Italian Citizenship by Marriage: How to Apply (2026 Guide)

If you're married to an Italian citizen, you may be eligible to apply for Italian citizenship by marriage, also known as cittadinanza italiana per matrimonio or jure matrimonii. It's one of the most popular paths to Italian nationality, especially for couples living abroad. The process is detailed, the document requirements are strict, and the legal landscape is shifting in 2026.

This guide covers everything you need to know to apply: who qualifies, what documents you need, how the B1 Italian language requirement works, AIRE registration for couples abroad, and how to submit your application through Italy's ALI portal.

Getting Italian citizenship through marriage? Here's what you need to know about eligibility, documents, and how to apply in 2026, including the B1 exam.

Who Qualifies for Italian Citizenship by Marriage

You are eligible to apply if all of the following are true:

• You are legally married to (or in a civil union with) an Italian citizen

• Your marriage is recognized and registered in Italy

• You meet the residency-based marriage timeline:

  • 2 years of marriage if you live in Italy

  • 3 years of marriage if you live abroad

  • These timelines are cut in half if you have biological or adopted children with your Italian spouse

• The marriage remains valid both at the time of application and at the moment citizenship is granted

• You have a clean criminal record (more on this below)

If you live in Italy, you must be legally resident for the duration of the qualifying period. If you live abroad, your Italian spouse must be properly registered with AIRE.

2026 Legal Update: Why Timing Matters

Italian citizenship law has been moving fast over the past two years, and several changes affect (or could soon affect) marriage applicants.

What already changed: Decree-Law 36/2025, which took effect in March 2025, dramatically reformed citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis). It did not change the requirements for citizenship by marriage. The 2-year and 3-year timelines remain in place.

What's still pending: Draft Law 1450/2025 is currently under consideration in the Italian Senate. If passed in its current form, it would require all marriage citizenship applicants to be legally resident in Italy at the time of application, eliminating the abroad pathway entirely. As of May 2026, the bill has not advanced to a final vote, but the political appetite for tightening the marriage pathway is real.

Bottom line: If you live outside Italy and qualify under current rules, the safest move is to start your application now. Document collection alone can take 6 to 12 months, and law changes are not always grandfathered.

The B1 Italian Language Requirement

Since December 2018, all citizenship by marriage applicants must demonstrate Italian language ability at the B1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). B1 is classified as intermediate proficiency. In practical terms, you should be able to handle everyday conversations, understand the main points of clear standard speech, and write simple connected text on familiar topics.

What Is the CILS B1 Cittadinanza Exam?

The good news: you do not need to take the full academic B1 exam. Italy created a simplified version called the CILS B1 Cittadinanza, designed specifically for citizenship applicants. It tests reading, listening, writing, and speaking at a basic level. The exam is widely available in Italy and at select test centers abroad.

Results can take up to three months to arrive, but once you receive your certificate, it never expires. You can also use a CELI B1 or PLIDA B1 certificate, but the CILS B1 Cittadinanza is the most common and most accessible option for citizenship applicants.

Who Is Exempt from the Language Test

You may be exempt from the B1 language requirement if:

• You were married to your Italian spouse before April 27, 1983, and that marriage was registered in Italy before March 27, 2025

• You have a recognized disability that prevents language certification

• You hold an Italian academic diploma or degree from a recognized institution

If you think you might qualify for an exemption, get formal documentation in writing from your consulate or prefecture before submitting your application.

Documents You Need (Documenti per Cittadinanza per Matrimonio)

Every applicant must submit:

• Italian marriage certificate (issued by the Italian comune where the marriage is registered)

• Birth certificate (long form)

• Criminal background checks from every country, state, or region where you have lived since age 14, covering both national and local jurisdictions

• Valid government-issued ID (passport or equivalent)

• CILS B1 Cittadinanza certificate (or approved equivalent)

• €250 application fee receipt

• Marca da bollo (Italian revenue stamp, currently €16.00)

Document Order: Certify, Apostille, Translate

All non-Italian documents must be processed in this exact order:

1. Certified by the original issuing authority

2. Apostilled under the Hague Convention (or legalized through the Italian consulate if your country is not a Hague signatory)

3. Translated into Italian by a sworn translator (traduttore giurato) registered with an Italian court

Skipping or reordering any of these steps is one of the most common reasons applications get rejected.

Background Check Timing

Background checks must be dated within 6 months of your application submission. Because exam results can take up to three months and document apostilles can take weeks, do not request your background checks too early. The recommended sequence is:

1. Take and pass the B1 exam first

2. Once you have your exam certificate in hand, request your background checks

3. Get them apostilled and translated

4. Submit everything together within the 6-month window

How to Apply: Step by Step

Step 1: Register Your Marriage with Italy

Your marriage must be officially recorded in your Italian spouse's comune of registration. If you live abroad, this happens through your nearest Italian consulate. If you live in Italy, your spouse handles it directly with their comune. This step is non-negotiable, and it can take several months on its own.

