On 28 March, Italian authorities tightened the citizenship regulation for claiming citizenship through descent (jure sanguinis). Previously, individuals could apply for Italian citizenship if they could prove they had an Italian ancestor alive after 17 March 1861, the date marking the unification of the country.
The new rule, which has to be ratified by parliament within 60 days to remain in effect, introduces stricter eligibility criteria. Applicants must now have at least one Italian parent or grandparent, who was born in Italy, to qualify. Moreover, they will also be requested to prove their Italian fluency, a regulation that was previously limited to those obtaining citizenship through marriage or residency.
Italy’s population has been declining over the past decade, falling to approximately 58.93 million in 2024. Under the previous regulations, between 60 and 80 million people worldwide were estimated to be eligible for Italian citizenship, according to the foreign ministry.
The ministry also reported a sharp increase in the number of citizenships granted to individuals abroad. This surge was particularly notable in South America, where millions of Italians migrated to during the 19th and 20th centuries to escape severe poverty in Italy.
Riforma cittadinanza iure sanguinis, guerra in i #Ucraina, centri migranti in Albania e rapporti 🇪🇺🇺🇸: leggi intervista del Min @Antonio_Tajani su @tempoweb
— Farnesina 🇮🇹 (@ItalyMFA) March 29, 2025
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“Unfortunately over the years there have been abuses and requests for citizenship that went a bit beyond the true interest in our country,” said Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani.
Between 2014 and 2024, the number of Italians residing abroad increased by 40%, rising from 4.6 million to 6.4 million. Many of these individuals registered after acquiring Italian citizenship. In Argentina alone, the number of citizenship recognitions surged from 20,000 in 2023 to 30,000 in 2024. Tajani stated that the majority of these individuals have no direct ties to Italy, do not contribute to its tax system, and do not participate in elections.
Being an Italian citizen is a serious matter, the granting of citizenship is a serious matter.
Antonio Tajani
However, the Italian government does not automatically grant citizenship to individuals born on its soil (jus soli). Instead, those born in the country to foreign parents must wait until they turn 18 to apply. To qualify, they must prove that they have legally lived in Italy for at least 10 years.
The recently updated regulations do not affect the 60,000 citizenship applications currently being processed at consulates worldwide. They do, however, change the process for future applicants.
The law also impacts citizens, who were not born in the country. They can now only transfer citizenship to children born abroad if they have resided in Italy for at least two consecutive years.
