Italian Citizenship by Marriage
for U.S. Spouses
If your spouse is Italian, including by descent, you may be able to apply after three years of marriage while living in the U.S.
Last updated: November 8, 2026
Short answer (as of November 2026)
The foreign spouse of an Italian citizen can apply for Italian citizenship after three years of marriage if the couple lives abroad, or after two years of legal residence in Italy following the marriage. Both periods are halved if you have children together. You need Italian at B1 level, a clean criminal record, your marriage registered in Italy and a €250 fee. You apply online to the Interior Ministry, through your consulate, and a decision is due within 24 months, extendable to 36.
- 3 years of marriage while living abroad, or 2 years of legal residence in Italy; halved with children
- Italian at B1 level, certified by an approved institution
- Your marriage registered in Italy and your spouse registered in AIRE
- €250 fee; apply online to the Interior Ministry through your consulate
- Decision within 24 months, extendable to 36, then an oath
First, your spouse must be Italian
This route is for the spouse of someone who is already an Italian citizen. If your spouse may qualify for citizenship by descent but has not been recognized yet, their case comes first. Once they are recognized and your marriage is registered in Italy, your application can follow. The Los Angeles consulate notes that if the Italian spouse became Italian after the wedding by naturalization, the three years run from that date; if your spouse was recognized by descent, ask your consulate how the time is counted in your case.
The requirements
| Requirement | What it means |
|---|---|
| Time married | 3 years if you live abroad; 2 years of legal residence in Italy after the marriage if you live there. Both are halved if you have minor children born or adopted together |
| Italian language | B1 level, certified by an approved institution: the Universities for Foreigners of Siena or Perugia, Roma Tre University or the Società Dante Alighieri |
| Marriage on record in Italy | Your marriage registered with the comune that holds your spouse's records, and your spouse registered in AIRE |
| Still married | No divorce, annulment or legal separation before the decree |
| Clean record | No convictions or security concerns that bar citizenship under Italian law |
| Fee | €250, paid to the Interior Ministry |
Documents (a typical U.S. checklist)
This list is based on the Los Angeles consulate's checklist; check your own consulate's version.
- Your B1 Italian certificate
- A recently issued full-text marriage record (atto integrale di matrimonio) from the Italian comune
- Your passport and a state driver's license or ID
- Your long-form birth certificate, with apostille and Italian translation
- An FBI background check, with apostille and translation, issued within the last 6 months
- State criminal records, with apostille and translation, from your state of birth, your state of residence and any other state you have lived in since age 14 (state rules vary)
- A copy of your spouse's Italian passport
- Proof that you live together, such as a utility bill in both names
Our guides to apostilles and certified translations explain how to prepare U.S. records.
How to apply
- Read your consulate's instructions. Los Angeles, for example, asks you to email it before you collect documents
- Pass a B1 Italian exam with an approved institution
- Collect your documents and have them legalized as your consulate requires
- Submit the application online on the Interior Ministry's portal and pay the €250 fee
- Wait for the decision: for applications filed since December 2020, the deadline is 24 months, extendable to 36
- Take the oath of allegiance within six months of being notified of the decree. You become an Italian citizen once you take the oath
Marriage or descent: how they differ
| Compared | By marriage | By descent |
|---|---|---|
| Language test | Italian at B1 level | None |
| Government fee | €250 | €600 per adult applicant |
| Waiting period | 3 years of marriage while living abroad | None, but consulate waits can be long |
| Decision time | Up to 24 months, extendable to 36 | Depends on the consulate or court |
| Takes effect | From the oath | Recognized as Italian from birth |
If you married before April 27, 1983
Until April 27, 1983, a foreign woman who married an Italian citizen became Italian automatically. If that applies to you or to someone in your family line, it may matter for a claim today. Whether it helps under the 2025 rules depends on the facts, so ask us or a lawyer.
Start with your spouse's case
If your spouse has an Italian parent or grandparent, we'll check whether they qualify by descent.
Sources
- Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles: citizenship by marriage
- Italian Interior Ministry: send your citizenship application (Italian)
- Law 91/1992 on Italian citizenship (Normattiva)
- Law 123/1983 on citizenship and marriage (Normattiva)
- U.S. Department of State: dual nationality
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and consulate practice change; check the official sources or ask us before acting.
Citizenship by marriage questions
Is your spouse Italian by descent?
Many couples start with the Italian spouse's citizenship by descent. We check whether your spouse qualifies under the 2025 rules.
Check my spouse's eligibility →