How to Get Dual and Multiple Citizenship in Italy Legally

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.

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.

Italian law recognises multiple citizenship. Since Law no. 91/1992 entered into force, acquiring a foreign citizenship does not usually cause loss of Italian citizenship unless the person formally renounces it or a specific international agreement provides otherwise.

Children and later generations are not always recognised automatically. For people born abroad who also hold another citizenship, current law requires one of the statutory exceptions introduced by Decree-Law 36/2025, converted by Law 74/2025. Eligibility depends on the family line, documents, residence history, and whether a transitional rule applies.

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. Italian citizenship by descent, or iure sanguinis, is based on a family line from an Italian citizen. Current law no longer supports a broad "parent, grandparent or great-grandparent" shortcut for everyone born abroad. Applicants who hold another citizenship must fit a statutory exception, such as a parent or grandparent who held exclusively Italian citizenship, an Italian parent who lived in Italy for at least two continuous years before the applicant's birth or adoption, or a qualifying transitional case.

3. By marriage. A non-Italian citizen who marries an Italian citizen may apply after meeting the required marriage, residence, language, and security conditions. Marriage does not grant citizenship automatically.

4. By service to the Italian government. A foreign national who has served the Italian state, including abroad, for at least five years may fall under a separate citizenship route.

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.

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.

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.

Iure sanguinis means citizenship by descent. Italian law still recognises descent as a basis for citizenship, but the 2025 reform added limits for applicants born abroad who hold another citizenship.

Under the current official guidance, an applicant born abroad is not treated as having automatically acquired Italian citizenship unless one of the exceptions applies. The main exceptions include:

• a parent or grandparent who held exclusively Italian citizenship, or held it at the time of death;
• an Italian parent or adoptive parent who lived in Italy for at least two continuous years after acquiring Italian citizenship and before the applicant’s birth or adoption;
• a transitional case already recognised, filed, or booked by the relevant 27 March 2025 deadline described by the competent Italian authority.

The application still depends on evidence. Applicants normally need civil records proving the family line, documents showing whether the Italian ancestor naturalised abroad, and proof that no direct ancestor renounced Italian citizenship in a way that interrupted transmission.

Do not treat older "great-grandparent" or "no generational limit" guidance as enough on its own. The competent consulate, municipality, or court must assess the documents under the current law.

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 civil-status documents for the direct family line, evidence on the Italian ancestor’s citizenship and any foreign naturalisation, and any extra documents required to prove that a current statutory exception applies.

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. Family citizenship planning

Italian citizenship may support long-term family planning, but transmission is no longer automatic in every cross-border case. Current law treats children, adults born abroad, and transitional descent cases differently. Families need document review before relying on descent-based eligibility.

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 multiple citizenship. Holding another citizenship does not usually cause loss of Italian citizenship unless the person formally renounces it or a specific treaty rule applies.

2. Italian citizenship routes include naturalisation, marriage, descent, and exceptional routes such as service to the Italian state. Each route has separate legal tests.

3. Citizenship by descent requires careful review under the 2025 rules. People born abroad who hold another citizenship must show that a statutory exception or transitional rule applies.

4. Italy does not offer citizenship by investment. The Italy Golden Visa is a residence route, not a direct citizenship route.