Applying for Italian Citizenship Through Marriage: 2026 Updated Legal Guide

How to apply for Italian citizenship through marriage? A comprehensive legal guide for Turkish citizens on citizenship through an Italian spouse, including application deadlines, B1 Italian language requirement, documents, fees, reasons for rejection, oath, and dual citizenship.

Entrance

Application for Italian citizenship through marriage is a special route that allows foreigners married to Italian citizens to acquire Italian citizenship if they meet certain conditions. In Italian practice, this application "cittadinanza italiana per matrimonio" or, in the case of civil unions, "cittadinanza per unione civile" . For Turkish citizens, this route is extremely important in terms of acquiring citizenship through a valid marriage established in Italy or abroad with an Italian citizen spouse.

However, Italian citizenship through marriage is not automatically acquired upon the establishment of the marriage. Marrying an Italian citizen does not automatically grant the foreign spouse an Italian passport. The applicant must fulfill certain requirements, including the validity and continuation of the marriage, a clean criminal record, B1 level Italian language proficiency, document-apostille-translation requirements, and completion of the electronic application procedure.

Italian diplomatic missions explain that citizenship applications through marriage or civil partnerships are processed in accordance with Articles 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the Italian Citizenship Act No. 91 of 5 February 1992; furthermore, civil partnerships can only be considered for application if they are registered in the population registers of the relevant Italian municipality.

Therefore, applying for Italian citizenship through marriage is a multi-stage process that must be considered not only in terms of family law, but also immigration law, citizenship law, criminal law, administrative law, population registry, and international document law.

What is Italian Citizenship Through Marriage?

Italian citizenship through marriage is the process by which a foreigner or stateless person married to an Italian citizen acquires Italian citizenship, provided they meet the legal requirements. This differs from citizenship by lineage. In citizenship by lineage, the claim is based on birth or Italian ancestry. In citizenship by marriage, the right to citizenship is based on the established and ongoing marriage or civil partnership with an Italian citizen spouse.

This application also differs from citizenship by residence. In citizenship by residence, a foreigner usually applies for citizenship after legally residing in Italy for many years. In citizenship by marriage, the time requirement is much shorter. According to the official Italian immigration portal, a foreign spouse married to an Italian citizen can apply after two years of marriage if legally residing in Italy, or three years if living abroad. These periods are halved if the couple has children, either born or adopted.

Therefore, citizenship through marriage provides a significant advantage for foreign spouses who have established family ties with Italy. However, this advantage is not maintained if the conditions no longer exist or if the marriage was entered into solely for the purpose of obtaining citizenship. Italian authorities also review the validity of the marriage, the continuation of the marital union, and whether the applicant poses an obstacle to public order.

Who can apply for Italian citizenship through marriage?

Foreign or stateless persons who are validly married to an Italian citizen can apply for Italian citizenship through marriage. Civil partnerships can also be considered within this scope under Italian law, subject to certain conditions. However, the mere existence of a marriage or civil partnership is not sufficient for eligibility; the relevant marriage or civil partnership must be duly registered in the Italian civil registry.

If the marriage took place outside Italy, for example in Türkiye or another country, it must be registered in the civil registry of the Italian municipality where the Italian spouse resides. Italian diplomatic missions specifically state that if the marriage occurred abroad, it must be registered with the Italian spouse's reference municipality.

If the applicant resides in Italy, the application is generally the Prefettura – Ufficio Territoriale del Governo (Governo Office of Territorial of residence. If the applicant resides abroad, the application is processed through the relevant Italian diplomatic-consular authority. The official immigration portal states that applications for citizenship through marriage should be submitted to the Prefettura of residence for those residing in Italy, and to the diplomatic-consular authority for those residing abroad.

Application Period: For those living in Italy and those living abroad

One of the most fundamental requirements for applying for Italian citizenship through marriage is the waiting period. This period varies depending on whether the applicant lives in Italy or abroad.

