How do I apply for Italian citizenship, which documents do I need and what is the fee?

Checked on 2026-10-25

You apply for Italian citizenship online on the Ministry of the Interior's portal, logging in with SPID or CIE. You attach an identity document, your birth certificate and criminal record certificate from your country of origin, a B1 Italian certificate unless exempt, the receipt for the €250 fee, and, if applying in Italy, the electronic revenue stamp details.

Key facts

What	The source says	Source
Where to apply	Online at cittadinanza.dlci.interno.it, logging in with SPID or CIE; residents abroad register on the portal	Ministry, “invia la tua domanda”
Identity	An identity document	Ministry, “invia la tua domanda”
Civil status and record	Birth certificate and criminal record certificate issued by your country of origin	Ministry, “invia la tua domanda”
Language	Certificate of Italian at B1 or above, unless exempt	Ministry, “invia la tua domanda”; L. 91/1992, art. 9.1
Fee	Receipt for the €250 contribution	L. 91/1992, art. 9-bis.2; Ministry, “invia la tua domanda”
Revenue stamp	Details of the electronic revenue stamp (marca da bollo), for applications filed in Italy only	Ministry, “invia la tua domanda”
Who handles it	The prefecture (residents of Italy) or the consulate (residents abroad)	Ministry, “invia la tua domanda”

Applying online

The ministry’s guidance says you access the portal at cittadinanza.dlci.interno.it with SPID or CIE; if you live abroad, you register on the portal instead. You fill in the online application and upload the attachments in the fields provided. Once submitted, it goes electronically to the prefecture if you live in Italy, or to the consulate if you live abroad.

The €250 contribution

The law says applications for citizenship are subject to a contribution of €250 (L. 91/1992, art. 9-bis.2). The ministry’s page asks for the payment receipt as an attachment.

What the regulation adds

The implementing regulation asks for criminal record certificates from the states of origin and of residence for both marriage and residence applications, and lets the Ministry of the Interior ask for other documents depending on the case (D.P.R. 572/1993, art. 4). For citizenship by residence, the conditions for applying must still be met until you take the oath (art. 4.7).

The language certificate and who is exempt: L. 91/1992, art. 9.1.
How long the decision takes: 24 months, extendable to 36 (L. 91/1992, art. 9-ter).

Sources

Ministry of the Interior, Department for Civil Liberties and Immigration: Cittadinanza, invia la tua domanda checked 2026-10-25
Legge 5 febbraio 1992, n. 91, art. 9-bis (Normattiva, text in force) checked 2026-10-25
D.P.R. 12 ottobre 1993, n. 572, art. 4 (Normattiva) checked 2026-10-25

Change history

2026-10-25: Page created

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