Two steps: live there first, then naturalize
Marrying an Italian does not grant citizenship automatically. First you need a permit to live legally in Italy. Once you meet the required length of marriage, you can apply for citizenship under article 5 of Law 91/1992.
If your spouse is not Italian but a foreign national with a permesso in Italy, the route is family reunification, with minimum income and suitable housing. See moving with your family.
of marriage with residence in Italy (3 years if the couple lives abroad)
of those timelines if the couple has children, biological or adopted
minimum level of Italian, with a recognized certificate
citizenship application fee, plus a €16 revenue stamp
Step 1: living in Italy as a spouse
The foreign spouse of an Italian citizen generally follows the rules for family members of European Union citizens (Legislative Decree 30/2007). In practice:
- The entry visa is free and processed with priority. Brazilians and Americans, who don't need a visa for tourism, can usually enter without a visa when traveling with their Italian spouse. [confirm with the consulate and the destination Questura]
- Within three months of arrival, the couple registers their residence with the comune and the spouse applies at the Questura for the carta di soggiorno di familiare di cittadino dell'Unione.
- The card is valid for 5 years, allows you to work and entitles you to mandatory, free enrollment in the National Health Service.
- The spouse does not need to show minimum income or private health insurance.
If you married abroad, the marriage must be transcribed in the Italian civil registry (through the consulate or the Italian spouse's comune). Without it, the Questura and the comune will not recognize the relationship.
Step 2: citizenship by marriage
You can apply when, after the wedding:
- the couple has lived legally in Italy for 2 years; or
- the couple has lived abroad for 3 years;
- these timelines are cut in half (1 year and 18 months) if the couple has children.
The marriage must remain valid until the oath, with no legal separation. You also need B1-level Italian, proven by a certificate from one of the recognized bodies (CILS, CELI, PLIDA or Roma Tre). People with an EU long-term permesso or who have signed the integration agreement may be exempt.
Grounds for refusal include, among others, convictions for intentional crimes with a maximum sentence of at least three years and reasons of national security. Rehabilitation removes the criminal-record bar.
Step by step
Transcribe the marriage
If you married in Brazil or the US, the Italian spouse requests the transcription through the consulate (if registered with AIRE) or through the Italian comune.
Move and register your residence
Once you have housing, the couple registers with the comune's anagrafe. A registered lease helps a lot.
Apply for the carta di soggiorno
Within three months, at the Questura, with passport, photos, transcribed marriage certificate and proof of residence.
Get your B1 certificate
Study and book the exam early. The certificate must be valid when you apply.
Gather the citizenship documents
Full-form birth certificate and criminal background checks from Brazil (and any other country you've lived in), apostilled and translated, plus the B1 certificate.
File the application online
Through the Ministry of the Interior portal, with SPID or CIE, paying the €250 fee and the €16 stamp. Then wait to be called in by the Prefettura.
Decree and oath
Once the decree is issued, you have 6 months to take the oath at the comune. Without the oath, the decree lapses.
| Item | Amount or timeline |
|---|---|
| Application fee | €250 |
| Revenue stamp (marca da bollo) | €16 |
| Legal decision deadline | 24 months, extendable to 36 |
| Deadline for the oath | 6 months from notification of the decree |
| B1 certificate | Cost varies by body, usually €100 to €200 [confirm] |
To make sure you don't forget anything, use the moving checklist. To study the language, see our Italian guide.
Common mistakes
- Moving without transcribing the marriage and getting stuck at the Questura.
- Leaving the B1 until the last minute.
- Expired criminal background checks (usually valid for 6 months) or ones without an apostille.
- Counting the time from your arrival instead of from the marriage with legal residence.
Frequently asked questions
Does a domestic partnership count?
The law refers to marriage and registered civil unions. A Brazilian união estável (domestic partnership) on its own is generally not enough for citizenship. For residence, a partner in a proven stable relationship may get facilitated treatment. Confirm your case with a lawyer.
My spouse is Italian by descent. Does it work the same way?
Yes. What matters is that they are an Italian citizen. But the marriage must be transcribed in Italy.
Can I work with the carta di soggiorno?
Yes, as an employee or self-employed, from the moment the permit is issued.
What if we separate during the process?
A legal separation before the oath bars citizenship by marriage. If the Italian spouse dies after the application is filed, the Constitutional Court (ruling 195/2022) allowed the process to continue.
How long does it take in practice?
The legal deadline is up to 36 months. It varies by Prefettura. Plan with plenty of margin.
Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, EU family members information sheet (accessed 10/2026); Normattiva, Legislative Decree 30/2007 (10/2026); Normattiva, Law 91/1992 (10/2026); Piemonte Immigrazione, citizenship by marriage and residence (03/2026); Boccadutri, citizenship by marriage (01/2025); Arletti Partners, €250 fee kept by Law 207/2024 (2025).