Italian Citizenship Applications Now Come with Higher Costs

The 2025 Budget Law (Law 207/2024, Article 1, paragraphs 636–641) introduces new administrative fees and increases existing ones for foreign citizens seeking Italian citizenship, both within the country and through diplomatic channels abroad. These changes aim to streamline the process while funding improvements to administrative systems. However, they also impose higher financial burdens on applicants.  

New Administrative Fees for Citizenship Applications  

The updated law gives municipalities the authority to charge additional fees to applicants, making the process more costly:  

1. Municipal Processing Fees:  

   - Municipalities may impose an administrative fee of up to €600 per adult applicant for the processing of Italian citizenship recognition requests.  

   - Certificates or civil status extracts older than 100 years, pertaining to individuals other than the applicant, may incur an additional fee of up to €300.  

2. Application Inadmissibility:  

   - Applications submitted without the correct payment of these fees, or with payments delayed beyond the deadlines set by the municipality, will be considered inadmissible.  

   - Municipalities have the discretion to determine whether to introduce these fees and at what amount, within the legal limits.  

Higher Fees for Applications Abroad  

Applicants submitting their requests at diplomatic and consular offices will now face a significant fee increase:  

- The processing fee for citizenship recognition applications has risen from €300 to €600.  

This adjustment aims to align with the administrative costs associated with processing such requests in consular offices worldwide. 

Revenue Allocation for Improved Services  

The additional revenue generated from these fees will be allocated as follows:  

- 50% of the collected revenue will be transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI).  

  - Half of these funds will be redistributed to consular offices in proportion to the fees collected, ensuring financial support for high-demand locations.  

  - The remaining funds will go towards strengthening the operations of offices abroad, covering increased workloads and administrative expenses.  

Implications for Applicants 

The increased fees represent a substantial cost for individuals and families pursuing Italian citizenship. The introduction of municipal fees, in particular, creates variations in costs depending on where the application is processed. Applicants are advised to:  

- Verify the specific fee requirements with their local municipality or consular office before submitting applications.  

- Ensure timely and correct payments to avoid delays or inadmissibility.  

Why the Change?  

The Italian government justifies these changes as necessary to:  

- Provide local administrations and consular offices with additional resources to handle the increasing volume of citizenship applications efficiently.  

- Support modernization efforts and reduce processing times for citizenship recognition requests.  

Looking Ahead  

For those planning to apply for Italian citizenship, it is crucial to factor these new costs into their preparation. While the changes aim to improve administrative efficiency, they also underscore the importance of thorough financial planning when pursuing this significant milestone.  

For detailed information about the new fees and their implementation, visit the official portal at New citizenship recognition fees.