In recent years, Italian dual citizenship has become a goal for many foreigners. Besides those who want to reconnect with their own roots and Italian ancestors, many others wish to get dual citizenship for other reasons:
- Ability to travel, work and live in other EU countries
- Access to the Italian health and education system
- A European passport
- Property purchase benefits
- Right to vote in Italian elections
- Automatic Italian citizenship to children under 18 years old and future generations.
However, when applying for Italian dual citizenship, many people have lots of questions.
Some of the most important are:
Do I have to speak Italian to apply for Dual Citizenship?
For citizenship by descent: NO. Although it is not mandatory for those applying for Italian citizenship by descent to speak Italian, it is highly recommended to learn the language. It is an integral part of Italian culture and everyday life.
For citizenship by marriage: YES. People who want to apply for Italian citizenship through their spouses must be able to speak Italian at an intermediate level.
Since December 2018, due to changes in Italian law, anyone applying for Italian citizenship through marriage must prove they speak Italian at B1 level or higher. The language certificate has to be issued by an educational institution officially approved by the Italian Education Ministry or Foreign Ministry.
Regardless of the motivation to apply for dual citizenship, MY LAWYER IN ITALY® is always ready to help its clients on their journey toward the ultimate goal: Italian dual citizenship.
Read more articles on our website:
- Citizenship by Descent, new legislation effective June 2022: what you need to know
- Italian dual Citizenship and Last Name Issues