If the applicant is legally residing in Italy, a two-year legal residency requirement applies after marriage to an Italian citizen. This two-year period is calculated from the date of marriage or, if the spouse subsequently acquires Italian citizenship, from the date of citizenship acquisition. If the applicant lives abroad, three years must pass from the date of marriage. If the couple has children born or adopted together, these periods are halved; that is, one year for the spouse living in Italy and one and a half years for the spouse living abroad.

The important point to note here is that the duration is calculated not only based on the formal existence of the marriage, but also on the applicant's legal status. For a Turkish citizen living in Italy, the concept of "legal residence" is important. The person's valid residence permit, residence registration, and actual living situation may be important for the application. For applicants living abroad, factors such as the relevant consular district, address registration, and the Italian spouse's AIRE registration are practically important.

Condition for the Continuation of the Marriage Union

One of the most critical requirements for applying for Italian citizenship through marriage is that the marriage must have continued until the decision and oath-taking stage. Simply submitting an application is not sufficient. The marriage must not have ended due to divorce, separation, annulment, termination of civil effects, or legal separation.

Italian diplomatic missions clearly state that the marriage or civil union must remain in place until the citizenship decree is issued and the citizenship oath stage is completed. In other words, being married at the time of application is not sufficient; the marriage must legally continue until the application is finalized.

This condition is particularly important for Turkish citizens, as the application process can take up to 24 months, and in some cases 36 months. During this time, events such as divorce proceedings, legal separation decrees, or annulment of marriage can directly affect the citizenship application. The death of a spouse after the application is evaluated differently in some cases; official statements indicate that if the Italian spouse dies after the application is accepted, the surviving spouse can continue with the citizenship acquisition process.

Italian language proficiency requirement at B1 level

One of the most important requirements for applying for Italian citizenship through marriage a B1 level of Italian language proficiency. With the regulation introduced in 2018, applicants for citizenship through marriage and residence must prove their Italian language proficiency at least at the B1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The official immigration portal states that, with the 2018 regulation, a minimum B1 level of Italian language proficiency is required for citizenship applications.

The B1 language requirement means that the applicant can communicate in basic, everyday situations and on familiar topics, follow simple conversations, understand everyday or professional texts, and produce simple written expression. This requirement is not a formal annex to the application, but a substantive condition for acceptance. Incomplete, unauthorized, or improperly submitted language certificates may lead to the rejection of the application or a process involving missing documents.

Italian diplomatic missions state that B1 level language certificates must be issued by accredited institutions. According to the Italian Consulate General in New York, the main accepted certification bodies are those within the CLIQ framework, such as PLIDA, CertIt, CILS, CELI, and Ce.Co.L.

Some individuals may be exempt from submitting language certificates. For example, exceptions may apply to those holding long-term EU residence permits in Italy, those with diplomas from certain recognized educational institutions, or those whose language learning capacity is severely limited due to a serious health impediment. However, the claim of exemption must be supported by documentation conforming to official regulations, not by a general statement.

Criminal Record and Public Security Requirement

In applications for Italian citizenship through marriage, a clean criminal record is extremely important. A conviction of a certain severity in Italy or abroad may prevent the applicant from acquiring citizenship. The official immigration portal states that acquiring citizenship through marriage may not be possible in cases such as convictions for certain crimes in Italy or convictions abroad for non-political crimes involving a sentence of more than one year. Rehabilitation, however, can remove the disqualifying effect of the conviction.

Italian diplomatic missions also explain that they may request criminal record certificates from the applicant regarding their country of birth, countries of citizenship, and countries where they have lived since the age of 14. These documents generally need to have been obtained within the six months prior to the application date and must meet the requirements of apostille/legalization and Italian translation.

In terms of public security, the Italian authorities have discretionary power. Applications may be rejected if the applicant is deemed to pose a risk to the security of the Republic of Italy. Therefore, applications should be evaluated separately if the applicant has a negative record regarding terrorism, organized crime, serious violent crimes, state security, forgery, identity fraud, or similar matters.

