Italy Tightens Citizenship Laws, Restricting 'Right of Blood' Claims

Italy has enacted a new decree-law significantly restricting citizenship claims based on descent, a move impacting millions worldwide who trace their ancestry back to Italy. The reform, driven by concerns over national security, administrative burdens, and alignment with other European nations, marks a sharp departure from the country's traditionally lenient ius sanguinis (right of blood) system.

Sweeping Changes to Ius Sanguinis

On March 28, 2025, the Italian government adopted Decree-Law No. 36, introducing urgent measures concerning Italian citizenship. This legislative intervention marks a radical turning point in the longstanding ius sanguinis system—the right to citizenship by descent. Until now, foreign-born descendants of Italian citizens could claim Italian citizenship without generational limits and without needing to demonstrate any actual connection to the Republic of Italy. This flexible approach has led to estimates that over 80 million people worldwide could potentially qualify for Italian citizenship.

Under the new regulations, automatic citizenship by descent is limited to two generations. To be considered an Italian citizen at birth, an individual born abroad must have at least one parent or grandparent who was also born in Italy. Those with more distant Italian ancestors will face stricter requirements to prove a "genuine connection" to the country. This connection may include demonstrating recent residence in Italy or having direct parental ties to the territory.

Rationale Behind the Reform

The Italian government's decision to reform its citizenship laws stems from several key factors. The preamble of the decree highlights that interpretations of citizenship law since national reunification have allowed individuals born abroad to claim Italian citizenship without generational limits or any obligation to maintain ties with the Republic. This has led to a continuously growing pool of potential Italian citizens residing outside of Italy, many of whom also hold other nationalities and maintain stronger cultural, legal, and emotional ties to other countries.

The government warns that the absence of any “genuine link” to Italy among this population poses a real and current risk to national security, particularly considering Italy's EU membership and participation in the Schengen Area. Citizenship entails not just a legal status but also access to fundamental rights and privileges within the European Union. Therefore, the decree aims to prevent an uncontrolled increase in applications that could overwhelm the functionality of consular offices, municipalities, and courts. At the same time, it seeks to align Italy's citizenship rules with those of other European countries, which typically require stronger links with the national territory.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has also stated that the reform aims to curb widespread "abuse" of Italy's citizenship laws, including the "commercialization of Italian passports." He noted the proliferation of private companies profiting from assisting individuals in tracing their Italian ancestry and securing necessary records, leading to an overwhelming surge in documentation requests at consular and municipal offices.

Immediate Consequences and Exceptions

The new rules took effect immediately on March 28, 2025. Authorities will only assess requests that applicants have already fully documented or judicially filed before the deadline.

However, the new Article 3-bis of Law 91/1992 outlines specific exceptions to the new restriction:

• Authorities formally recognized citizenship (either judicially or administratively) by 11:59 PM (Rome time) on March 27, 2025.
• The applicant has at least one parent born in Italy.
• The applicant has a parent who resided continuously in Italy for at least two years prior to their birth or adoption.
• An ascendant of the first degree of the applicant's parents or adoptive parents was born in Italy.

Additional Measures and Future Implications

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.

Another 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, with an expected jump to €700.

These changes are expected to significantly reduce the backlog of more than 60,000 pending legal proceedings for citizenship recognition and limit the “marketing” of Italian passports.

Broader Context: Immigration Policy in Italy

The citizenship law reform is part of a broader trend in Italy towards stricter immigration policies. In December 2024, a new law introduced urgent provisions concerning the entry of foreign workers, protection for victims of labor exploitation, management of migration flows, and international protection. This law includes measures such as restricted access to reception facilities for asylum seekers who file applications more than 90 days after entering Italy and stricter requirements for family reunification.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government has also pursued bilateral agreements, such as the deal with Albania to transfer migrants intercepted en route to Italy to reception centers in Albania. These policies have led to a significant drop in illegal arrivals, but have also faced legal challenges and ethical concerns.

A Shift in Perspective

Decree-Law No. 36/2025 marks a historic and political shift in Italy's approach to citizenship. It seeks to balance the symbolic and legal value of Italian ancestry with the necessity of ensuring a real connection to the Italian state. The measure will certainly reduce the number of future citizenship claims and discourage speculative or opportunistic applications based solely on ancestral ties.

The reforms signal a broader policy trend; one that prioritizes national security, administrative functionality, and alignment with European standards over unlimited transmission of citizenship by blood. Ultimately, the message is clear: From now on, being of Italian descent is no longer enough to be Italian in law. A tangible, living connection with Italy is now the base.