The Regional Administrative Court (TAR) of Tuscany has tightened the evidentiary bar for foreigners seeking Italian citizenship by naturalisation. In a 15 January decision published on 17 January, judges held that applicants must prove uninterrupted enrolment in the municipal population registry (anagrafe) for the entire 10-year qualifying period. Employment contracts, utility bills or continuous tax payments are no longer sufficient to establish ‘legal residence’. (visahq.com)
Legal backdrop: Under Law 91/1992 most non-EU nationals qualify for citizenship after 10 years of “legal residence”. Prefectures interpret the term unevenly; some accepted alternative proof such as INPS contributions. The Tuscany ruling aligns case-law with Interior-Ministry circulars from 2024 that prioritised registration over economic presence, creating a uniform—but stricter—standard.
Practical implications: The decision could derail thousands of pending files where applicants relied on work records alone. Mobility teams should cross-check whether long-term assignees are properly registered at the anagrafe and, if not, help them regularise status before filing citizenship claims. Failure to do so may reset the 10-year clock.
![Tuscany Court Rules Only Official Municipal Registration Counts Toward 10-Year Citizenship Clock]()
For companies and individuals grappling with these stricter documentation demands, VisaHQ’s Italy desk (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) can coordinate anagrafe registrations, monitor renewals, and compile the residency evidence now required for naturalisation, offering a streamlined path through an increasingly complex process.
Compliance steps: • Ensure HR onboarding checklists include town-hall registration within 90 days of arrival. • Keep stamped ‘certificato storico di residenza’ copies on file. • For past years, obtain retroactive declarations if the municipality offers that service.
Policy outlook: Lawyers expect an appeal to the Council of State, but until a higher court rules, prefectures nationwide are likely to follow the Tuscany precedent. Companies sponsoring naturalisation for key talent should build in extra lead-time and legal fees.
Legal backdrop: Under Law 91/1992 most non-EU nationals qualify for citizenship after 10 years of “legal residence”. Prefectures interpret the term unevenly; some accepted alternative proof such as INPS contributions. The Tuscany ruling aligns case-law with Interior-Ministry circulars from 2024 that prioritised registration over economic presence, creating a uniform—but stricter—standard.
Practical implications: The decision could derail thousands of pending files where applicants relied on work records alone. Mobility teams should cross-check whether long-term assignees are properly registered at the anagrafe and, if not, help them regularise status before filing citizenship claims. Failure to do so may reset the 10-year clock.
For companies and individuals grappling with these stricter documentation demands, VisaHQ’s Italy desk (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) can coordinate anagrafe registrations, monitor renewals, and compile the residency evidence now required for naturalisation, offering a streamlined path through an increasingly complex process.
Compliance steps: • Ensure HR onboarding checklists include town-hall registration within 90 days of arrival. • Keep stamped ‘certificato storico di residenza’ copies on file. • For past years, obtain retroactive declarations if the municipality offers that service.
Policy outlook: Lawyers expect an appeal to the Council of State, but until a higher court rules, prefectures nationwide are likely to follow the Tuscany precedent. Companies sponsoring naturalisation for key talent should build in extra lead-time and legal fees.
