How to get dual and multiple citizenship in Italy

Based on the current law, Italy recognises multiple citizenship, meaning that those who wish to obtain it don’t need to renounce their first nationality. Foreign investors can become citizens in Italy after joining the Italy Golden Visa program.

Italy Golden Visa

Dual citizenship is not the same as second citizenship. In both cases, a person has passports from two different countries. However, dual citizenship is based on bilateral agreements between states that officially recognise the rights and obligations of the person to each country.

Second citizenship is different: each country only recognises the person as its citizen. In rare cases, it could mean double taxation or troubles due to military obligations.

Here are some countries that allow dual citizenship with Italy:

• Australia,

• Belgium,

• Canada,

• Denmark,

• France,

• Finland,

• Greece,

• Hungary,

• Ireland,

• Israel,

• Philippines,

• Portugal,

• Sweden,

• Switzerland,

• United Kingdom,

• United States.

The rules do not limit the number of passports an individual can hold, so one person could be a citizen of three or more countries, provided all the other countries in question also allow this.

Children of Italian citizens are granted citizenship automatically. Even if the Italy passport is your second one, all the future generations of your family will also get passports. They will be able to enjoy its benefits, including visa-free travel to 188 countries and living in one of the most developed countries in the world.

The most common way to become an Italian citizen is by birthright. Children of Italian citizens are automatically granted citizenship regardless of their birth country. Other options are applicable for foreigners.

1. By naturalisation. A non-Italian citizen who obtains a resident permit card can be eligible for citizenship in 10 years. Before applying, the individual must permanently reside in Italy, receive income, pay taxes and pass a B1 Italian language test.

The Italy Golden Visa program is one of the ways to obtain a residence permit and start the path to citizenship.

2. By descent. If a parent, a grandparent, or a great-grandparent of a person was an Italian citizen or had the right to claim citizenship at birth, that person also has this right. Those who qualify can apply for citizenship after three years of residing in the country.

3. By marriage. A non-Italian citizen marrying an Italian person does not automatically receive an Italian passport. However, marriage does make the process of obtaining Italian citizenship easier and faster: the spouse of the Italian citizen becomes eligible for Italian citizenship after 2—3 years of marriage.

4. By service to the Italian government. Those who have worked for the Italian government for five years can be eligible for citizenship, even if they do not reside in Italy.

Is the Italy Golden Visa worth it? Watch the video and find out

Anyone residing in Italy for 10 years can become eligible for Italian citizenship. The term is reduced to four years for an EU citizen.

To start living in Italy, foreigners must first obtain temporary residency for 1 or 2 years. In five years, they can claim permanent residence and won’t have to renew their residence cards until securing citizenship.

A non-EU citizen can obtain temporary residency in Italy for one of these reasons: 

• investment;

• work or pending employment;

• study, scientific research or internship;

• family reunification;

• medical treatment;

• special cases, such as residency for international protection or pending recognition of stateless status.

How to obtain residency in Italy

The key condition for citizenship applicants is uninterrupted legal residence in the country. The application will not be approved if the person has spent more than ten months outside Italy in five previous years.

The potential applicant also must pay taxes in Italy and confirm their annual income. Their minimum earnings per year must be:

• €8,264 for a single applicant;

• €11,362 for a married applicant;

• €516 for each dependent.

Applicants must also prove their language proficiency by passing an Italian language test at the B1 level to receive a certificate recognised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Four institutions carry out the tests: the Dante Alighieri Society, the University for Foreigners in Siena, the University of Roma Tre and the University for Foreigners in Perugia.

Finally, the applicant must provide a certificate of no criminal record issued in Italy and any other country where they have resided for at least a year. Each certificate is valid for 180 days.

Italy does not offer any citizenship by investment program. However, one of the ways to obtain a residence permit is through the Italy Golden Visa program.

To participate in the program, an individual has four investment options:

• €250,000 or more for investing in an innovative startup;

• €500,000 or more for equity financing to an Italian company;

• €1,000,000 or more as a philanthropic donation to a socially important project;

• €2,000,000 or more as a purchase of government bonds.

