New Italian Citizenship Law CHANGES EVERYTHING in 2025!

Summary

In 2025, Italy introduced a major change to its citizenship by descent laws, limiting eligibility to only parents and grandparents, excluding great-grandparents and beyond. This shift, outlined in decree law number 36, has caused frustration among millions of people who had been tracing their ancestry to claim Italian citizenship. While some may still qualify under specific circumstances, such as proving a parent's Italian residency, the new law has sparked debates about its fairness, its political motivations, and its impact on the Italian diaspora. Those who are eligible can proceed with the application process, but delays and costs have risen significantly.

Takeaways

• 😀 Italy's new 2025 citizenship law limits eligibility for Italian citizenship by descent to only parents and grandparents, excluding great-grandparents and further ancestors.
• 😀 Prior to this law, anyone with Italian ancestry back to great-grandparents (or beyond) was eligible to apply for Italian citizenship.
• 😀 The new law drastically changes the eligibility criteria, affecting millions of people worldwide, especially descendants of Italian immigrants from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• 😀 The motivation behind this change is to prevent abuse of the citizenship system, with too many people applying solely for the benefits of the Italian passport, like visa-free travel.
• 😀 There are concerns that this change might signal a political stance on prioritizing 'true Italians' with closer ties to Italy, particularly under Italy's current government led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
• 😀 People who have already submitted applications before March 28, 2025, will still be processed under the old rules, meaning great-grandparents still count for citizenship eligibility.
• 😀 If your ancestor is a great-grandparent or further back, the new law excludes you, but you may still have a chance if a court challenge successfully overturns the law.
• 😀 A two-year residency clause allows individuals whose parent lived in Italy for at least two continuous years before the applicant's birth to still qualify for citizenship, even if the ancestor is further back.
• 😀 The process for applying for citizenship involves gathering numerous certified documents, translations, and potentially dealing with new, longer delays due to centralized processing in Rome.
• 😀 There is no strict deadline to apply, but the law could become permanent within 60 days of March 28, 2025, if it is approved by Parliament, making it important for eligible individuals to act fast.

Q & A

What is the new Italian citizenship law passed in March 2025?

The new Italian citizenship law (Decree Law No. 36) passed in March 2025 limits citizenship by descent to those with Italian parents or grandparents. It excludes great-grandparents and beyond from being eligible for citizenship.

How has the new law affected potential applicants for Italian citizenship?

The new law has cut off millions of potential applicants, particularly those whose Italian ancestor is a great-grandparent or further back. This has affected many people who were previously eligible for citizenship under the old rules.

Why did Italy decide to change the citizenship rules?

Italy made this change to prevent the system from being 'abused' by people with minimal ties to Italy who were using citizenship for benefits like visa-free travel or the ability to live and work in the EU. Additionally, there are political factors, as Italy's government wants to prioritize 'true Italians' with closer ties to the country.

Who is affected by the new citizenship law?

Those who are most affected are descendants of Italians whose ancestors are great-grandparents or further back. However, those with Italian parents or grandparents are still eligible. People who had already started their applications before March 28th, 2025, are also unaffected.

What impact has the new law had on people from countries like Argentina and Brazil?

The new law has cut off many people from Argentina and Brazil who were previously eligible to claim Italian citizenship based on their great-grandparents. For example, in 2024, Italy granted citizenship to 30,000 people in Argentina and 20,000 in Brazil, and now many of them are no longer eligible.

Can someone still apply for Italian citizenship if their ancestor was female?

Yes, but there’s a catch. Female ancestors who passed citizenship before January 1st, 1948, may require a special court process, called a '1948 case,' to claim citizenship. This is due to historical laws that favored male ancestors.

What changes have been made to the citizenship application process?

The citizenship application process has become more centralized. Applications are now handled by a central office in Rome, and applicants must attend an in-person interview in Italy. This change also means increased travel costs and potentially longer waiting times.

What are some of the common questions people have regarding this new law?

Some common questions include whether they can apply if they don’t speak Italian (language is not required for citizenship by descent), what to do if their ancestor was female, and whether they can apply if they live in Italy (applications can be faster from Italy, but the same eligibility rules apply).

Is there a deadline to apply under the new rules?

There is no hard deadline to apply, but the law could become permanent within 60 days of March 28th, 2025, if approved by Parliament. If you are eligible, it’s recommended to start gathering documents as soon as possible.

How can someone get help with the Italian citizenship application process?

If you're feeling overwhelmed, you can seek help from agencies like My Latin Life, which provides consultancy services for navigating the Italian citizenship process. They can assist with gathering necessary documents and creating a strategic plan for your application.