Required Documents for Application

The required documents for an Italian citizenship application through marriage may vary depending on the applicant's country of residence, place of birth, country of citizenship, and where the marriage took place. However, the following documents are generally important:

The applicant must submit a birth certificate or birth registration certificate, a valid passport or identity document, criminal record certificates from the applicant's country of birth and citizenship, criminal record certificates from countries where the applicant has lived for an extended period after the age of 14, an Italian B1 language certificate or exemption certificate, a marriage registration certificate from an Italian municipality, payment of the application fee, the application form, and other documents to be uploaded to the electronic application system.

The Italian diplomatic mission stated that the birth certificate must contain all of the applicant's personal information and parental information, have a proper apostille/legalization, and an Italian translation; and that criminal record certificates must have been issued within the six months prior to the application date.

An important point to note regarding marriage certificates is that a standard marriage certificate or local marriage credential may not be sufficient on its own. Italian diplomatic missions an "estratto per riassunto del registro dei matrimoni" type of document obtained from an Italian municipality may be required for the application, and that certain types of documents may not be accepted.

For Turkish citizens, birth certificates and criminal record certificates must be correctly prepared in terms of apostille, sworn translation, and, if necessary, consular authentication. Population registration records, marriage certificates, criminal record archive records, name change decrees, divorce decrees, or documents relating to previous marriages obtained from Türkiye must be presented in a format acceptable to the Italian authorities.

Application Fees and Charges

An application fee is required for Italian citizenship through marriage. Current consular information of €250 must be made to the Italian Ministry of the Interior during the application process, and this payment can be made via PagoPA through the portal or through a designated bank transfer.

In addition to the application fee, in some cases consular service fees may apply, including signature verification, passport photocopy certification, translation certification, oath-taking, and local document costs. Obtaining documents from abroad, apostille, sworn translation, notary fees, shipping, and consular appointments also incur additional costs.

Fees and payment methods should be checked in light of the application date and location. Some consulates may be very strict regarding payment descriptions, receipt formats, and file upload requirements. Payments made with incorrect descriptions or incomplete receipts may result in the application being deemed incomplete.

Electronic Application and Portal Process

Applications for Italian citizenship through marriage are submitted electronically. The official immigration portal states that as of May 18, 2015, citizenship applications can only be submitted telematically.

Applicants residing abroad apply by creating an account on the Italian Ministry of the Interior's citizenship application portal. Consular statements clearly indicate that applicants register with the system using email and identity verification methods, that this email address is considered the official communication address throughout the application process, and that all notifications will be sent via this address. Therefore, applicants must regularly check the email address they use on the portal.

It is crucial that the name, date of birth, place of birth, citizenship, marriage information, and other personal data entered on the application form exactly match the information on your birth certificate and passport. The consulate warns applicants that the personal information entered on the portal cannot be changed later and must be consistent with the information on their birth certificate.

Who is the competent authority?

The competent authority varies depending on where the applicant resides. In Italy, the authority to decide on applications from foreign spouses legally residing in the country generally rests with the Prefetto (the office of the applicant's place of residence). For applicants residing abroad, the decision-making process is handled through the relevant department of the Ministry of Interior and consular authorities. The official immigration portal states that, as of June 1, 2012, for citizenship decrees through marriage, the Prefetto is competent for applications from those legally residing in Italy, the Ministry of Interior for those residing abroad, and the Minister of the Interior if there are security reasons.

This distinction is important in practice. An applicant residing in Italy must follow the Prefettura procedures of their place of residence. An applicant residing abroad must follow the instructions of the competent Italian consulate or embassy in their country of residence. For example, in the case of a Turkish citizen residing in Türkiye, the competent Italian diplomatic mission is determined according to the person's place of residence.

How long is the application period?

The processing time for applications for Italian citizenship through marriage can vary depending on the date of application, the completeness of the file, security checks, consular workload, and administrative procedures. Current prefettura (Italian citizenship office) regulations state that the processing time for citizenship applications is 24 months , which can be extended up to 36 months by the administration .

This timeframe is crucial for applicants because it requires the continuation of the marriage, adherence to notifications, timely responses to requests for additional documents, and uninterrupted email/portal communication. Applicants should not assume that "I have submitted the application, and now the process will be completed automatically.".

