Italy has enacted a new citizenship law that restricts the eligibility for those seeking Italian nationality based on ancestry, now requiring a more direct familial connection to citizens by birth.
Italy Restricts Citizenship Rules for Descendants of Italian Nationals
Italy Restricts Citizenship Rules for Descendants of Italian Nationals
Italian parliament passes new law emphasizing direct lineage requirement for citizenship, affecting thousands of applicants.
The Italian government has officially ratified a law that modifies citizenship rules for individuals with Italian ancestry seeking passports. Under previous regulations, descendants of Italians were eligible if they could trace their lineage to an ancestor who lived after March 17, 1861, the year the Kingdom of Italy was established. The newly amended law, approved by parliament, stipulates that now only those with direct lineage from a parent or grandparent who was a citizen by birth will be considered for citizenship.
The Italian government has justified this change by emphasizing the need to strengthen the connection between Italy and its citizens abroad while also addressing concerns over the potential misuse and commercialization of Italian passports. This announcement comes in light of a notable increase in expatriate citizenship claims, with the number of citizens residing outside Italy reportedly climbing from 4.6 million to 6.4 million between the end of 2014 and the end of 2024. Furthermore, as of late March, there were over 60,000 pending citizenship verification applications, prompting the government to streamline resources for more efficient consular services.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani assured that the principle of citizenship for descendants of Italians remains intact but emphasized the introduction of precise limits to mitigate abuses of the system. He remarked, "Citizenship must be a serious matter," targeting the necessity for a "real need" that stems from a tangible connection to Italy when applying for citizenship. This significant reform marks a pivotal shift in Italy's approach to managing its growing diaspora and the legal complexities surrounding citizenship by descent.
The Italian government has justified this change by emphasizing the need to strengthen the connection between Italy and its citizens abroad while also addressing concerns over the potential misuse and commercialization of Italian passports. This announcement comes in light of a notable increase in expatriate citizenship claims, with the number of citizens residing outside Italy reportedly climbing from 4.6 million to 6.4 million between the end of 2014 and the end of 2024. Furthermore, as of late March, there were over 60,000 pending citizenship verification applications, prompting the government to streamline resources for more efficient consular services.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani assured that the principle of citizenship for descendants of Italians remains intact but emphasized the introduction of precise limits to mitigate abuses of the system. He remarked, "Citizenship must be a serious matter," targeting the necessity for a "real need" that stems from a tangible connection to Italy when applying for citizenship. This significant reform marks a pivotal shift in Italy's approach to managing its growing diaspora and the legal complexities surrounding citizenship by descent.
