Big Changes to Italian Citizenship by Descent: What You Need to Know About the New Law

If you’re exploring Italian citizenship through ancestry, major news just dropped that could change everything.

On March 28, 2025, Italy introduced a new decree—Decree-Law No. 36/2025—that significantly alters the rules around citizenship for those born abroad. If you're mid-application or just starting to trace your Italian roots, this law may directly impact your chances of success.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s happening, who’s still eligible, and what to expect in the weeks ahead.

🚨 What’s Changed?

For decades, Italy allowed people born outside the country to claim citizenship via jure sanguinis (citizenship by descent), often going back multiple generations—as long as none of the ancestors renounced Italian citizenship before the next descendant was born.

But that wide-open door just narrowed.

The new rule: If you were born abroad and already hold another nationality, you are no longer automatically considered an Italian citizen—even if you have Italian ancestry—unless you meet stricter new criteria.

👤 Who Still Qualifies?

You're not impacted by the new law if:

• You submitted a citizenship application before March 27, 2025

• You initiated a court case for citizenship before that date

You may still qualify if at least one of the following is true:

• One of your parents (including adoptive) was born in Italy

• Your Italian parent lived in Italy for at least two consecutive years before your birth or adoption

• You have an Italian-born grandparent

Example:
Rebecca applies through her Italian-born grandfather, Romeo.
✅ Rebecca qualifies.
❌ Her children (Chiara and Gianpiero) do not—unless Rebecca had lived in Italy for two years before their birth.

🛑 Who Is Affected?

If you haven’t applied yet and your closest Italian ancestor was not a parent or grandparent born in Italy, your eligibility could be blocked under the new rules.

Example:
Camilla, born in the UK, has an Italian great-grandfather, but all her direct ancestors were born abroad. She hasn’t started the application process.
❌ Camilla likely does not qualify under the new law.

⚠️ Why the Sudden Shift?

Italian decree-laws are only supposed to be issued in cases of urgent national interest. In this case, the government cited concerns over:

• Demographic strain

• National security

• Pressure on public services

Their argument? The global pool of people eligible through jure sanguinis far outnumbers Italy’s current population. Left unchecked, this could overwhelm Italy's infrastructure, they claim.

🗓️ Is the Law Final?

Not yet.

All decree-laws in Italy are temporary unless Parliament approves them within 60 days. That means this one has a ticking clock—May 27, 2025 is the deadline.

Parliament can:

• Approve it as written

• Amend it

• Reject it entirely (in which case the old law returns)

⚖️ Could This Be Challenged in Court?

Yes.

Even if Parliament approves the decree, it could still face legal pushback in Italy’s Constitutional Court. That’s happened before—parts of a 2006 decree were struck down because they weren’t truly urgent.

This new law could be challenged on the grounds of:

• Retroactive impact (affecting people who were previously eligible)

• Discrimination against descendants born abroad

• Lack of genuine urgency

• Infringement on existing rights or pending applications

📝 What Should You Do Now?

• If you applied before March 27, you’re safe under the old rules.

• If you haven’t applied, wait until the 60-day period ends: no need to rush right now.

• All Italian consulate appointments are currently on pause while the government sorts things out. This includes both new bookings and already scheduled appointments.

📌 Final Thoughts

This is one of the biggest shakeups to Italian citizenship law in years. While the decree is active now, it’s not the final word. The coming weeks are critical: what Parliament decides will shape the future for tens of thousands of citizenship hopefuls around the world.

Stay tuned, stay informed, and don't lose hope: laws can evolve, and challenges can shift the landscape again.

Have questions about how this might affect you? Email us or contact a citizenship expert to discuss your specific case.

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