Italian citizenship
News, information and practical advice about Italian citizenship.
REVEALED: How many people get Italian citizenship every year
If you're thinking of applying for Italian citizenship, you're far from alone. Here's what the latest data tells us about new citizens and where they come from.
How to organise your language test for Italian citizenship
People applying for Italian citizenship by residency or marriage need to prove proficiency in the Italian language by taking a test. But where can you take it and how can you book it?
What’s next in the battle against Italy’s citizenship clampdown?
A challenge to last year’s crackdown on ancestry-based Italian citizenship may be on the path to defeat, but more are in the works.
Why do so many people think you can't have Italian dual citizenship?
Some countries don’t allow dual citizenship, but Italy isn’t among them. So why does this belief persist among so many Italians?
Italy's Constitutional Court hears challenge to citizenship crackdown
The court said challenges to the new limits on gaining Italian citizenship through ancestry were "partially unfounded" following a hearing on Wednesday, with a final ruling yet to come.
Italy's planned changes to immigration and citizenship rules in 2026
From a court ruling that could overturn last year's citizenship restrictions to new EU asylum rules and digital border controls, here's what to expect from Italy's immigration system in 2026.
How Americans with Italian ancestry can now move to Italy for work
After Italy restricted citizenship by descent earlier this year, a new decree opens up a work visa pathway for US nationals who can prove Italian ancestry.
Court to decide if Italy's citizenship crackdown is legal
Italy's Constitutional Court will rule on whether a law change that blocked thousands from claiming citizenship by descent should stand, after challenges from Italian nationals abroad.
How descendants of Italians can move to Italy under new rules
Italy is opening a new pathway for some people of Italian descent to move to the country to work, nine months after drastically restricting citizenship by descent.
How to secure Italian citizenship for your child before the 2026 deadline
A sweeping reform drastically tightened the rules for passing Italian citizenship to children born abroad earlier in 2025. But some parents benefit from a special grace period ending in May 2026.
Five ways Italy's League party wants to tighten citizenship rules
A new bill aims to make it significantly harder to obtain - or keep - Italian citizenship, with proposals ranging from testing knowledge of Italian culture to making it possible to leave people stateless.
Italy's League seeks to further tighten citizenship requirements
A new bill presented by the League party sets out plans to make it harder for foreigners to acquire Italian citizenship, following June's unsuccessful referendum vote.
When can you start counting your residency in Italy towards citizenship?
Living in Italy for a number of years can make you eligible for citizenship through residency. But at what point does your time in the country start to count towards your application?
What's the difference between Italian residency and citizenship?
As a foreigner in Italy you enter a complicated world of bureaucracy, but one question we’re asked a lot is the difference in status between residency and citizenship. Here's an overview.
Who can still apply for Italian citizenship via ancestry?
After Italy tightened its rules on applying for ancestry-based citizenship earlier this year, who’s still eligible for Italian citizenship by descent – and are there any exceptions?
How is Italy changing the process for overseas citizenship claims?
After Italy approved major changes to the process for applying for ancestry-based citizenship from abroad, what can applicants expect?
Italy approves plan to speed up overseas citizenship claims
Ancestry-based citizenship applications filed abroad could soon be handled very differently after Italian lawmakers on Tuesday approved a major change.
Italy to grant citizenship to US journalist Maria Bartiromo
The Italian government on Thursday agreed to grant citizenship to Fox News journalist and author Maria Bartiromo for “special merits,” hailing her work in “strengthening” US-Italy ties.
How good does your Italian have to be to get citizenship?
If you’re planning to apply for Italian citizenship, a language test might be one of the first hurdles you'll have to overcome. Is your Italian good enough?
The best ways to move to Italy after the citizenship clampdown
After Italy drastically tightened rules around claiming ancestry-based citizenship, what are the alternative routes to gaining Italian residency for those affected? The Local asks the experts for their advice.
How easy is it for foreign pensioners in Italy to become Italian?
Getting Italian citizenship via residency is often said to be a difficult process - but it's far from impossible.
Who’s exempt from Italy’s language test for citizenship?
People applying for Italian citizenship by residency or marriage must first pass an official language exam – unless they qualify for an exemption. So who doesn’t have to take the test?
Italian passport ranked world's ‘third most powerful’
Italy has the “third most powerful” passport in the world, according to an annual index ranking countries by the number of destinations their citizens can visit without first applying for a visa.