Applications for Italian citizenship through marriage/civil union (same sex union) must be submitted online by the applicant via the web portal “CIVES” of the Italian Ministry of the Interior (click here to access the web portal, only after reading carefully the information provided below).
N.B. The above-mentioned procedure does not apply to women who acquired Italian citizenship automatically when they married an Italian citizen before April 27, 1983, in which case, an appointment may be set up directly with this Consulate through the Citizenship Calendar on Prenot@mi.
WHO MAY APPLY?
The non-Italian spouse (male or female) of an Italian citizen who wishes to acquire Italian citizenship may submit application if:
- He/she resides within this Consular jurisdiction;
- He/she has been married to/in a civil union with an Italian citizen for at least 3 years (or 18 months if the couple has a child together, including if the child is adopted). Please note that the couple must continue to be married or in a civil union right up to the day that the applicant is to be sworn in as an Italian citizen, which may take up to 3 years from the date of application.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS?
A) Once you have gathered and finalized the documentation as listed below, you must register on the web portal of the Italian Ministry of the Interior (click here). After that, the applicant will access the web portal using the same credentials that were assigned during the registration process.
PLEASE NOTE: personal details (surname, name, date of birth) filled in the registration form MUST MATCH exactly the same information on the birth certificate (i.e. married women should register always with the MAIDEN name indicated in the birth certificate).
In case of mistakes, the applicant may log in again, cancel the incorrect registration by choosing the option “Cancella la registrazione al portale”, and then proceed with a NEW registration.
B) Upload the following documentation:
- CERTIFICATIONproving that the applicant has an adequate knowledge of the Italian language at a B1 Level (European common reference for language knowledge). Language proficiency must be proven by submitting one of the following documents:
- a diploma issued by an Italian public educational institution or equivalent institution, OR
- a certificate issued by one of the certifying bodies belonging to the system known as CLIQ-Certificazione Lingua Italiana di Qualità (Quality Italian Language Certification) which are listed here below:
-
- – the University of Siena for Foreigners
– the University of Perugia for Foreigners
– the University of Roma Tre
– the Dante Alighieri Society - – the University Dante Alighieri of Reggio Calabria for Foreigners
- – the University of Siena for Foreigners
Only certificates at least at the B1 level issued by one of the above mentioned certifying bodies are considered valid.
Non-Italians residing within the jurisdiction of this Consulate General may take the Italian language certification exam at the Italian Cultural Institute in Toronto, exam venue for the CILS (Certificate of Italian as a Foreign Language) of the University of Siena for Foreigners.
Exams are held twice yearly (June and December) based on the calendar of the University of Siena for Foreigners, which is responsible for preparing and marking the exams. The University calendar and information related to the exam are available on the webpage of the University of Siena for foreigners: https://cils.unistrasi.it/98/50/Gli_esami_CILS.htm
To take part in the exam at the Italian Cultural Institute in Toronto you will be required to register at least 40 days in advance of the scheduled date of the B1 exam and pay a registration fee of $350. For exam scheduling information and payment of the registration fee please contact the Italian Cultural Institute in Toronto (Tel. 416-921-3802).
2. PASSPORT (if you are not a Canadian citizen, please add the Canadian work/study permit or Permanent Resident Card).
3. ATTO INTEGRALE DI MATRIMONIO / UNIONE CIVILE(long form marriage / civil union certificate) issued by the Italian municipality where the marriage / civil union was registered. Request form
4. LONG FORM BIRTH CERTIFICATE– Certified Copy of Registration of Birth. If issued in Ontario, Manitoba and the North West Territories the certificate must be apostilled and accompanied by a translation into Italian by a certified Canadian translator (ATIO in Ontario): in this case, according to present Canadian regulations, you must notarize the translation and get an additional apostille for the notarized translation (the long form birth certificate must be already apostilled).
NOTICE: if you are a naturalized Canadian but you were born in Italy, you may submit INSTEAD your ATTO INTEGRALE DI NASCITA (long form birth certificate) issued by the Italian Municipality where you were born.
- CERTIFICATE OF “NO CRIMINAL RECORD” issued by the country of origin, and by any other country of residence since the age of 14. Said certificates must be apostilled /legalized according to the regulation of each issuing Country and translated into Italian. The translation must be legalized by the Italian Embassy or Consulate in the Country in which they were issued (or apostilled if applicable). PLEASE, NOTE: Canadian Police Certificate issued by Royal Canadian Mounted Police – RCMP must be apostilled by Global Affairs Canada; Apostille issued by the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery of Ontario is not accepted.
N.B. In accordance with Italian legislation, a certificate of no criminal record is only valid for up to six months from the date of issue.
In CANADA you must ask for The Canadian Police Clearance Certificate to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Headquarters in Ottawa:
a) Apply for a “Certified Criminal Record Check with Fingerprints”, which will contain the photo and the digital fingerprints of the applicant. (Click here for additional information and application form)
b) the document must be apostilled by Global Affairs Canada; Apostille issued by the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery of Ontario is not accepted;
c) it must be accompanied by a translation into Italian by a Canadian certified translator (ATIO in Ontario); in this case, according to present Canadian regulations, you must notarize the translation and get a second apostille for the notarized translation (the Certified Criminal Record Check with Fingerprints must be already apostilled).
- RECEIPT OF PAYMENTof € 250 (new fee as of Oct. 05, 2018) to be paid as follows:
a) By international wire transfer, net of surcharges, to the bank account of “Poste Italiane”, Viale Europa 175, Roma – Account n. IT54D0760103200000000809020 in favour of Ministero dell’Interno – Dipartimento per le Liberta’ Civili e l’Immigrazione – CITTADINANZA – Piazza del Viminale, 1 – 00184 ROMA. The “Reason for currency payment” box must specify the name and surname of the applicant (maiden name for women).The SWIFT code for wire transfers is BPPIITRRXXX (if the bank is having problems with the last three letters (XXX), these may be omitted altogether, their purpose is to identify branch offices, and in this case, the account in question is with the main office in Rome).b) by credit card, through the “PagoPA” system, on the web portal of the Italian Ministry of Interior.
- “STAMP DUTY“ FEE (MARCA DA BOLLO)/ RECEIPT OF PAYMENT.
a) When completing the citizenship application on the web portal, the applicant must indicate the reference number confirming a wire transfer of 16 euro to the bank account of the Banca D’Italia – IBAN IT07Y0100003245348008120501.
b) In alternative, the web portal may offer the possibility to pay also by credit card through the “PagoPA” system.
DOCUMENTS WITH ERRORS:
Documents should be checked very carefully for discrepancies in the personal details. If the initial online application in the Ministry of Interior portal has any irregularities, is incomplete, lacks the apostille or the translation (notarized and separately apostilled as requested by Canadian authorities)) or has errors/discrepancies in personal details, the applicant may be asked to have the documentation corrected by a given deadline. If the applicant fails to meet the requirements, the Consulate may deem the application inadmissible and reject it. A new application may be then re-submitted but all fees will have to be paid again (as the application is a new and distinct one).
NOTICE: For translation and apostille/legalization of certificates not issued in Ontario, Manitoba or the North West Territories, please contact the Italian Embassy or Consulate of jurisdiction.