In a precedent-setting decision issued on 15 January and published on 17 January, the Regional Administrative Court (TAR) of Tuscany ruled that only uninterrupted registration in a municipality’s population registry (anagrafe) counts toward the 10-year residence requirement for Italian naturalisation. Employment contracts, utility bills and tax payments—previously accepted by some prefectures—no longer suffice. (visahq.com)
Italian citizenship by naturalisation is governed by Law 91/1992, which requires a decade of “legal residence”. Prefectural practices have varied, with some accepting continuous social-security contributions as proof. The new ruling aligns case-law with 2024 Interior-Ministry circulars prioritising anagrafe status, creating a nationwide de-facto standard unless overturned by a higher court. (visahq.com)
Against this tightening regulatory backdrop, VisaHQ can guide both individual expats and corporate mobility teams through the maze of Italian residence requirements, from securing the correct entry visa to ensuring prompt anagrafe registration and renewals. Our digital platform simplifies paperwork, offers real-time tracking, and provides access to seasoned local partners—helping applicants protect every day that counts toward the 10-year naturalisation clock. Explore our Italy services at https://www.visahq.com/italy/.
![Tuscany Court Tightens Evidence Rules for 10-Year Citizenship Applications]()
The immediate fallout could affect thousands of pending applications that rely on alternative evidence. Mobility teams supporting long-term assignees are advised to audit residency records and, where gaps exist, help employees regularise municipal registration before filing. Failure to do so could reset the 10-year clock, delaying citizenship eligibility and the attendant freedom-of-movement benefits within the EU. (visahq.com)
Practical compliance steps include: ensuring newcomers register at the town hall within 90 days of arrival; keeping stamped ‘certificato storico di residenza’ on file; and obtaining retroactive declarations where municipalities permit. Companies should also budget for extra legal fees and lead-time if an appeal to the Council of State materialises.
While immigration lawyers expect further litigation, prefectures across Italy are likely to adopt the stricter standard immediately, making robust municipal registration a non-negotiable pillar of long-term mobility strategy.
Italian citizenship by naturalisation is governed by Law 91/1992, which requires a decade of “legal residence”. Prefectural practices have varied, with some accepting continuous social-security contributions as proof. The new ruling aligns case-law with 2024 Interior-Ministry circulars prioritising anagrafe status, creating a nationwide de-facto standard unless overturned by a higher court. (visahq.com)
Against this tightening regulatory backdrop, VisaHQ can guide both individual expats and corporate mobility teams through the maze of Italian residence requirements, from securing the correct entry visa to ensuring prompt anagrafe registration and renewals. Our digital platform simplifies paperwork, offers real-time tracking, and provides access to seasoned local partners—helping applicants protect every day that counts toward the 10-year naturalisation clock. Explore our Italy services at https://www.visahq.com/italy/.
The immediate fallout could affect thousands of pending applications that rely on alternative evidence. Mobility teams supporting long-term assignees are advised to audit residency records and, where gaps exist, help employees regularise municipal registration before filing. Failure to do so could reset the 10-year clock, delaying citizenship eligibility and the attendant freedom-of-movement benefits within the EU. (visahq.com)
Practical compliance steps include: ensuring newcomers register at the town hall within 90 days of arrival; keeping stamped ‘certificato storico di residenza’ on file; and obtaining retroactive declarations where municipalities permit. Companies should also budget for extra legal fees and lead-time if an appeal to the Council of State materialises.
While immigration lawyers expect further litigation, prefectures across Italy are likely to adopt the stricter standard immediately, making robust municipal registration a non-negotiable pillar of long-term mobility strategy.
