As the spouse of an Italian citizen, you have the right to abode with your partner in the EU without becoming an EU citizen yourself.
The spouse of an Italian citizen is also granted the right to work in the EU country that the Italian citizen lives in. This rule does not apply within Italy, as Italian citizens must abide by Italian law. EU law does not take precedence.
Marriages Before April 28, 1983
Foreign women who married an Italian man prior to April 28, 1983, instantly obtained citizenship at the date of marriage. For the lucky women who fall into this category, there is a very simplified process through the consulate.
Schedule the appointment online via Prenot@Mi or Prenota Online depending on which consulate jurisdiction you live within.
Required Documents
- Your US Passport, and a photocopy of the passport page showing your personal information
- A money order for the current consular fee (published on your consulate's website — cannot be paid by cash, card, or personal check)
- Proof of residency within the consular jurisdiction (utility bill)
- Your marriage document — can be an "estratto per riassunto" if registered in Italy, or the foreign marriage document translated into Italian and apostilled
- The non-Italian applicant's birth certificate in long form, translated into Italian and apostilled
Marriages After April 27, 1983
For marriages that took place after April 27, 1983, the non-Italian spouse can apply for Italian citizenship after meeting specific requirements. The process is more involved and requires demonstrating a connection to Italy.
Requirements
- Must be married to an Italian citizen
- If residing in Italy: 2 years of legal residency after marriage (1 year if you have children)
- If residing abroad: 3 years after marriage (18 months if you have children)
- Italian language proficiency at B1 level (CEFR)
- No criminal record
Italian Language B1 Certification
As of 2018, applicants for citizenship by marriage must demonstrate Italian language proficiency at the B1 level (CEFR). You will need to obtain a certificate from a recognized institution.