The investors undergo Due Diligence and confirm the legality of receiving funds for the investment condition.

The Golden Visa allows investors to live in the country for an initial two-year term. The applicant can renew the permit for another three years. After that, they become eligible for permanent residence and, five years later, citizenship by naturalisation on common grounds.

Individual cost calculation for residence by investment in Italy

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Anyone who marries an Italian citizen becomes eligible to apply for citizenship. However, it is not done automatically or immediately.

The spouse of the Italian citizen becomes eligible for Italian citizenship after two years of being married if they live in Italy and after three years if they live elsewhere. If the couple has a child, the term is reduced to 12 and 18 months, respectively.

The applicant must pass a B1 Italian language test and receive a certificate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

‘Jus sanguinis’, or ‘the right of blood’ is a principle that determines who is eligible to become an Italian citizen by descent.

Applicants must prove that their parent, grandparent or great-grandparent was an Italian citizen or entitled to Italian citizenship by birth.

The applicant must prove their eligibility with certified copies of official documents in the hometown of the Italian ancestor. They also have to confirm the ancestor did not renounce Italian citizenship at any point.

Before applying, the prospective citizen must legally reside in Italy for three years, staying there for at least six months and a day per year.

As well as those who apply for citizenship by naturalisation, this category of applicants must pay taxes in Italy and confirm that their earnings per year are at least:

• €8,264 for a single applicant;

• €11,362 for a married applicant;

• €516 for each dependent.

Regardless of the method of obtaining Italian citizenship, the applicant will need to collect the following documents:

• original birth certificates, passports and Italian residence permit for all family members applying for citizenship — as well as copies of all these documents;

• passport-sized photos of all applicants;

• certificates showing the applicants hold no criminal record in the country of origin or any other country they have resided since turning 14;

• Italian language proficiency test certificate showing the B1 CERF level or higher;

• Ministry of the Interior fee receipt for €250.

Additionally, applicants for Italian citizenship by marriage must provide the full marriage certificate or extract of the marriage certificate issued by the Italian town hall where it was registered. The certificate must be issued no more than six months before the application date.

Applicants for Italian citizenship by descent submit documents confirming their ancestors have been recognised as Italian citizens.

Each document must be duly legalised and translated into Italian.

Italy is a splendid place to live, with a Mediterranean climate, deep cultural background and world-famous cuisine. There are other, more practical benefits to living in the country.

1. Strong passport. In 2023, the Italian, German, and Spanish passports were ranked the strongest in the world, only behind Singapore. Italian citizens only need visas to enter 22 countries worldwide, such as China, Cuba and Nigeria. They can travel to 45 countries with only a valid ID card, including all the European Union and Schengen area states.

2. Ability to live in the European Union. Among the benefits of an Italian passport is that the citizens can move without restrictions to all EU member states. They also have an advantage in employment as hiring an Italian citizen requires much less paperwork for a local company.

3. Passing the citizenship down. If a new Italian citizen has children under 18, they are automatically eligible for the Italian passport as well — and so will all the next generation of their family.

4. Easier property purchase. Buying a house in Italy is cheaper and more straightforward for its citizens than even for non-citizens who permanently reside in the country. Besides, there are several tax breaks for individuals who buy their first home in Italy, including a reduction of VAT from 10% to 4% and a 7% discount on registration tax.

5. Healthcare benefits. Tessera Sanitaria is a public insurance card allowing all Italian citizens residing in the country to receive healthcare in Italy and the EU. The Italian healthcare system is both high-quality and affordable, with plenty of services provided for free or at a low cost.

6. Affordable higher education. Children of Italian citizens and residents can enrol in Italian universities and colleges easier than other overseas students. They will also face lower tuition fees and associated costs.

1. Italy recognises dual and multiple citizenship without limiting the number of passports their citizens can hold.

2. There are multiple ways to become an Italian citizen. For foreigners without Italian relatives, the main option is citizenship by naturalisation.

3. Italy does not offer citizenship by investment. Foreigners can obtain citizenship 10 years after becoming a resident of the country with the Italy Golden Visa program.