Italy Narrows Path to Citizenship for Italian Descendants
Italy has passed a significant reform to its citizenship laws, narrowing the eligibility criteria for individuals claiming Italian citizenship through ancestry, while also introducing new provisions aimed at managing migration and offering a path to reacquire lost citizenship.
Under the updated law, only individuals with a parent or grandparent who was an Italian citizen by birth will now be eligible to apply for citizenship through jus sanguinis (right of blood). This marks a shift from the previous system, which allowed people to claim citizenship if they could trace their ancestry back to March 17, 1861, the date of Italy’s unification.
The government said the new rule is intended to strengthen the connection between Italy and its overseas citizens, reduce abuse of the system, and address a growing backlog of citizenship claims.
According to reports, the number of Italians living abroad rose by 40% between 2014 and 2024, growing from 4.6 million to 6.4 million. As of March 2024, more than 60,000 cases were still pending in court for citizenship verification.
Flow Decrees: A New Pathway via Work Permits
In addition to tightening ancestry-based claims, the reform introduces a new opportunity for descendants of Italian citizens through the annual Flow Decree, which regulates the number of non-EU nationals allowed to enter Italy for work.
Foreign nationals who reside abroad and are descendants of an Italian citizen may now enter and live in Italy on a work permit, provided they are citizens of countries identified as major destinations of historical Italian emigration. These eligible countries will be listed in a decree to be issued by Italy’s Foreign Ministry.
Reacquisition of Citizenship for Former Citizens
A further amendment added during the Senate debate offers a reacquisition pathway for individuals who were born in Italy or lived in the country for at least two consecutive years, but later lost their citizenship after acquiring that of another country. These individuals can now regain Italian citizenship by applying and paying a €250 contribution fee.
Italy’s Foreign Ministry noted that these reforms will help consulates provide more efficient services by focusing on applicants with a “real need” and a “concrete connection with Italy.”
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Over the past 6+ years, with IaM, and working in the travel and immigration sector, Charlie has authored 200+ in-depth guides on Schengen, UK visas & other destinations they have relocated 1,000+ families safely through the system. A Clockwork Practitioner, Charlie also works hard to streamline operations and adheres to the mantra "Task Clients Well".
When they’re not translating policy into plain English, you’ll find them scouting new destinations, collecting local stories, and mastering a new language to better serve our global community.
