On Friday, March 28, 2025, the Italian government implemented significant changes to its citizenship laws, particularly affecting descendants of Italians living abroad. The measures, referred to as the 'citizenship package,' were approved by the Council of Ministers and are intended to tighten the criteria for obtaining Italian nationality through ancestry.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), the new rules came into effect at midnight on March 27, 2025, but must still be ratified by the Parliament within 60 days to become law. The primary aim of these reforms is to strengthen the connection between citizens abroad and Italy, as stated in a note from the Farnesina.
Minister Antonio Tajani emphasized that while the principle of ius sanguinis (right of blood) will remain intact, there will be clear limits to prevent abuses or the commercialization of Italian passports. He remarked, "Being an Italian citizen is something serious. It is not a game to get a passport that allows you to shop in Miami." This statement reflects the government's concern over the increased number of citizenship applications flooding consulates, particularly from Latin America.
The new regulations stipulate that only descendants of up to the second generation—children or grandchildren of Italians born abroad—will have an automatic right to citizenship. This marks a significant change from previous rules, which allowed individuals to claim citizenship through great-grandparents or even further back. Importantly, these new restrictions will not impact those who already have their citizenship recognized or those whose applications were in progress before the new regulations took effect.
In addition to limiting the generational scope, a second phase of the reform will require individuals born and residing abroad to maintain a tangible connection with Italy. This means they must exercise certain rights or fulfill civic duties, such as voting or renewing a passport, at least once every 25 years. However, the specifics of these duties have yet to be detailed by the government.
The reform also establishes a central body within the Farnesina in Rome to process citizenship requests, which will relieve consulates of the burden of handling these applications. Consulates will focus on serving current citizens, particularly in issuing passports and other documents. A transitional period of about one year is planned for the implementation of this new system.
One of the most notable aspects of the reforms is the increase in the application fee for citizenship, which will rise to 700 euros—up from 300 euros in January and 600 euros prior to that. This hike has drawn criticism from various quarters, with many arguing that the accelerated approval of the decree, which took effect before legislative conversion, raises concerns about the lack of public debate and the short adjustment period for those affected.
Local mayors and judges have expressed their frustrations regarding the overwhelming number of citizenship requests, which have strained local registry offices. Tajani acknowledged these pressures, stating, "Serious citizenship should not be subject to abuse, and there have been instances of requests that exceed genuine interest in our country." This sentiment was echoed by Fabio Porta, a member of the Democratic Party, who criticized the government's approach, suggesting it amounts to a declaration of war against Italians abroad.
Porta lamented the lack of respect for parliamentary processes and the swift nature of the reforms, stating, "In such sensitive matters, one cannot act in an emergency and hasty manner." The criticism highlights the delicate balance the government must maintain between addressing the needs of citizens abroad and ensuring that reforms are implemented with due diligence.
The implications of these changes are profound, particularly for the Italian diaspora in Latin America, where historical migration has left a significant number of descendants seeking to reclaim their heritage through citizenship. In Argentina, for instance, the Italian community is substantial, with 20,000 descendants obtaining nationality in 2023 and 30,000 in 2024. Brazil has also seen a notable increase, with 14,000 individuals acquiring citizenship in 2022 and 20,000 in 2024.
As the Italian government reinforces its citizenship laws, many descendants of Italians are left in uncertainty about their eligibility and the future of their applications. The new rules have sparked a surge of interest in alternative pathways to citizenship, including judicial and administrative routes, as individuals seek to navigate the evolving landscape of Italian nationality.
In summary, the recent reforms to Italian citizenship laws represent a significant shift in policy, with the government aiming to tighten the criteria for citizenship by descent. While the intention is to preserve the integrity of Italian nationality, the implications for the vast Italian diaspora, particularly in Latin America, remain to be fully understood. As these changes unfold, the Italian government will need to balance the interests of its citizens abroad with the need for effective governance and oversight of citizenship processes.
