Italy to Hold Referendum on Easing Citizenship Rules
Interview: Outlining the Process of Italy's Referendum on Simplifying Citizenship Criteria
Italy is set to hold a nationwide referendum on June 8th and 9th, 2025, to decide whether the country's current 10-year residency requirement for non-EU citizens to apply for Italian citizenship should be halved to five years.
The proposed reform, if passed, would align Italy's naturalization regulations with those of several European countries, including the UK, France, and Germany. According to estimates, around 2.5 million residents might become eligible for Italian citizenship should the referendum pass.
Eligibility and Quorum
All Italian citizens aged 18 and above, including those living abroad and registered with AIRE, will be allowed to vote in the referendum. In order for the referendum to be valid, a quorum of at least 50% + 1 of eligible voters must take part in the vote. If the quorum is not met, the referendum will be rendered invalid regardless of the majority vote. If the quorum is achieved, a simple majority vote in favor is required for the referendum to pass.
Other Requirements
While the residency requirement would be slashed in half if the voters approve the reform, other prerequisites for citizenship by residency would remain in place. These include demonstrating proficiency in the Italian language, providing proof of income, and presenting evidence of a clean criminal record in any country where the applicant has resided, including Italy.
Voting Process
Besides the citizenship referendum, Italians will also be voting in four other referendums on labor law provisions. Italians living in Italy will be required to vote at their local polling stations with a valid electoral card, while Italians residing abroad and registered with AIRE can vote by post. It's essential for those with missing or lost electoral cards to visit their local comune's election office to request a replacement card.
Prospects for the Referendum
Historically, voter turnout for abrogative referendums in Italy has been low. Concerns have been raised that the abstention rate may be particularly high for the upcoming referendum as members of the ruling coalition have publicly encouraged supporters to boycott the vote. Additionally, achieving the necessary quorum of a majority "yes" vote may be challenging due to opposition from the united right-wing bloc.
For further details regarding the prospects of the citizenship referendum passing, please refer to our separate article on the subject. Stay tuned for updates on this significant development in Italian citizenship policies.
- The Italian referendum on June 8th and 9th, 2025, aims to adjust the country's current 10-year residency requirement for non-EU citizens seeking Italian citizenship, potentially aligning it with EU counterparts such as the UK, France, and Germany.
- If the referendum passes, the Italian language, income proof, clean criminal records, and other existing requirements will still need to be met for citizenship by residency.
- Italian citizens aged 18 and above, including those living abroad, will be eligible to vote in the referendum, with a quorum of at least 50% + 1 of eligible voters required for the vote to be valid.
- Italians will also vote on four labor law provisions in addition to the citizenship referendum, with Italian residents voting at local polling stations and those abroad voting by post.
- The success of the citizenship referendum may be influenced by factors such as low voter turnout and opposition from the right-wing bloc in Italian politics, making predictions about the final outcome complicated.
