Overview:

The Italian government has introduced stricter rules for obtaining citizenship through descent (jus sanguinis), aiming to reduce abuse and reinforce a real connection to Italy.

There is a decreto legge (which is automatically valid, in force now, and remains in force unless not approved by Parliament) which changes the JS requirements. 

There is also a disegno di legge (which is not yet valid, not yet in force, and must be voted upon) which would further place restrictions on Italian citizens that were born abroad.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/live/03uAfJPqD5c

Main Changes - decreto legge (these are valid immediately, now):

1. Automatic Citizenship Limited to 2 Generations

• Only descendants with an Italian parent or grandparent are eligible for automatic recognition of citizenship.
• Applies regardless of date of birth.
• Those who already applied before March 27, 2025 or have already been recognized keep their citizenship.

2. Residency Requirement Introduced

• If you're born outside Italy, you only get automatic citizenship if:
  • One parent lived at least 2 consecutive years in Italy before your birth.
• If you're a descendant with at least one Italian grandparent, you can apply only after living in Italy for 3 years.
• Children of Italian citizens born abroad can become citizens after living in Italy for 2 years.
• Spouses of Italian citizens can naturalize only if they live in Italy.

3. No More Consulate Applications

Application Procedure Overhaul

• No more consulate applications: all applications from abroad will go through a centralized office at the Foreign Ministry.
• A transition period of about one year is planned for setup.
• Consulates will no longer handle new citizenship requests, only services for existing citizens.

4. Increased Application Fees

• Citizenship application fees:
  • Were €300
  • Increased to €600 (from Jan 1, 2025)
  • Will rise to €700 under the new proposal

5. No Retroactive Stripping, but No Amnesties

• Those who already have citizenship or applied before March 27 are unaffected.
• No “amnesties” will be granted under the new system.

6. Focus on Preventing Abuse

• Reforms aim to stop “citizenship shopping,” fake connections, and use of citizenship to access business or medical services in Italy.
• Tajani stressed: “Being an Italian citizen must be a serious matter.”

Main Changes - disegno di legge (these are proposed):

If you're born abroad:

• You must show a real link to Italy, e.g. through residency or active engagement.
• Citizens born and residing abroad must exercise rights/duties of citizenship at least once every 25 years (details TBD).

Why was this done?

• The reform aims to crack down on abuses and "passport tourism" (people applying for Italian citizenship for convenience, benefits, or fraud).
• The goal is to ensure only those with a real, ongoing connection to Italy can become or remain Italian citizens.
• Massive growth in citizenship recognitions:
  • 4.6M Italians abroad in 2014 → 6.4M in 2024 (+40%)
  • Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela have seen large increases in applications
• Over 60,000 pending citizenship cases in Italian courts
• Up to 60–80 million people worldwide could potentially qualify under the old law
• Some obtained passports only to take advantage of Italian healthcare or EU mobility

What does this mean for you?

• If you are recognized, you are unaffected.
• If you submitted your application prior to March 27, you are unaffected.
• We are working to understand what this means for current judicial applications.
• This applies to all applications, regardless of where you live, if you are applying administratively.
• We are working to understand what this means for future judicial applications (those not yet filed).

FAQ

• Is there any chance that this could be overturned?
  • This still must be approved by an expedited session of Parliament within 60 days. If it is not approved within 60 days, then everything reverts to the rules before March 27.
• Is there a language requirement?
  • No.
• What does this mean for Bill 752 and the other bills that have been proposed?
  • It appears that those bills are being superseded by this more restrictive action.
• My grandparent was born in Italy, but naturalized when my parent was a minor. Am I SOL?
  • We are waiting for word on this issue. We will update this FAQ as we get that information.