The Regional Administrative Court (TAR) of Tuscany has ruled that foreigners seeking Italian citizenship by naturalisation must present evidence of municipal-registry residence, not merely work contracts or utility bills. The 15 January 2026 decision rejected an appeal by an applicant who had provided payroll documents but had failed to register at the anagrafe. (gdc.ancidigitale.it)
Legal background. Under Law 91/1992, ten years of legal residence is required for most non-EU nationals. In practice, some applicants argued that continuous employment and tax contributions substantiated residence. The court held that only registration in the municipal population office counts toward the statutory period, aligning with Interior-Ministry circulars issued in 2024.
Impact on mobility practitioners. Companies sponsoring long-term foreign staff for eventual citizenship must now build anagrafe registration into on-boarding checklists. Failure to do so could delay naturalisation and, by extension, dual-citizenship benefits that facilitate intra-EU postings. Mobility policies may need to cover administrative fees and interpreter services for registry visits.
![Administrative court tightens proof-of-residence rule for citizenship applications]()
For organisations or individuals unsure how to navigate these new procedural hurdles, VisaHQ offers tailored support with Italian residence and citizenship documentation. Its dedicated Italy portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) lets users book municipality appointments, prepare required forms, and track application milestones, helping to ensure the anagrafe registration—and the ten-year clock—start on time.
Applicant guidance.
• Register at the local municipality within 90 days of arrival, even if you already have a residence permit and a lease.
• Keep official ‘certificato di residenza’ copies for the entire qualifying period.
• Periods of absence abroad over six months risk interrupting the clock.
Appeal prospects. The ruling follows similar decisions in Lombardy and Lazio; observers say the Council of State is unlikely to overturn it, signalling a nationally consistent—and stricter—interpretation going forward.
Legal background. Under Law 91/1992, ten years of legal residence is required for most non-EU nationals. In practice, some applicants argued that continuous employment and tax contributions substantiated residence. The court held that only registration in the municipal population office counts toward the statutory period, aligning with Interior-Ministry circulars issued in 2024.
Impact on mobility practitioners. Companies sponsoring long-term foreign staff for eventual citizenship must now build anagrafe registration into on-boarding checklists. Failure to do so could delay naturalisation and, by extension, dual-citizenship benefits that facilitate intra-EU postings. Mobility policies may need to cover administrative fees and interpreter services for registry visits.
For organisations or individuals unsure how to navigate these new procedural hurdles, VisaHQ offers tailored support with Italian residence and citizenship documentation. Its dedicated Italy portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) lets users book municipality appointments, prepare required forms, and track application milestones, helping to ensure the anagrafe registration—and the ten-year clock—start on time.
Applicant guidance.
• Register at the local municipality within 90 days of arrival, even if you already have a residence permit and a lease.
• Keep official ‘certificato di residenza’ copies for the entire qualifying period.
• Periods of absence abroad over six months risk interrupting the clock.
Appeal prospects. The ruling follows similar decisions in Lombardy and Lazio; observers say the Council of State is unlikely to overturn it, signalling a nationally consistent—and stricter—interpretation going forward.
