Following laws currently applies for attaining the citizenship of Italy but you should check whether it has been amended or not before you made any important decision.

Any Italian born child is automatically Italian. If you are not born in Italy and you are willing to be a citizen of Italy then following rules will apply for the procedure.

·         You should be 18 or over.

·         You must acquire legal permanent resident status

·         You should meet the residency requirement

·         They must be a "ethical and good person

·         A foreigner married to an Italian citizen can apply for Italian citizenship three years after marriage if living abroad or six months after marriage if living in Italy.

·         An immigrant who isn’t married to an Italian citizen can apply for citizenship after four years’ residence if he is a European Union (EU) national.

·         A foreigner with a parent or grandparent who was an Italian citizen qualifies for citizenship after living in Italy for two years after the age of 18 or more.

·         Similarly, a child born to foreign parents in Italy don’t acquire citizenship automatically, but it can be applied for the Italian citizenship.

In order to obtain Italian citizenship, you must apply to the Minister of the Interior where you live or through an Italian consulate. A concession tax must be paid and you must swear loyalty to the Italian republic.

The documents required vary according to your situation and nationality up to 12 documents may be required, many of which must be on official paper translated by an official translator or legalized. The authorities have 18 months to make a decision.