Although applying for Italian citizenship by marriage may seem relatively straightforward, in practice many clients seek our help at some point due to problems encountered when filling in the online application or because their application has been refused by the Italian authorities after they submitted it themselves.
In this article, we examine the most common mistakes reported by our clients. However, there are many other reasons for rejection or delay that require case-by-case attention.
Lack of proof of an effective and ongoing marriage
Individuals applying for Italian citizenship through marriage must demonstrate that their marital bond remains valid until the moment they take the oath. As the application is based on marriage, the authorities carry out various checks to verify that the marriage is not fictitious, especially in cases of non-cohabitation between the applicant and the Italian spouse.
Discrepancies
The Italian authorities are very meticulous when it comes to assessing the consistency of data between documents. Even minor inconsistencies can result in delays, requests for additional documentation or even the rejection of the application.
If discrepancies are found, additional documents explaining such discrepancies must be attached.
Expired or incorrect documents
The validity of documents is one of the most important aspects when applying for Italian citizenship through marriage. Most documents are valid for only six months from the date of issue.
Submitting an application with even one expired document carries the risk of immediate rejection.
Lack of legalization or apostille
To be considered valid by the Italian authorities, foreign documents must be duly apostilled if the issuing country is a party to the Hague Convention. Otherwise, the document must be legalised, which involves a different procedure.
Documents that have not been legalised or apostilled are considered void by the Italian authorities.
TIPS:
- Make sure that all your personal data exactly matches the details in your supporting documents.
- Check that the documents are valid and that each one has been issued by the relevant authority in the correct format.
- Ensure that each document is legalised/apostilled correctly.
- Maintain the legal requirements throughout the process.
If you have any doubts, or if you are concerned that your documentation is not perfectly in order, let our expert team assist you. We can guide you through the process and increase your application’s chances of success by ensuring your documentation is submitted correctly and in compliance with the necessary requirements.
This article was written by Giuditta De Ricco and Irene Lauretta.
