An Italian passport is an official travel document issued to Italian citizens that confirms their identity and nationality. The Italian passport is one of the most powerful European pasasports that ranks 23rd on our Global Passport Index. It allows holders to travel internationally with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 198 countries.
As EU citizens, Italian passport holders can also live, work, and study freely in all 27 EU member states, with access to shared healthcare, education, and social services. As an Italian citizen, you are allowed to get help from Italian embassies and consulates around the world when you are abroad. This also connects you to Italy’s culture, language, and traditions.
This guide explains the requirements and steps for obtaining Italian citizenship and applying for an Italian passport.
Italian Passport: Key Takeaways
How powerful is an Italian passport?
The Italian passport is one of the most attractive passports in Europe. It ranks 23rd on the Global Passport Index by Global Citizen Solutions. The passport provides visa-free access to 121 countries. Fortunately, our passport index focuses not only on mobility but also on the investment climate and the overall quality of life in the country to fully highlight the value of one’s passport.
Italy Passport Rankings Based on the Global Citizen Solutions Global Passport Index, the Italian passport offers access as follows:
- Total Countries: 198
- Free Access: 8
- Electronic Visa: 35
- Free Access (limited days): 121
- Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): 6
- On-arrival visas: 12
- Visa Required: 16
Who can apply for an Italian passport?
According to Italian law, an Italian passport is issued to people who are recognized as Italian citizens. Anyone who holds Italian citizenship can apply, including those born in Italy, people who gained citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis), through marriage, or through naturalization. Individuals who previously renounced Italian citizenship but later regained it are also eligible to apply for an Italian passport.
Italian Passport benefits
An Italian passport is not just a travel document but also an invaluable gateway to numerous opportunities.
- Visa-free travel: Enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 198 countries, including the U.S., Canada, the UK, Japan, and most of Latin America and Asia.
- Visa-free travel: Italian passport holders can access 128 countries without additional visas.
- EU freedom of movement: As an EU citizen, you can live, work, and study in any of the 27 European Union countries, plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
- Dual citizenship allowed: Italy permits dual or multiple citizenship, so you don’t have to give up your current nationality.
- Consular protection abroad: Get help from Italian embassies and consulates anywhere in the world—and if Italy has no presence, other EU embassies can assist you.
- Access to healthcare and education: As an Italian citizen, you get access to Italy’s national health system (SSN) and European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for medical care in the EU, as well as the country’s highly regarded education system.
- Family reunification rights: These make it easier to bring non-EU family members to live with you in Italy or elsewhere in the EU.
- A valuable asset to pass down generations: In the day and age of global mobility, having a second passport is a valuable aspect of inheritance. Therefore, citizenship can be passed down to future generations and allows them access to the EU and connect to their Italian roots, traditions, and identity.
How to Qualify for an Italian Passport
To qualify for an Italian passport, you must first obtain Italian citizenship, which can be made possible through several routes, such as by descent, marriage, or naturalization. Each route has its requirements and processing times. These are the main paths to Italian citizenship.
Citizenship by birth
Italian citizenship by birth means you automatically become an Italian citizen if at least one of your parents is Italian, no matter where you are born. This is based on the principle of “jure sanguinis,” or the right of blood. However, being born in Italy does not automatically make you a citizen unless your parents are Italian or are unknown, stateless, or cannot pass on their citizenship.
Citizenship by descent
Italian citizenship by descent allows people with Italian descent to claim citizenship if they have close family ties to Italian nationals. According to the Italian law, only those with a parent or grandparent who was an Italian citizen at birth can apply. Great-grandparents no longer qualify. To qualify, your ancestor must have:
- Born in Italy.
- Been alive and not a citizen of another country on 17 March 1861 (the date of Italian unification).
- Not become a citizen of another country before 1 July 1912.
You need to prove your family connection and that citizenship was passed down without interruption. Applications must be submitted through the Italian consulate or embassy in your country.
Citizenship by marriage
Italy allows citizenship by marriage for foreign spouses of Italian nationals. If you are married to an Italian citizen and live in Italy, you can apply for citizenship after two years of marriage. If you live outside Italy, you can apply after three years. Your local Italian Consulate can confirm the exact rules. But the wait is shorter if you and your Italian spouse have children under 18. You can also apply for citizenship by marriage after one year of marriage if living in Italy, or after 18 months if living abroad. Once approved, you become eligible for an Italian passport.
