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Considering getting Italian citizenship? Here’s how to do it.
Are you considering getting Italian citizenship?
If you are eligible for it, obtaining an Italian passport is one of the best decisions you can ever make. Once completed, there are numerous benefits of obtaining your citizenship that will make a positive difference in your life. We’ll go over just some of them in this post, and hopefully you’ll start gathering your paperwork immediately!
Benefits of Italian Citizenship
Apart from the great food and rich culture of your Italian heritage, here are some of the top reasons for getting Italian citizenship.
Live Freely in Italy
Probably one of the biggest advantages of getting Italian citizenship is that it allows you to live in Italy without having to be restricted by visa requirements. Also, if you want to invest in property and business anywhere in Italy and within the European Union, you’ll have less red tape to deal with as an Italian citizen.
Live Anywhere in the European Union, Too
As an Italian citizen, you’ll also be allowed to live anywhere you want in the European Union. So, if you decide that living in Italy isn’t for you or you’d like to accept a job in another country, you can do that with very little red tape.
More Employment Opportunities
Getting Italian citizenship is a great way of increasing your chances of seeking employment within Italy and the European Union. As a dual citizen, you are at a greater advantage for two reasons:
- A greater pool of opportunities is open to you as you can now apply for jobs in your home country and in the EU.
- Your potential employees won’t have to sponsor you. Less red tape for them means your chances of being hired are greater!
Affordable High-quality Education
Whether it’s for yourself or your children, getting Italian citizenship allows you the privilege of receiving an educating in Italy.
But what’s so great about getting educated in Italy?
Apart from having some of the oldest universities in the world (opened in 1088, the University of Bologna is said to be the oldest school in the West, if not the world), Italy also has one of the best education systems in the world. For citizens, education is often provided free of charge.
Access to State-funded Medical Services
Another advantage of citizenship is that you become entitled to accessing Italy’s world-class medical services. With Italy being ranked 2nd out of countries with the best healthcare systems in the world, you’ll be in good hands. And the best part, most medical services are free in Italy. If ever there’s a compelling reason to get Italian citizenship, this one is it.
Even if you’re not planning on settling in Italy, by getting Italian citizenship you ensure that you’re covered when you travel to Italy. This is much better than purchasing medical insurance as a traveler.
Now that you’ve seen some of the benefits that come with Italian citizenship, see how you can go about getting your Italian Citizenship.
Citizenship vs. Getting Permanent Residency
When it comes to settling in Italy long term, you have two options – obtaining citizenship or getting permanent residency. While Italian citizenship is the lengthier and more complicated process, it has the advantages of affording you the benefits we’ve just looked at above.
With a permanent residency, the benefits are limited. If you can obtain Italian citizenship, grab il toro (the bull) by the horns and go for it. You’ll appreciate the doors an Italian passport opens.
The Requirements
Before you run off to fill in an application for Italian citizenship, make sure you meet the requirements that make you eligible. Here are the main 3:
1. Applying as a Descendent
If you come from a line of bona fide Italians, then you are eligible to apply for Italian citizenship. But what makes for a bona fide Italian citizen?
- You can trace your ancestry to an Italian who was resident or born in the territory we now call Italy.
- This Italian-born ancestor was still live on or after March 17, 1861, anywhere in the world, and not yet a citizen of another country by that date. That was the year in which Italy was formally recognized as a state and hence the time Italians “came into existence”.
- Your Italian ancestor did not naturalize as a citizen of another nation before July 1, 1912.
- If your Italian ancestor did naturalize, it must have been after the birth of his or her child.
- If you have women in your direct line of citizenship, their children must have been born after January 1, 1948.
2. Applying as a Spouse
To qualify for Italian citizenship as a spouse you must:
- Be married for at least 2 years if you are living in living in Italy. If your civil union was solemnized outside of Italy, you are eligible after 3 years. Having children under the age of 18 cuts that time in half in both instances.
- Be married to your spouse at the time of the application. You marriage must continue in good standing for at least 48 months after the application.
3. Applying as a Resident
If you’ve been a resident of Italy for a certain period, you can request citizenship. How many years, you ask?
- As a citizen of a European Union country, you qualify after 4 years.
- If you’re not from the European Union, you’re eligible after 10 years.
- If you are of Italian heritage (up to your grandparents) but don’t otherwise qualify because a naturalization “cut off” the chain, you qualify after 3 years.
Investing in Italy also increases your chances of succeeding in your bid to naturalize as an Italian.
Italian Citizenship – Choose Between Two Paths
Now that you know what it takes to get Italian citizenship, let’s look at the how.
You’ll have to gather a number of documents to prove your claim for citizenship. If you are applying via ancestry, you’ll effectively have to recreate your family tree using birth, marriage, death, and naturalization records to prove your eligibility. If applying via marriage or residency, there are other documents to gather. You must translate all your documents and legalize them for use in Italy.
Depending on your application method, there may be an appointment and an interview.
When it comes to processing your application, there are 2 routes you can take:
- Do it on your own
- Use a reputable agency
Going it Solo
While you may save some money by going the DIY route, you likely will encounter some hurdles along the way. No, that’s not being negative – it’s pure truth. Submitting an application that has high chances of being successful requires you to know how to deal with Italian bureaucracy, particularly regarding citizenship laws. You can wing it and succeed, but chances are it will take you longer.
Using an Agent
Using an agent has the advantages of:
- Saving you the hassle of gathering documents and working out if you qualify or not
- Speeds up the process as your agent knows exactly what is needed and when it is needed
- Peace of mind knowing that your case is being handled by professionals
Your Citizenship Journey: Don’t Struggle Alone
If you’re serious about getting Italian citizenship, Get Italian citizenship is ready to help you. You don’t have to struggle alone to realize your dream. The road to getting Italian citizenship should be sweet and memorable. It is certainly not an easy process, but it is worth it.
Send us an email and we will tailor a unique package to help you get your Italian dual citizenship.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]