Nationality of San Marino: all obtaining pathways
San Marino is the country with the longest naturalization in Europe: thirty years of residence, reduced to twenty for Italian citizens. Marriage to a Sammarinese citizen opens the pathway at five years of union — three for Italians — and birth citizenship is transmitted by ius sanguinis.
1Naturalization by residence (art. 2 L.114/2000, consolidated text incl. L.27/2026)
Naturalization by residence (art. 2 L.114/2000, consolidated text incl. L.27/2026)
Requirements
- Be registered in the resident population records and actually reside in San Marino at the time of application
- At least 20 years of continuous registered and actual residence in San Marino (art. 2.1.b)
- No final convictions over 1 year for non-negligent offences, no pending proceedings or equivalent judicial notices (art. 2.1.c-e)
- Swear an oath of loyalty to the Republic (art. 2.1.g)
- Italian level B1 (CEFR) plus a test on San Marino history and institutions (art. 2-quater, introduced by L.121/2019)
Documentation
- Application to the competent authority
- Certificate of 20 years of registered and actual residence (issued exclusively by the competent public offices)
- Criminal record and pending charges certificate
- Italian B1 (CEFR) certificate plus the San Marino history and institutions test
- Declaration of renunciation of the previous citizenship
- Valid passport
2Reduced naturalization for spouses (art. 2.1.b: 10-year residence)
Reduced naturalization for spouses (art. 2.1.b: 10-year residence)
Requirements
- Be married or in a civil union with a San Marino citizen, with no separation pending or nullity/dissolution ruling (art. 2.1.b.2)
- 10 years of continuous registered and actual residence (reduction of the general 20-year term)
- Also applies to a spouse widowed before reaching the required term (art. 2.1.b.2)
- Same criminal-record, oath and Italian B1 + test requirements as the general route
Documentation
- Marriage or civil union certificate
- Identity document of the San Marino spouse
- Certificate of 10 years of registered and actual residence
- Criminal record certificate
- Italian B1 certificate and history/institutions test
3Citizenship by birth (ius sanguinis)
Citizenship by birth (ius sanguinis)
Requirements
- At least one parent is a Sammarinese citizen (ius sanguinis)
- Citizenship is transmitted through the line of descent
- Being born in San Marino does not automatically grant citizenship (no ius soli)
Documentation
- Birth certificate
- Identity documents of the parents
- Proof of the parents' Sammarinese citizenship
Frequently asked questions about the nationality of San Marino
How many years of residence does San Marino require to naturalize?
According to the main pathway of San Marino (Naturalization by residence (art. 2 L.114/2000, consolidated text incl. L.27/2026)), the term is 20 years of continuous residence (10 for the spouse of a San Marino citizen). The complete details of requirements and exceptions appear in the fact sheet.
Can the nationality of San Marino be obtained by marriage?
Yes, through the Reduced naturalization for spouses pathway (10 years of continuous residence (spouses)). The complete requirements appear in the fact sheet of that pathway.
What documentation does naturalization in San Marino require?
The Naturalization by residence pathway requires: Application to the competent authority; Certificate of 20 years of registered and actual residence (issued exclusively by the competent public offices); Criminal record and pending charges certificate; Italian B1 (CEFR) certificate plus the San Marino history and institutions test; Declaration of renunciation of the previous citizenship; among 1 more documents.
What pathways exist to obtain the nationality of San Marino?
San Marino provides 3 pathways: Naturalization by residence, Reduced naturalization for spouses, Citizenship by birth.
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