Brazilians married to Italian citizens should be aware of a new bill that could restrict access to Italian citizenship by marriage. The proposal was presented in April and is still awaiting analysis in the Senate.
Currently, anyone married to an Italian can apply for citizenship after two years of marriage if they live in Italy, or three years if they live abroad. The period is halved if the couple has children.
The application must be made through the website of the Ministry of the Interior. Documents such as birth certificate, marriage certificate, criminal record and proof of B1 level in Italian must be presented.
The process can take two to three years to complete. However, the DDL 1450 bill aims to increase this period to four years and prevent spouses living outside Italy from applying for citizenship.
In March, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government had already tightened the rules for applications for citizenship by descent – ius sanguinis. Now, the goal is to also make the path more difficult for naturalization by marriage.
To come into effect, the proposal needs to be approved by the House and the Senate.
At this time, the project has not started to be debated in the committee (can be followed here). Therefore, it may still undergo changes or delays, but as the government has a majority, it is possible that it will move forward quickly as soon as it is on the agenda.
Experts point out that requests made before the change follow the old rules. Therefore, those who already meet the requirements should apply now to avoid the new restriction or increased waiting time.
Step by step guide to applying for Italian citizenship through marriage
1. Check the wedding time
You must have at least 2 years of marriage if you live in Italy or 3 years if you live abroad. If the couple has children together, the period is reduced by half.
2. Gather the required documents
The main documents required are:
- Birth certificate from the applicant (with sworn translation into Italian);
- Wedding certificate transcribed in Italy;
- Criminal record certificate the countries where the applicant has lived in the last 10 years;
- Proof of proficiency in Italian (level B1 or higher).
3. Make translations and legalizations
Foreign documents must be handouts (Hague Convention) and officially translated into Italian.
4. Access the Ministry of the Interior portal
The order is made online, through the website Ministry of the Interior (https://portaleservizi.dlci.interno.it/). You must create a login, fill out the electronic form and attach all documents.
5. Pay the fee
Currently, a fee is charged fee of 250 euros per order. Payment is made by bank slip (bollettino) or transfer as indicated on the portal.
6. Wait for the analysis
The analysis is done by local town hall (prefecture), if the applicant lives in Italy, or at consulate Italian, if you live abroad. The official deadline is up to 3 years, but Bill DDL 1450 could extend it to 4 years.
7. Track progress
After submission, you can track the process on the portal itself. If there are any pending issues, the ministry or consulate may request additional documents.
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