Seven crucial facts about Italy's citizenship vote:
Italian Citizenship: What You Need to Know About the Upcoming Referendum
Gear up for a landmark event in Italy! On June 8th and 9th, Italians will cast their votes on a proposal to streamline citizenship by residency for non-EU nationals. Here's the lowdown on what you need to know about the referendum.
Breaking it Down
In a nutshell, the referendum suggests halving the residency requirement for becoming Italian citizens, from the current 10 years to just five years for non-EU residents. However, this won't affect EU nationals, who can still obtain Italian citizenship after four years of legal residency.
It's essential to note that this reform only applies to residency-based citizenship applications, leaving ancestry and marriage routes untouched. Moreover, the government has recently introduced stricter eligibility criteria for those seeking citizenship by descent, which this referendum does not address[1][3].
The Fine Print
The sole change proposed in the referendum is the residency period requirement. All other existing prerequisites, such as:
- Proving Italian language proficiency at the B1 (lower-intermediate) level[2]
- Providing proof of income and tax records from Italy for the past three years
- Absence of criminal convictions in any country they've lived in
Remain unchanged.
Who Benefits?
Over 1.4 million foreign residents in Italy could potentially benefit from the reform[4]. However, this figure is lower than the initial 2.5 million suggested by groups supporting the referendum. The reason? Certain non-EU countries don't allow dual citizenship, and minimum income requirements might exclude around 700,000 residents from eligibility.
The Government's Stance
Unlike the centrist opposition party +Europa ('More Europe') that proposed this referendum, the Italian government is against the proposal. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni previously expressed her view that a 10-year period for citizenship is reasonable and saw no need for change[3]. In fact, Meloni announced she would not vote in the citizenship referendum, sparking criticism from the centre-left opposition.
Hurdles Ahead
Voter turnout has historically been low for abrogative referendums in Italy, which could complicate the situation[6]. With Minister Meloni openly encouraging abstentions, the chances of reaching the required 50% turnout seem slim. However, failures to reach a quorum don't always indicate a victory for the incumbent government – it's a gamble they're taking.
A Bonus Round: Five Referendums in One
Apart from the hotly contested citizenship question, Italians will also cast votes on four other topics related to labor laws and employment contract conditions.
For the most up-to-date news, advice, and insights on Italian citizenship, visit our dedicated section[5]. Join the conversation and share your thoughts on the referendum by leaving a comment below!
- The upcoming Italian referendum on June 8th and 9th aims to reduce the residency requirement for non-EU nationals seeking Italian citizenship from 10 years to 5 years.
- The referendum, however, will not affect EU citizens, who can still obtain Italian citizenship after four years of legal residency.
- This proposed reform applies only to residency-based citizenship applications and does not alter ancestry or marriage routes.
- The referendum retains existing prerequisites such as proving Italian language proficiency, providing proof of income and tax records, and ensuring no criminal convictions.
- Approximately 1.4 million foreign residents in Italy might benefit from the proposed reform, although some may be excluded due to dual citizenship restrictions and minimum income requirements.
- Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the Italian government are against the proposal, citing a 10-year residency period as reasonable and expressing no need for change.
- The success of the referendum is uncertain due to historically low voter turnout in abrogative referendums and Prime Minister Meloni's encouragement of abstentions, potentially raising questions about the referendum's quorum.
