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"Foreign Residents Advocate for Loosening Italy's Citizenship Requirements: They Consider Italy Their Home"

Voting imminent in Italy on expediting citizenship for long-term foreign residents: Would a reduced wait time from 10 to 5 years significantly impact current residents?

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Vote in Italy's upcoming referendum to expedite citizenship for long-term foreign residents: We...
Vote in Italy's upcoming referendum to expedite citizenship for long-term foreign residents: We inquire about readers' perspectives on reducing the residency requirement from a decade to five years.

"Foreign Residents Advocate for Loosening Italy's Citizenship Requirements: They Consider Italy Their Home"

Lightening the path to Italian Citizenship:

Italy is all set to make it less burdensome for foreigners living in the country to become citizens. A recent campaign, backed by 500,000 supporters, has qualified for a public referendum on easing the residency requirements for naturalization. If successful, the current 10-year wait for non-EU nationals will be cut down to five years.

On January 20th, Italy's Constitutional Court deemed the referendum legally admissible, paving the way for a vote in 2025. This change could bring Italy on par with countries like the UK, France, and Germany, which have more lenient naturalization regimes.

We reached out to readers to understand the impact this change could have on them:

Dreams come true:

Many respondents called achieving Italian citizenship a lifetime goal. They cited numerous reasons for desiring Italian citizenship, including the attractive quality of life, excellent healthcare, and rich culture that Italy offers. Maryellyn Cannizzaro, an American with Sicilian roots, shared how this change would be "a dream come true" for her:

"We have a beautiful home in Umbria, renovated it and plan to spend as much time as possible there and have the flexibility to stay for as long as we want without worrying about having to leave for 90 days. I am half Italian/Sicilian and feel a natural connection to the country. When I am in Italy, it feels like home."

A place to call home:

Most readers expressed a strong sense of belonging and stability that they hoped to achieve through citizenship in the place they already call home. Caitlin Davis, a US citizen living in Pesaro, Marche, summed up this sentiment:

"My sons and I want to become Italian citizens because Italy is our home. We came here 8+ years ago and have built our lives here. This is where we want to stay for good."

Embracing Italian heritage:

For some, the process of acquiring citizenship through "ius sanguinis" (citizenship by blood) is too complicated, expensive, and time-consuming. However, they shared a strong desire to belong to the country of their ancestors. Theresa Vinciguerra, a US citizen of Italian descent, expressed this sentiment:

"I've always dreamed of having dual citizenship but the process is so overwhelming. I've always been in love with my heritage, study and speak Italian pretty well, but I would love to visit without limits."

A bridge to the EU and peace of mind:

Some respondents highlighted the broader benefits of EU citizenship, such as the ease of travel it brings and the peace of mind in not having to navigate the questura process or face freedom of movement restrictions. Marcia Scaggs, a US citizen living in Sicily, gave her reasons:

"This would give me peace of mind in not having to go through the questura process and freedom of movement in the EU."

Joining the Italian community:

For those who desire to contribute more fully to Italian society, reduced residency requirements could be a significant step. Jennifer Mead, a US citizen living in Barga, Tuscany, shared her thoughts:

"We would feel even more a part of the community in which we live, especially in terms of being able to vote."

While the referendum is yet to take place, the potential benefits of quicker citizenship acquisition are undeniable. It could open up new job opportunities, foster deeper cultural integration, encourage family unification, and even bolster economic growth. With a shorter residency requirement, Italy could become an even more attractive destination for foreign talent and investment. One thing is sure—for those who call Italy home, this change could mean a dream comes true.

  1. The ease in acquiring Italian citizenship could make Italy as desirable as countries like the UK, France, and Germany for foreigners seeking residency.
  2. Maryellyn Cannizzaro, an American with Sicilian roots, expressed that the reduced wait time for Italian citizenship would be a "dream come true" as she feels a natural connection to the country and already has a home in Umbria.
  3. Caitlin Davis, a US citizen living in Pesaro, Marche, shared that she and her sons want to become Italian citizens because Italy is their home where they have built their lives.
  4. Theresa Vinciguerra, a US citizen of Italian descent, expressed a strong desire to belong to the country of her ancestors but finds the citizenship process too complicated, expensive, and time-consuming.
  5. Marcia Scaggs, a US citizen living in Sicily, stated that Italian citizenship would give her peace of mind in avoiding the questura process and freedom of movement restrictions within the EU.
  6. Jennifer Mead, a US citizen living in Barga, Tuscany, believes that reduced residency requirements would allow her and her family to feel more integrated into the Italian community, particularly in terms of voting rights.
  7. The easing of residency requirements for naturalization could encourage economic growth by opening up new job opportunities, fostering cultural integration, and promoting family unification.
  8. The success of the referendum could make Italy a more attractive destination for foreign talent and investment due to the shorter residency requirement and the broader benefits of EU citizenship, such as the ease of travel it brings.

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