A child of an Italian citizen can acquire citizenship by descent, but the 2025 reform limits automatic transmission to foreign-born people who hold another citizenship unless a statutory connection exception applies.
A foreign or stateless spouse of an Italian citizen may acquire citizenship after two years of legal residence in Italy following the marriage (three years if resident abroad), halved where there are minor children, subject to a B1 Italian-language requirement.
Birth in Italy is not generally enough. Citizenship exists at birth in limited statelessness or non-transmission cases, while a foreign child born and continuously resident in Italy may declare citizenship after reaching adulthood.
Sources: Italian Ministry of the Interior — Citizenship · Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Citizenship
Naturalization by decree of the President of the Republic, with no residence requirement, for those who rendered exceptional service to Italy or where there is an exceptional State interest.
The general route permits an application after ten years of legal residence, with shorter periods for specified groups.
Sources: Italian Ministry of the Interior — Citizenship · Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Citizenship
Former Italian citizens may reacquire citizenship — by declaration for certain historical losses, or after one year of residence in Italy under the general track.
Residence for non-EU nationals making a qualifying investment or philanthropic donation in Italy.
Sources: Investor Visa for Italy — MISE