You must show that you have an ancestor (parent or grandparent) born in Italy. The ancestor must not have renounced Italian citizenship before the birth of the descendant. You’ll need certified birth, death, and naturalization records. Recent changes (Decree-Law No. 36/2025 and Law No. 74/2025) have limited descent claims: now, only having a parent or grandparent born in Italy qualifies automatically.
By Birth in Italy (Ius Soli under Conditions)
If you were born in Italy and lived there continuously as a legal resident until age 18 (or born to foreign parents but met certain residence conditions), you may declare citizenship by will.
By Naturalization / Residency
Non-EU nationals generally need 10 years of legal residence. EU citizens have shorter requirements. Additionally, stable income, clean criminal record, basic language knowledge (Italian) are usually required.
By Marriage
Married to an Italian citizen and meeting residence requirements (which may vary if living inside or outside Italy). Also, Italian language proficiency often required.
2. Recent Law Changes You Should Know
As of March 28, 2025 with Decree-Law No. 36/2025, and its conversion to Law No. 74/2025 on May 23, 2025, Italy has tightened citizenship by descent. Applicants through more distant ancestors (e.g. great-grandparents or beyond) no longer automatically qualify unless parent/grandparent born in Italy, or other specific conditional ties.
New rules include that a parent must have resided in Italy for at least two years prior to the child’s birth (or adoption) in certain situations.
3. What Documents & Proofs Are Usually Required
Certified copies of birth certificates (you, your ancestor), death certificates, and naturalization or citizenship records proving whether an ancestor renounced Italian citizenship.
Translations and apostilles where required.
Proof of legal residence (if applying via naturalization or under birth-in-Italy path).
Criminal record / clean legal background.
Proof of language ability and intent to integrate (in many cases).
4. Timeline, Fees & Application Process
Submit application at the appropriate authority: Italian consulate abroad, or Prefettura / Municipality of residence in Italy, depending on path.
The application cost: recognition by descent or naturalization carries fees; note that from 2025 some applications require a standard fee (for applicants over 18) for certain recognition processes.
Processing times vary: it can take months or even over a year depending on document completeness, demand, and complexity of verifying ancestry.
5. How Dogpay Can Help With the Citizenship Process
Scenario
Typical Financial or Administrative Challenge
How Dogpay Adds Value
Paying for certified document fees (birth, death, naturalization, translations, apostilles)
Cross-border payments, multiple small transactions, high fees, delays
Dogpay supports multi-currency payments, shows transparent fees, and helps track and group related payments with receipts for legal proof
Paying application / consular fees abroad
Varying banking charges, hidden FX fees, slow transfers from some countries
Dogpay accelerates transfers, reduces hidden currency exchange costs, and ensures payments arrive on time, avoiding delays that can pause or reject your application
Gathering and proving financial stability or residence
Need to send bank statements, rent contracts, utility bills sometimes from abroad, validating documents, converting currencies
Dogpay’s transaction logs and export-friendly receipts aid in showing clear financial history; less headache in collecting cross-border financial evidence
Long term costs (renewals, basic integration costs, language exam fees etc.)
Recurring or one-off fees accumulate, sometimes using overseas or multiple providers; currency-loss and fees add up
Dogpay helps manage recurring payments, schedule or group them, keep clear records, helps you budget with more predictability
6. Key Takeaways
If you’re thinking of claiming Italian citizenship, check if you qualify under the newer stricter ancestry rules; many people who believed eligibility using distant ancestors may no longer qualify automatically.
Make sure all required documentation is certified, translated, apostilled if needed—and start early because verifying ancestry can take time.
Be aware of fees and residency obligations (if applying via naturalization or birth-in-Italy path).
Using Dogpay can make many of the financial/documentation parts much smoother—faster payments, fewer surprises with exchanges or bank fees, clear records for application authorities—which reduces risk of delays or rejection due to missing or bad financial proof.
