The Italian government announced on Friday (28) that it will reformulate citizenship laws to limit applications for citizenship by blood right.
As it currently stands, according to Italy’s “right of blood” or “jure sanguinis” laws, individuals with proof of an Italian ancestor alive after March 17, 1861, when the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed, can obtain nationality from the European country.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani says the system is being abused and that Italian consulates around the world are being flooded with passport requests.
“Being an Italian citizen is something serious. It’s not a game to obtain a passport that allows you to shop in Miami,” Tajani said at a press conference.
Tajani stated that the goal was to “strengthen the emotional bond between Italy and citizens abroad.”
“Many descendants of emigrants will still be able to obtain Italian citizenship, but precise limits will be defined, above all to prevent abuses,” Tajani said, citing the “commercialization of Italian passports.”
Two generations will be the new reference for passport eligibility
When the changes take effect, individuals will automatically qualify for citizenship by descent if at least one of their parents or grandparents was born in Italy, according to Friday’s decree.
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that there has been an increase in the number of people receiving citizenship abroad, mainly from South America, where a large portion of the Italian diaspora emigrated during the 19th and 20th centuries.
In the last decade, the number of Italian citizens residing abroad has increased by 40%, from about 4.6 million to 6.4 million, as a result of successful citizenship applications by descent. Today, there are more than 60,000 pending applications.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs cited Argentina in a statement as having citizenship recognitions increasing from 20,000 in 2023 to 30,000 the following year.
In Brazil, the number increased from 14,000 in 2022 to 20,000 in 2024.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the reform will not affect those who submitted a documented application by midnight on March 27, nor will it have a retroactive effect on those who have already received Italian citizenship by descent.
What changes for those applying for Italian citizenship by descent?
• Yes for grandchildren of Italians: those who have at least one grandparent born in Italy will still be able to apply for citizenship.
• No for great-grandparents: applications based on more distant ancestors (such as great-great-grandparents) will no longer be accepted.
• Stricter checks and increased costs: document verification will be intensified to prevent fraud, and the application fee will increase from €600 to €700.
Source: AFP