BOLOGNA INSIDE Second Edition - IWF Bologna

Atto di nascita: the long form of your birth certificate, with apostille.
Certificato penale: a good conduct certificate or police record from your home country,
with apostille.
Certificato di matrimonio: Italian marriage certificate, or in the case of a marriage
performed abroad, the accompanying atto di matrimonio (marriage act), demonstrating
that the foreign marriage has been registered in Italy.
CITIZENSHIP BY NATURALIZATION
The government decides whether or not to accept a foreign citizen based on his or her
involvement in Italian society, the applicant’s legal record and financial self-sufficiency. A
general requisite is 10 years of legal residence in Italy, five for those who have refugee
status or were adopted over the age of 18 by an Italian citizen, four for EU citizens and
three for foreigners born on Italian soil. When you apply for naturalization, you will need
your atto di nascita, certificato penale and a personal declaration renouncing protection
of diplomatic authority.
NEXT STEPS
Once you have obtained your apostilled documents, had them translated into Italian by
an authorized translator and made copies in triplicate, you will present your application
to the Ufficio Cittadinanza (Citizenship Office) of the city’s Prefect. Ask the person in the
Citizenship Office to kindly review your documents to make sure that you have completed
the paperwork correctly.
Your application will be assigned a protocol number and you will receive notification by
mail that your request is being considered. The wait for citizenship takes approximately
two years, depending on the caseload. If during the waiting period your permesso di
soggiorno expires or you change residency, you must present your updated information
to the Prefettura in writing. Be sure to include your protocol number.
Prefettura di Bologna - Ufficio Cittadinanza
Via IV Novembre, 24
Tel. 051.6401111 switchboard
Tel. 051.6401364 (active Tuesday and Thursday 12-13)
www2.comune.bologna.it/bologna/prefurp/html/index2.php
Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9-11:30
When I received a letter saying I had been
granted Italian citizenship, my city hall
authorities in Budrio arranged a small
ceremony to make it more than just a
passing of documents. My husband, twoyear-old
son and in-laws came, flowers, gifts
and cameras in hand. The ceremony was
short and sweet and the municipal staff had
prepared a floral bouquet, a packet of
historical information and a copy of the
Italian Constitution, all wrapped in the
Italian flag motif. After my oath and lots of
auguroni, we went to our village house for
cake and spumante. It ended up being a
special day that will remain etched in my
memory as the day I became Italian.
Carol Sicbaldi
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