In particular, missing documents, name and surname discrepancies, expired criminal records, translation errors, the marriage registration not being visible in the Italian municipality records, or the language certificate not being accepted can prolong the application process. Therefore, checking documents before application is just as important as following up after application.

Oath-Taking Stage and Date of Acquisition of Citizenship

If an application for citizenship through marriage is accepted, the applicant proceeds to the oath-taking stage after receiving the citizenship decree. For applicants residing abroad, the oath is usually taken at the relevant Italian consulate. According to the consulate's statement, within 6 months ; this period is mandatory, and failure to extend it may result in the loss of the right to acquire citizenship.

The oath includes a declaration of loyalty to the Italian Republic and adherence to the Constitution and the laws of the state. The consular statement clarifies the oath as “Giuro di essere fedele alla Repubblica e di ossercare la Costituzione e le leggi dello Stato”. Citizenship takes effect the day after the oath ceremony.

Therefore, the issuance of the decree alone does not mean that citizenship is complete. The applicant is not considered to have definitively acquired Italian citizenship until the oath-taking stage is completed. Furthermore, the marriage must still be ongoing at the time of the oath.

Reasons for Rejection

Applications for Italian citizenship through marriage may be rejected for various reasons. The most common reasons for rejection include: failure to meet the required time period, failure to register the marriage with the Italian municipality, dissolution of the marriage, legal separation, divorce, annulment of marriage, criminal record issues, public safety risk, failure to meet the B1 language requirement, submission of forged or incomplete documents, name/date discrepancies, and incorrect information entered on the application portal.

The official immigration portal explicitly states that obtaining citizenship through marriage may be blocked due to certain convictions and concerns regarding the security of the Republic.

To reduce the risk of rejection, the following checks should be made before applying: Is the marriage registered with the Italian municipality? Has the validity period actually expired? Does the validity period halve if there are children? Does the applicant live in Italy or abroad? Is the B1 certificate from an accredited institution? Were the criminal record certificates obtained within the last six months? Are the apostille and translation correct? Are the names on the passport, birth certificate, and civil registry consistent? Are the previous marriage or divorce records consistent with the documents?

Dual Citizenship Outcome for Turkish Citizens

For Turkish citizens, acquiring Italian citizenship through marriage does not automatically result in the loss of Turkish citizenship. Turkey recognizes multiple citizenships. The General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs states that if individuals who have acquired foreign citizenship present relevant documents and their identities are verified, an annotation indicating multiple citizenships will be added to their family registers.

Therefore, a Turkish citizen who acquires Italian citizenship can register this in their Turkish population records by declaring multiple citizenships. This process does not mean that the person has renounced their Turkish citizenship; it only ensures that the foreign citizenship is indicated as a note in the Turkish population records.

Renouncing Turkish citizenship is a separate process and depends on the individual's request. The General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs explains that renouncing Turkish citizenship is subject to the individual's request and a decision by the Ministry, and is contingent upon the individual being of legal age and having the capacity to make reasoned decisions, having acquired foreign citizenship or having credible indications of acquiring it, not being a person wanted for any crime or military service, and not having any financial or criminal restrictions.

Therefore, for Turkish citizens, acquiring Italian citizenship through marriage often provides the possibility of dual citizenship. However, matters such as military service, tax residency, inheritance, family law, children's citizenship, and population registration require a joint assessment of the laws of both countries.

Things to Consider When Getting Married in Türkiye

If a Turkish citizen and an Italian citizen marry in Türkiye, even if the marriage is valid in Türkiye, it must also be registered in Italian records for an Italian citizenship application. The marriage certificate issued in Türkiye must be submitted to the Italian authorities after undergoing apostille and Italian translation processes. Registration of the marriage in the Italian municipality's civil registry is a mandatory step in the application process.

