Italian citizenship by marriage requires a waiting period, a registered marriage record, criminal and civil documents, and, for applications filed after 2018, proof of Italian language ability at B1 level. A 2025 Constitutional Court ruling created a possible exemption from the language test for applicants who are genuinely unable to pass it through no fault of their own.
Waiting period before applying
A spouse cannot usually apply for Italian citizenship by marriage immediately after the wedding.
The general waiting periods are:
- 3 years from the date of marriage if the couple resides outside Italy;
- 2 years from the date of marriage if the couple resides in Italy.
These periods are reduced by half if the couple has minor children.
That means the wait may become:
- 18 months for couples residing outside Italy with minor children;
- 1 year for couples residing in Italy with minor children.
If one spouse becomes Italian through citizenship by descent, the other spouse may be able to apply for citizenship by marriage if the couple has already been married for the required period. The timing depends on residence location and whether there are minor children.
B1 Italian language requirement
A language test is currently required for Italian citizenship by marriage applications. This was introduced in 2018, so it applies to applications submitted after that change.
The required level is B1 Italian, which is considered lower-intermediate. The transcript describes the citizenship-by-marriage B1 test as a simplified version of the more general B1 test used for other purposes, such as university or school requirements.
Applicants are not legally required to take lessons or attend language courses. The legal requirement is to pass the test.
However, the B1 certificate must already be available before the citizenship application is submitted. It is one of the required supporting documents. A person cannot submit the application first and complete the language test later.
Main documents required
The application requires several documents, including:
- marriage certificate or Italian marriage record;
- foreign birth certificate of the spouse applying;
- criminal background checks;
- B1 Italian language certificate, unless exempt.
The exact document process depends on whether the marriage took place in Italy or abroad.
Registering a foreign marriage in Italy
For spouses of Italian citizens who married abroad, the foreign marriage must be registered in Italy before the citizenship-by-marriage application can be filed.
This is common for people who became Italian citizens by descent while also holding another citizenship, such as an American citizen who later becomes an Italian dual citizen.
The foreign marriage certificate must be:
- legalized;
- translated;
- submitted through the Italian consulate serving the area where the Italian citizen resides.
The consulate then sends the record to the Italian municipality where the Italian citizen is registered with AIRE.
Only once the marriage has been registered in the Italian municipality can the spouse use that marriage record for the citizenship-by-marriage application.
The process is not immediate. Even after the municipality receives the record, there may be delays, so follow-up with the municipality may be needed to ensure registration is completed.
Processing time after submission
Approval is not immediate after the application is filed. Citizenship-by-marriage applications are processed by a central office in Rome.
The transcript gives a normal processing range of 1 to 3 years in some cases.
It also notes that some recent applications have been processed more quickly, with examples of approvals in 7 months and 9 months. These are examples only and should not be treated as guaranteed timelines.
Exemptions from the language test
The language-test requirement has possible exemptions, but they are limited.
According to the transcript, the Italian Constitutional Court issued a 2025 ruling stating that a person who is unable to pass the test through no fault of their own cannot be discriminated against.
This does not create a broad exemption for anyone who finds the language test difficult. The reason must be real, documented, and medically certified.
Possible grounds may include:
- age-related cognitive impairment;
- learning disability;
- medical conditions that prevent the person from learning the language or passing the test.
Medical documentation is closely evaluated by the Italian Ministry of Interior, with support from a special medical committee.
For applicants residing in Italy, the medical documentation must be certified by the local ASL, the local health authority.
For applicants living abroad, such as in the United States, the documentation must be certified by a medical authority in that country, vetted and certified by the Italian consulate, and properly translated.
The public administration has discretion in deciding whether the medical condition genuinely makes the applicant unable to learn Italian or pass the test.
Practical points for applicants
Applicants should check the sequence carefully before starting:
- confirm that the required marriage period has passed;
- confirm whether the couple’s minor children reduce the waiting time;
- make sure any foreign marriage has been registered in Italy;
- obtain the B1 certificate before submitting the application, unless a valid exemption may apply;
- collect birth certificates, criminal background checks, and other required records;
- account for possible processing times of 1 to 3 years after filing.
The main risk is assuming that marriage alone is enough. In practice, the application depends on timing, properly registered civil records, language certification or a valid exemption, and review by the Italian authorities.