Citizenship by naturalization
Italian citizenship by naturalization is open to non-EU citizens who have legally lived in Italy for ten consecutive years. This usually means five years on a residence permit, followed by permanent residency, and then five more years before applying for citizenship. Applicants must meet a minimum income of €8,264 and not spend more than ten months outside Italy in the five years before applying. Visas such as the Italian Golden Visa, Italy Elective Residence Visa, and Italy Digital Nomad Visa can help foreign nationals live in Italy long enough to qualify.
| Visa Type | Initial Validity | Renewal | Path to Permanent Residency | Path to Citizenship by Naturalization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy Golden Visa | 2 years | Renewable for 3 more years | After 5 years | After 10 years of legal residence |
| Elective Residence Visa | 1 year | Renewable annually | After 5 years | After 10 years of legal residence |
| Digital Nomad Visa | 1 year | Renewable while eligible | After 5 years | After 10 years of legal residence |
What are the required documents to apply for an Italian passport?
The following documents are required to apply for an Italian passport:
- A valid travel document or national ID card such as a driver’s license or Electronic Identity Card (eID card)
- An Italian passport application form provided by the Questura (local police headquarters) or by the nearest consulate in your home country
- Certified copies of your birth certificate with a sworn Italian translation
- Certified copies of your marriage certificate with a sworn Italian translation (if applicable)
- Two passport-size photographs with a white background
- A Letter of Consent (if you are applying for minor children’s passports)
- The passport fee
- Your expired Italian passport (for renewal)
Italian Passport Application Process
- Choose where to apply: You can apply in Italy at the Questura, the local police headquarters of the province where you reside. Or outside Italy, at an Italian Consulate that has jurisdiction over where you live. You must be registered with AIRE (Registry of Italians Residing Abroad) at your current address before the consulate processes your application.
- Book an appointment: Most consulates and Questure use the PrenotaMi portal. You must create an account and select your specific location to find available slots.
- Prepare documentation: Gather the required documents and bring them with you to your passport appointment.
- Attend the appointment and biometrics: You will submit your documents and have your biometrics done.
- Collection: Passports can be collected in person or mailed to you using a pre-paid “Priority Mail” envelope provided at the appointment, but this depends on the consulate. The passport will be ready for collection in one to six weeks. If it is an emergency passport, it can be received within one week.
Italian Passport Cost and Validity
The standard fee for an Italian passport is €116, including €42.50 for the passport and €73.50 for the administration fee. The fast-track fee is €50. However, the overall cost of an Italian passport can vary depending on the country and the overseas Italian Consular Office.
Italian passport validity
| Applicant Type | Passport Validity |
|---|---|
| Adults (18+) | 10 years |
| Minors (3–17) | 5 years |
| Infants (Under 3) | 3 years |
How to Renew your Italian Passport
- A.I.R.E. registration: Make sure you are registered with A.I.R.E. and that your address is up to date.
- Book an appointment: Book your passport renewal appointment online using the Prenot@mi portal.
- Prepare your documents: Bring a completed application form, your current or expired Italian passport, two recent passport-size photos, and proof of residence or ID. If you have children under 18, you need the other parent’s consent.
- Pay the fees: Fees are paid either by bank transfer or in cash, depending on the consulate.
- Renewals for minors: Some consulates allow postal applications for children under 12. Children aged 12 and over need to attend in person to provide biometric data.
Does Italy allow dual citizenship?
Yes, since 15 August 1992, Italy has allowed dual citizenship without any restrictions. This means an Italian citizen can have passports from other countries without giving up their Italian citizenship. The same applies to Italians looking into citizenship in other countries.
How Can Global Citizen Solutions Help You?
Global Citizen Solutions is a boutique migration consultancy firm with years of experience delivering bespoke residence and citizenship by investment solutions for international families. With offices worldwide and an experienced, hands-on team, we have helped hundreds of clients worldwide acquire citizenship, residence visas, or homes while diversifying their portfolios with robust investments.
We guide you from start to finish, taking you beyond your citizenship or residency by investment application.
