Italy Parliament Authorizes Tightened Control over Naturalization by Descent Rights
Italy Tightens Rules for Claiming Citizenship by Descent
Parliament passed a contested decree on Tuesday, modifying the regulations governing Italian citizenship by descent, previously criticized for being lenient. The changes were made before the final approval, addressing some major concerns.
This legislation, initially put into effect via an emergency decree on March 28th, now officially transforms into law. The amended rules significantly restrict the prerequisites for Italian citizenship, mainly focusing on the lineage's ties to Italy.
The original decree only allowed individuals with an Italian parent or grandparent born in Italy to claim Italian citizenship through descent. Wide-ranging amendments to the decree were made, expanding the eligibility criteria.
Key aspects of the new regulations:
- A parent or grandparent with a solely Italian citizenship, or one who had exclusively Italian citizenship at the time of their death, can now qualify for Italian citizenship by descent.
- Non-residents holding dual citizenship may still pass citizenship to children born abroad if they reside in Italy for at least two consecutive years following the acquisition of Italian citizenship.
- A limited exception is provided for those who acquired Italian citizenship by descent under the previous rules, granting them the ability to pass citizenship to children under the age of 18 by submitting a request before May 31st, 2026. The details regarding the submission process have yet to be clarified.
Crucially, the new rules shall not apply to applications made through a consulate or an Italian court, when filed before March 27th, 2025 (11:59 pm Italian time). Applications submitted afterward will be subject to the revised regulations.
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Ongoing legal challenges and debates within parliament may affect the future application of these rules.
RELEVANT ENRICHMENT DATA:
Stricter requirements for Italian citizenship by descent are now in place, affecting the eligibility of applicants based on their ancestry and potential ties to Italy.
Those who meet the new criteria are still allowed to hold dual citizenships.
However, applicants with pending applications or appointments before the law change (March 28, 2025) may remain eligible under the older rules.
- Legal challenges and ongoing parliamentary review may affect future implementation of these rules.*
- The stricter requirements for Italian citizenship by descent now in place affect the eligibility of applicants based on their ancestry and potential ties to Italy.
- The new regulations for Italian citizenship by descent significantly restrict the prerequisites, focusing mainly on the lineage's ties to Italy, as a result of parliamentary deliberations and policy-and-legislation adjustments.
- Under the new law, individuals with a parent or grandparent who had solely Italian citizenship or who had exclusively Italian citizenship at the time of their death can now qualify for Italian citizenship by descent.
- For a limited period, applicants who acquired Italian citizenship by descent under the previous rules can pass citizenship to children under the age of 18 by submitting a request before May 31st, 2026, though the details regarding the submission process remain unclear.
