In previous articles we have outlined the necessary information and steps to acquire Italian citizenship by descent, by marriage, and by residency. In this article we will explain which parts of the application process can be done online, and which stages will require the applicant to be present in person.
Citizenship by descent
If you are applying for Italian citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis, which means “by right of blood”) it is important to know that the application will need to be submitted in person. Whether applying via a consulate abroad, or within Italy, the applicant will need to attend an appointment during which their application will be evaluated, and their documents verified. However, at the time of writing this, some consulates—namely Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, and New York—are currently accepting mail-in applications. This does not replace the requirement of booking an appointment through Prenot@mi. Rather, instead of attending the appointment in person, you mail in your application. Remember to always check your local consulate for specific requirements.
With that said, there are parts of the application process that can be done online. This is good news as it can help simplify the process. As mentioned above, if you are applying for citizenship via a consulate, you must book an appointment online through the Prenot@mi system. Once an appointment is made, a one-time confirmation code will be sent to the email address provided, and this will need to be confirmed.
Attending an appointment at the consulate is a fundamental part of your citizenship by descent application. The consulate must review your family vital records and certify your signature on the required application forms[1] to confirm your lineage and connection to your Italian ancestor and validate your claim to Italian citizenship.
While employees at Italian consulates in the U.S. speak English and Italian, interviews are conducted in English. Likewise, if you are applying in other English-speaking countries the interview will be carried out in English. You are not required to speak Italian to apply for citizenship by descent. This is because you are formally applying for the recognition of your birthright to Italian citizenship.
If applying from within Italy it is first necessary to establish residency in the municipality where you intend to file your application. A person can travel to Italy as a tourist with the intention of applying for Italian citizenship by descent and then formally establish residency. You must provide an address to the local questura, and it cannot be a hotel or Airbnb. The municipal police will verify that you are living at the address provided (established residency) and this should be done, by law, within 45 days. Once the municipal police have confirmed your residency status, it is then possible to make an appointment at the citizenship office in the town hall of that municipality. While some may accept walk-ins, others will ask that the appointment is booked online. For this reason, it is always important to refer to the rules and procedure of each municipality. You will need to attend the appointment at the citizenship office in person, as at this stage you will have to submit all the documents supporting your citizenship application and then expect a period of waiting time while your case is evaluated.
The clerk will review all documents and will work with the consulates abroad that have jurisdiction over the states where the documents originated. This is to determine if the applicant, or any of the applicant’s ascendants, ever renounced their Italian citizenship.
For a full outline of what each of the stages of applying for citizenship in Italy involve please see here.
Citizenship by marriage
When applying for citizenship by marriage several parts of the process are done online. This applies to those living in Italy and outside Italy. First, you need to register on the portal of the “Ministero dell’Interno” (Ministry of the Interior) here.
Then, to apply you must obtain certificates of clean criminal records that cover from the age of 14. Once you have gathered all the necessary documents, you will need to upload scans on the Ministry of the Interior’s online portal. If residing abroad, the Italian spouse must be registered with the A.I.R.E. (Registry of Italian Citizens Residing Abroad) and must have registered the marriage certificate at the local Italian consulate.
It is not necessary at this stage to book an appointment because all the documentation needed for the process will be submitted online through the web portal of the Italian Ministry of Interior for a preliminary assessment.
If applying from abroad, the Italian consulate will contact you and request that you attend an appointment in person for the purpose of submitting all required documentation in the original.
If applying from within Italy, you will be contacted by the local prefecture (“prefettura”) which covers the jurisdiction over where the person resides, and they will invite you to attend the appointment at the prefettura in person to submit all original-copy documentation.
To apply for Italian citizenship by marriage a B1 level of Italian is required. B1 is considered intermediate level according to the Common European Framework of References for Languages. However, if the applicant holds a degree in Italian, or if he/she attended a school in Italy, the language test is not required. The language certificate must be endorsed by one of the following institutions:
- The University for Foreigners of Perugia
- The University for Foreigners of Siena
- Roma Tre University
- The Dante Alighieri Society
The language certificate must be obtained before filing an application. It is advisable to visit the website of any of the above language schools for details regarding their methods of booking tests. The language test is taken in person and cannot be taken online.
If you would like more information regarding obtaining citizenship by marriage, please click here.
Citizenship by residency
Similar to citizenship by marriage applications, if you apply for citizenship via residency much of the process is done online, especially if you submit your application using SPID credentials. The SPID is a Public Digital Identity System, essentially online credentials that allow one to access a number of important public services in Italy and within the EU. It is important to have for anyone residing in Italy, regardless of citizenship status. You will register with the same online portal used for citizenship by marriage applications.
The application for citizenship by residency can be submitted online via the Italian Ministry of the Interior. You will need to upload scans of the mandatory documents and, once your application has been approved, you will be notified via the portal of the Ministero dell’Interno about appointments.
You will then need to visit the local prefettura in person with originals copies. It is at the discretion of each individual prefettura how they manage citizenship applications.
As with citizenship by marriage applications, it is important to note that the same language requirements apply in cases of citizenship by residency applications: a B1 language certificate must be attained before submitting the application.
For more information regarding the process of applying for citizenship by residency please click here.
In respect of citizenship by marriage and by residency, at the end of the process, the individual will be required to make an oath of citizenship. This ceremony takes place either at the consulate, or at the town hall.
In relation to citizenship by descent applications, making an oath is not necessary because it is retrospective recognition of your entitlement to Italian citizenship based on a birthright.
Passport applications
Passport requests for appointments may be made online, but applications for passports must be filed in person because fingerprints need to be taken. This would be at an Italian consulate for those seeking their Italian passport abroad, or at a questura for those residing in Italy. We would always suggest checking the specific guidance of the respective consulate or questura.
Conclusion
This article has sought to explain which stages of the process require your presence and which can be done online. Ultimately, it depends on which avenue you apply for citizenship. Even in cases where it is possible to do parts of the process online, we have highlighted that it will still be likely that the applicant will need to appear in person to present original documents. With all considered, it is important to make sure your local consulate, if abroad, or prefettura, if residing in Italy, have your contact information, should they need to communicate with you.
If you would like more information, or have any further questions, please do contact us at [email protected]. We are always happy to be of help and provide our expertise to those wishing to explore the pathways to Italian citizenship.
[1] For applications submitted via mail the certification of the applicant’s signature on the required application forms is performed by a U.S. public notary
