine on a case-by-case basis whether the affidavit can be used, whether it must be accompanied by other documentation, and whether it is suitable for the specific application for Italian citizenship.
Do you have questions about which documents to upload?
Foreign certificates, translations, legalizations, and Apostilles must be in order before you submit your application.
Answers to frequently asked questions
Being born in Italy to foreign parents, is a criminal record certificate necessary?
No, if you have always maintained residence in Italy
If my criminal certificate already has an apostille, is further legalization still necessary?
Yes, there must be a double apostille or, alternatively, sworn translation by a sworn Italian translator.
Which countries allow the criminal certificate to be obtained in Italy?
Download this table in PDF format, in which you will find by list the states that provide the possibility of obtaining the certificate also in Italy at their respective diplomatic representations.
Where can people take the Italian language proficiency test?
At institutions accredited by the University for Foreigners of Siena, the University for Foreigners of Perugia, the University of Roma Tre and the Dante Alighieri Society as certifying bodies.
Is it mandatory to take a course to pass the test?
No.
If my income for the two years prior to applying for citizenship is insufficient, can I average it with my last income which is more than sufficient?
No.
How can I prove income if I work as a caregiver?
Through the declaration in lieu of CU issued by your employer.
Should I consider net or gross income?
The minimum income threshold to be considered is the exempt income threshold for health care cost-sharing purposes.
To which bank account should the citizenship contribution be paid?
Current regulations stipulate that the contribution payment must be made online at the Ministry's portal via the PAGOPA payment system and through SPID.
What is the procedure to apply for a contribution refund?
Through the appropriate form, indicating the reason for the request for reimbursement. The signed form should be sent by registered mail to the Competent Prefecture enclosing the original of the contribution payment.
Why turn to the AvvocatoCittadinanza.it team?
Turning to a firm like ours means getting the fastest and safest citizenship possible; our mission goes beyond just legal assistance.
The method we invented "Citizenship without unnecessary risks" allows us to help you obtain citizenship as quickly and safely as possible, offering professional assistance all along the way: from the collection of documents for Italian citizenship, throughout the whole process, to the swearing in.
Many citizenship applications are rejected because of problems with documentation-some foreign nationals are denied citizenship because they submitted documents:
- incomplete
- not updated
- expired
- unauthenticated
Among the many mistakes that can be made when applying for citizenship some are:
- Errors in uploading income files.
- Errors in filling in mandatory fields
- Typographical errors
- Errors in the "Residency Statements" section for the type of citizenship for which you are applying
