Italy has tightened its citizenship laws, making it harder for descendants of Italians abroad to claim nationality under the principle of ius sanguinis, or "right of blood." The reform, championed by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, aims to curb what he describes as "abuses" while simplifying the process for those with closer ties to Italy.
Under the new law, individuals seeking Italian citizenship must prove direct lineage to at least one grandparent or parent born in Italy. Previously, anyone with an Italian ancestor—no matter how distant—could apply. "This decree supports return migration," Tajani said. "Italian descendants will automatically acquire citizenship if they are born in Italy or if, before their birth, one of their citizen parents has resided continuously in our country for at least two years." He also reassured that those who have already obtained citizenship or applied before the March 27 deadline will retain their status.
The move seeks to relieve administrative pressure on Italian municipalities and consulates, which have been inundated with citizenship applications, particularly from Brazil and Venezuela—countries with significant Italian diaspora populations. Tajani noted that Argentina saw citizenship recognitions surge from 20,000 in 2023 to 30,000 in 2024, while Brazil’s numbers jumped from 14,000 in 2022 to 20,000 in 2023. "This reform is about protecting Italian citizens abroad—the true Italian citizens abroad," he emphasized.
Alongside the decree, two additional bills have been introduced. One requires Italian descendants to actively exercise their citizenship rights at least once every 25 years—such as voting, renewing a passport, or paying taxes—to maintain their status. Furthermore, individuals born abroad must register their birth certificate in Italy before turning 25, or they will lose eligibility for citizenship. Children born to Italian parents outside Italy will still be eligible but must reside in the country for at least two years, subject to a formal declaration by their parents.
The second bill overhauls the application process, transferring responsibilities from consulates to a centralized office at the Foreign Ministry. Consulates will focus on serving existing Italian citizens rather than processing new applications. Fees for citizenship applications have also increased, rising from €300 to €600 (about $650 at current exchange rates) in January 2025, with an expected jump to €700. "Italian citizenship carries great responsibility and must be granted with due seriousness," Tajani said. He also warned that stricter regulations aim to prevent the commercialization of Italian passports.
When asked whether these rules would affect naturalized athletes such as former Argentine footballer Mauro Camoranesi, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi declined to comment on specific cases but assured that "preferential paths" remain for individuals with sporting merit.
Under previous rules, anyone who could prove they had an Italian ancestor who was alive on or after March 17th, 1861—when the Kingdom of Italy was created—and that no one in their line of descent had renounced Italian citizenship before the birth of their child could seek Italian citizenship. But under the decree approved on Friday, March 28, 2025, only people with an Italian parent or grandparent born in Italy will now qualify for citizenship by descent.
Italian news reports said that the decree would not have a retroactive effect. Those who have already obtained citizenship by descent through a court ruling or by successfully applying through an Italian municipality or consulate will continue to hold Italian citizenship, reports said. Furthermore, previous rules will continue to apply to people who submitted their citizenship applications by midnight on March 27, 2025.
"The granting of citizenship is a serious thing and there has been abuse [of the system] in past years," Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told reporters following a ministerial summit on Friday. Tajani said that the "commercialization of Italian passports" was among the main factors behind the government’s decision to change the rules. He said companies were making a fortune by helping people track down their Italian ancestors and secure the vital records needed in the application process, clogging up consular and municipal offices with demands for documentation. "We are striking down very hard against those who want to make money from the opportunity of becoming an Italian citizen," Tajani said. "Many descendants of emigrants will still be able to obtain Italian citizenship, but precise limits will be set, primarily to avoid abuse," he added.
Another goal of the clampdown was to "boost the emotional link between Italy and the citizen [living] abroad," Tajani said. MPs from Italy’s ruling coalition have in the past complained that current citizenship laws create "mechanisms that do not consider the existence of a genuine emotional bond with Italy" which result in "an exponential increase in the number of people [...] who obtain citizenship despite lacking a tangible connection to Italy."
The foreign ministry pointed to a boom in recognition of citizenship by descent claims filed abroad in the past 10 years, saying successful claims increased by 40 percent—from 4.6 million to 6.4 million. It added that there are currently 60,000 pending citizenship by descent proceedings.
Prior to the change approved on Friday, March 28, 2025, between 60 and 80 million people with Italian ancestry were eligible for citizenship. According to Italian media reports, Friday’s decree was just the first in a series of planned measures aimed at modifying citizenship by descent rules.
Two draft laws (disegni di legge) submitted by the government include plans to further tighten current regulations, making it harder for people born abroad to become citizens, reports said. Under the first draft law, people born abroad would have to register their birth certificates with Italian authorities before turning 25 to be able to apply for citizenship later in life. Italian citizens living abroad would also have to exercise citizen "rights and duties" including renewing their passports or voting in Italian elections at least once every 25 years in order to keep their citizenship. Under the second draft law, the citizenship application fee would increase to €700, up from €600. The above-mentioned disegni di legge haven’t yet been approved by Italy’s parliament.
