Italy has officially revised its laws regarding citizenship for individuals with Italian heritage. The recent legislation, approved by parliament, alters the previous rule that allowed anyone with an Italian ancestor who lived after 17 March 1861 to claim citizenship under ‘jus sanguinis’, or bloodline law.
Now, to qualify for an Italian passport, applicants must show they have at least one parent or grandparent who was a citizen by birth. The government emphasizes that this change aims to enhance connections between Italy and its citizens abroad, curb 'abuse' and 'commercialization' of citizenship, and address the rising backlog of applications.
From 2014 to 2024, the number of Italian citizens living overseas skyrocketed by 40%, growing from 4.6 million to 6.4 million. As of March, over 60,000 citizenship verification cases were pending, prompting the need for legislative adjustments.
Italy’s foreign ministry clarified that while there are new limits, descendants of Italians can still pursue citizenship—with stricter requirements to ensure authenticity and necessity in connection to Italy. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that “citizenship must be a serious thing,” indicating the government’s commitment to a more streamlined and genuine citizenship process.
Now, to qualify for an Italian passport, applicants must show they have at least one parent or grandparent who was a citizen by birth. The government emphasizes that this change aims to enhance connections between Italy and its citizens abroad, curb 'abuse' and 'commercialization' of citizenship, and address the rising backlog of applications.
From 2014 to 2024, the number of Italian citizens living overseas skyrocketed by 40%, growing from 4.6 million to 6.4 million. As of March, over 60,000 citizenship verification cases were pending, prompting the need for legislative adjustments.
Italy’s foreign ministry clarified that while there are new limits, descendants of Italians can still pursue citizenship—with stricter requirements to ensure authenticity and necessity in connection to Italy. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that “citizenship must be a serious thing,” indicating the government’s commitment to a more streamlined and genuine citizenship process.