Document consistency is crucial here. The person's name, surname, date of birth, place of birth, marital status, previous marriages, and divorce information in the Turkish population registry must be consistent with the Italian documents. Issues such as name changes, use of a surname after marriage, finalization of a previous divorce decree, or recognition of foreign court judgments may affect the application file.

Particular attention should be paid to whether the Italian spouse has been married before, whether the previous marriage was deemed to have ended in Italy, and whether the marriage in Türkiye is recognizable under Italian law. Otherwise, the application may not progress due to missing marriage registration records or discrepancies in marital status.

Is there an income requirement for obtaining citizenship through marriage?

Citizenship applications through marriage differ from those through residency. In citizenship applications through residency, income and economic sufficiency are important criteria. In contrast, citizenship applications through marriage focus on the marital relationship with an Italian citizen, the duration of the marriage, the continuation of the marriage, language requirements, criminal record, and public security assessment.

Therefore, in citizenship by marriage, the income requirement is not as prominent as in citizenship by residency in the classical sense. However, this does not mean that the administration will not examine the overall reliability of the file, address, family unity, cohabitation, and the accuracy of the documents. Especially if there is suspicion of a forged marriage, no cohabitation, spouses living in different countries, or facts incompatible with the marital union, the administration may request additional documents and clarifications.

Most Common Application Mistakes

The most common mistake in applying for Italian citizenship through marriage is submitting the application without registering the marriage with the Italian municipality. Being married in Türkiye is not sufficient on its own for an Italian citizenship application; the marriage must be registered in Italian records.

The second error is the incorrect calculation of the time requirement. If the applicant lives in Italy, two years are considered; if they live abroad, three years; if there are children, half of these periods are taken into account. However, if the spouse subsequently acquired Italian citizenship, the period may, in some cases, be calculated from the date the spouse acquired citizenship.

The third mistake is obtaining the B1 language certificate from an unauthorized institution. Not every Italian language course certificate is valid for citizenship. Accepted certification institutions should be officially verified.

The fourth mistake is having expired criminal record certificates. Consular statements indicate that criminal record certificates must have been obtained within the six months prior to the application date.

The fifth error is entering incorrect personal information into the portal. The name, surname, place of birth, and date of birth information entered in the application system must match the birth certificate. Incorrect registration may not be correctable later and may require creating a new account.

The sixth mistake is not following up on emails after applying. The email address used on the portal is considered the official contact address, and requests for additional documents may be sent to this address. Failure to respond within the specified time may lead to the rejection or closure of the application.

Conclusion

Applying for Italian citizenship through marriage is an important avenue for Turkish citizens and other foreigners married to Italian citizens to acquire citizenship. However, this is not automatic. The applicant must fully meet the time limit, validity of the marriage, continuation of the marital union, B1 Italian language requirement, criminal record and public security requirements, document-apostille-translation obligations, and electronic application procedure.

Foreign spouses residing in Italy can apply after two years of legal residency following marriage; foreign spouses residing abroad can apply after three years following marriage. These periods are halved if the couple has children, either born or adopted. The marriage or civil partnership must continue until the citizenship decree and oath stage; divorce, legal separation, or annulment of marriage may negatively affect the application.

A B1 level of Italian language proficiency is a basic requirement for this application. This must be proven with a certificate from an accepted official certification body or through one of the exemptions recognized by law. The application is submitted electronically; documents such as birth certificate, criminal record certificate, marriage certificate, passport, language certificate, and a receipt for the €250 payment must be prepared correctly.

For Turkish citizens, acquiring Italian citizenship through marriage does not automatically result in the loss of Turkish citizenship. Turkey recognizes multiple citizenships and allows individuals who have acquired foreign citizenship to have this recorded in their population registry. Renunciation of Turkish citizenship is only possible upon request and a decision by the Ministry, subject to specific conditions.

Therefore, before applying for Italian citizenship through marriage, the marriage registration, duration calculation, language certificate, criminal record, document translations, portal information, and dual citizenship results should all be checked together. A correctly prepared file ensures a smooth application process; missing documents, incorrect duration calculations, unacceptable language certificates, or incomplete marriage registration can lead to rejection or delays of up to years.