How to get Italian citizenship, & moving to Italy: the answers to all your questions, updated for 2024!
Today, I had the pleasure of chatting with Damien O'Farrell, the Managing Director of Damien O'Farrell Mobility Services on the Flavor of Italy Podcast. Damien's boutique service specializes in bespoke immigration and destination services, alongside expat coaching programs designed to help expatriates enhance their personal and professional lives in Italy.
Damien, an expert in the field, has lived in Italy since 1988. In 2017, he expanded his services to focus more on specialized areas. He offers a newsletter and ebooks like "10 Must-Know Tips About Moving to Italy" and "50 Tips on Relocating to Italy," and he assists with all types of relocation activities and citizenship processes. He dig, steep into all the questions you have on How to get Italian Citizenship, and Moving to Italy.
A Journey from Ireland to Italy
Damien originally hails from Ireland and moved to Italy on May 1st, 1988. Arriving when there was no public transportation at the airport, he had to quickly figure out how to get from the airport to the center of Rome. This initial experience taught him to think on his feet from the very start.
Initially, Damien had a teaching business, but he quickly absorbed a lot of information about moving to Italy because he had to navigate the process on his own. By 1990, he began hosting an in-person event called "How to Live and Work Successfully in Italy," which started with just four participants and recently celebrated its 25th edition, now limited to 50 attendees to ensure quality interaction.
In 2017, Damien decided to focus more on individual clients rather than corporate relocations to address the unique needs of different expatriates, including those with special circumstances like children with special needs or single parents.
Advice for Non-Corporate Individuals Moving to Italy
As the president of the American Women's Association of Rome, I've seen firsthand how many people are interested in living in Italy but face challenges. I asked Damien for his advice for someone who wants to move to Italy but isn't coming through a corporate transfer.
Damien explained that it depends on what the individual wants to achieve and their personal circumstances. For instance, if someone is a retiree wanting to live in a small town, that's different from someone who wants to work or start a business in Italy. Identifying these goals is crucial.
Have a question or want to leave your own tips and recommendations? Click here to leave a comment:
2 CommentsNavigating the Digital Nomad Visa
A possible step towards getting Italian citizenship
For those who split their time between the U.S. and Italy and want a visa to stay for eight or nine months a year, the digital nomad visa might seem like a viable option. However, Damien explained that the digital nomad visa in Italy is complex because it combines aspects of self-employment and highly skilled worker visas. Although it’s intended to be straightforward, the criteria, like having a university degree or an accredited professional qualification, can be challenging for some people, such as bloggers or influencers who are self-taught.
For someone earning around €15,000 a year from blogging or similar work, Damien suggested that they would likely need to increase their income to meet the digital nomad visa requirement of around €26,000 per year. Other options include the elective residency visa, which requires showing a stable, passive income of around €31,000 annually, plus additional funds depending on living arrangements.
Meeting Income Thresholds
When asked about individuals who don’t meet the €31,000 threshold but can combine their income with a partner to exceed it, Damien noted that while a combined income can be considered, recently, consulates have been asking for each applicant to have €31,000 annually. The consulate has significant discretion in these cases, so it’s crucial to present a thorough application.
Moving to Italy and staying beyond 90 days
And maybe getting Italian citizenship?
Non-EU citizens can stay for 90 days within a 180-day period without a visa. To stay longer, they need a long-term visa, such as a digital nomad visa, elective residency visa, or a self-employment visa. Each has specific requirements, including income verification, private health insurance, and proof of accommodation.
For those wanting to stay longer, the elective residency visa is typically the most viable for those with passive income. The key is ensuring the application is comprehensive and meets the consulate’s standards.
How to get Italian Citizenship
Shifting to the topic of how to get Italian citizenship, I asked Damien how easy it is now for someone without Italian ancestry to obtain citizenship. Damien strongly recommended that long-term residents apply for citizenship as soon as they qualify. EU citizens can apply after four years of legal residency, and non-EU citizens can apply after ten years. The how to get Italian citizenship process is now streamlined and done online through the Italian Ministry of Interior’s portal.
Applicants need to gather documents such as proof of residence, a clean criminal record from their home country, and a B1 level language proficiency certificate. The exact requirements are listed on the Ministry’s website and you can apply right there, although you might need the assistance of someone like Damien because how to get Italian citizenship is not entirely simple, and the website's in Italian.
How to reach Damien
Damien's insights were incredibly informative. For those interested in learning more or seeking assistance with their move to Italy, contact Damien O'Farrell through his website, Instagram, Facebook, and newsletter. For more direct contact you can call or email Damien.
Damien's latest E-book: "10 Must-Know Tips About Moving to Italy".
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What resonated with me most was the clear breakdown of eligibility: for example, the fact that non-EU citizens generally need ten years of lawful residency before applying, while EU citizens can do so after only four years. The article also lays out what you’ll need in the application-phase: proof of residence, a clean criminal record, and Italian ‘B1’ language proficiency. Those are important details, because the citizenship path can look glamorous from the outside, but the logistics matter a lot.
I especially appreciated the way the article doesn’t gloss over the “moving to Italy” part: it mentions that even once you’re eligible, navigating Italian bureaucracy (especially language-wise) can be tricky. Having that kind of upfront honesty builds credibility. The podcast episode gives insights both into what to prepare and what it might feel like in practice—that blend is valuable.
One thing I found myself wondering: the article could delve more into how people handle the residency years—what counts as “lawful residence,” how absences from the country are treated, and what role local integration (e.g., understanding Italian culture/language) really has in the decision-making process. But even so, this piece is a strong companion for anyone considering Italy as a long-term home rather than just a short-stay.
Thank you Jane! I'm glad you found this post useful. Citizenship and residency rules are constantly changing and I feel it's important to keep my readers and listeners up-to-date.