Step 2: Verify AIRE Registration (If Living Abroad)

If you and your Italian spouse live outside Italy, your spouse must be registered with AIRE (Anagrafe degli Italiani Residenti all'Estero) at the consulate with jurisdiction over your area. The AIRE address must match the address you list on your citizenship application.

Address mismatches between AIRE and the application are a leading cause of processing delays and outright rejections. Have your spouse log in to the AIRE portal and confirm everything is current before you apply.

Step 3: Pass the B1 Italian Test

Register for the CILS B1 Cittadinanza exam at an authorized test center. Exam dates fill quickly, especially at consulate locations and in large North American cities, so book several months in advance.

Step 4: Apply Through the ALI Portal

Italy's online citizenship application is now submitted through the ALI portal (Applicazione di Lavorazione Istanze), which replaced the older portal interface. You'll create an account, complete the application, upload all your certified, apostilled, and translated documents, and pay the €250 fee plus marca da bollo directly inside the portal.

Already passed B1 and stuck on the ALI portal? Our Italian Citizenship by Marriage Application Guide walks you through every screen of the portal in English, with translations, document checklists, and screenshots of the entire process. Get the Guide

Step 5: Attend Your In-Person Appointment

After your application is reviewed, your Italian consulate (if abroad) or prefettura (if in Italy) will contact you to schedule an in-person appointment. You must bring all original documents. Your Italian spouse is required to attend with you and bring valid Italian ID.

Step 6: Wait for Your Decision

Processing times vary widely by office. Some prefetture and consulates issue decisions within 12 to 18 months. Others can take 2 to 3 years. Once the Ministry issues your decreto di cittadinanza, you have 6 months to appear and take the oath of allegiance, either at your comune (if in Italy) or your consulate (if abroad).

What to Prioritize Right Now

If you're starting the process today, here's the order that gives you the best chance of avoiding delays:

1. Confirm AIRE registration is up to date (if abroad)

2. Register your marriage in Italy if it isn't already

3. Book your B1 exam early since dates fill 3 to 6 months in advance

4. Begin gathering vital records (birth certificate, marriage certificate)

5. Hold off on background checks until you have your B1 certificate

6. Use only court-registered translators in Italy for the final translation step

7. Apply under current rules while the abroad pathway is still available

Frequently Asked Questions

What about same-sex marriages?

If you are in a same-sex marriage performed outside of Italy and your marriage is properly registered with your Italian spouse's comune, you are fully eligible to apply for Italian citizenship by marriage. The process, timeline, and document requirements are identical to those for opposite-sex couples.

How long does the entire process take?

From the day you start preparing documents to the day you take the oath, plan for 2 to 4 years total. The most variable factors are exam scheduling, document apostille turnaround, and your local consulate or prefettura's processing speed.

Do I need a lawyer?

No. The application is designed to be completed by the applicant directly. That said, if you have a complicated name history (multiple marriages, name changes), prior immigration issues, or a criminal record of any kind, a consultation with an Italian immigration attorney can save you from costly mistakes.

What if my spouse and I divorce during the process?

If you divorce or separate before citizenship is granted, your application is no longer valid and will be rejected. The marriage must remain legally intact through the entire process, all the way to the oath. The death of your Italian spouse does not invalidate the application provided you have children together.

Can I keep my original citizenship?

Italy permits dual (and multiple) citizenship. You will not lose your original nationality by becoming Italian. However, your original country may have its own rules. US citizens, for example, can hold Italian citizenship without affecting their US status, but some countries (like Japan, India, and China) do not permit dual citizenship and may require you to renounce.

What's the difference between jure matrimonii and jure sanguinis?

Jure matrimonii is citizenship through marriage to an Italian citizen. Jure sanguinis is citizenship through Italian ancestry. Marriage applicants apply through naturalization and must meet residency, language, and document requirements. Ancestry applicants are recognized as already-Italian and have a different (though increasingly restricted) pathway.

Need Help Passing the B1 Test?

The CILS B1 Cittadinanza exam is the single biggest hurdle for most marriage applicants, and it's where most people get stuck.

That's where Ready Set Italia comes in. Our B1 Cittadinanza prep program is built specifically for citizenship applicants. You'll get:

• Clear lessons focused on the real exam, taught in English by native English speakers who passed the same test

• Practice for all four sections: listening, reading, writing, and speaking

• 10 full past exams with automatic grading and feedback

• Step by step guidance on how and where to register for your exam

• Strategies for managing exam-day nerves and timing

We've helped hundreds of people pass the B1 Cittadinanza exam and move one step closer to Italian citizenship. B1 Cittadinanza clients also receive our complete Guide to the Online Italian Citizenship by Marriage Application for free, including line-by-line translations of every screen of the ALI portal.

Start Your B1 Prep Today

Final Thoughts

Italian citizenship by marriage is one of the more accessible paths to dual citizenship, but it rewards preparation. Register your marriage early, confirm AIRE is current, book your B1 exam well in advance, follow the certify-apostille-translate order exactly, and submit while current rules are still in place.

With the right plan and the right preparation, you can move through the process confidently and take your oath with everything in order.