Italian Ius Sanguinis Law Change On Citizenship by Descent
This article was adapted from the original video published through Amanda Longhurst’s YouTube channel @relocatetoEUROPE.
I didn’t plan to spend my week deciphering legal jargon and government decrees, but here we are. Italy has just quietly rewritten a big chapter in its citizenship story, and if you’ve ever dreamt of claiming Italian citizenship through your great grandparents (ius sanguinis), you’re going to want to sit down for this one.
What’s Changed?
Let’s start with the headline: you now need to be much closer on the family tree to qualify for Italian citizenship by descent.
Until recently, people could claim citizenship through great-grandparents—or even further back—so long as the citizenship line wasn’t broken (in other words, none of your Italian ancestors gave up their citizenship before having the next person in the chain). But now? That generous window has snapped shut.
Under Decree Law No. 36 of 2025, the new cut-off is your born in Italy parent or grandparent. That’s it. No great-grandparents. No poetic tales of tracing your roots back to a 19th-century cheesemaker from Calabria. Just mum, dad, nonna, or nonno.
If You’ve Got Kids (Or Are Planning To)
Here’s another twist. Your children won’t automatically become Italian citizens unless one of two things happen:
- They’re born in Italy, or
- One parent has lived in Italy as a registered resident continuously for at least two years before the birth.
It’s Italy’s way of saying, “We want people with a real connection to the country, not just a family name and a passport photo from 1912.”
Speaking of Connection…
Here’s where it gets a bit more complicated. The law now asks you to show a “tangible connection” to Italy if you’re applying. That could mean:
- Documented extended trips to Italy,
- Proof you’ve been learning the language,
- Cultural ties, like involvement in Italian community organisations.
Basically, it’s no longer enough to have Italian blood—you’ve got to show some Italian connection too.
One Major Procedural Shift: Everything Goes Through Rome Now
Previously, you could go to your nearest Italian consulate abroad, armed with a binder of family documents, and start your application there. Not anymore.
All applications now have to be processed centrally in Rome. It’s a move designed to tighten verification and prevent fraud (and possibly reduce the chaotic backlog some consulates have been battling with for years).
A Grace Period (Just)
If you’re already recognised as an Italian citizen, nothing changes for you. If you’ve started your application already, here’s the key date to remember: 27 March 2025, 11:59pm Rome time. As long as your full application is submitted and documented before that moment, you’ll be assessed under the old, more generous rules.
After that? It’s goodbye to great-grandparent claims.
What Does This All Mean?
Well, it means Italy is moving towards a more restrictive and modernised system, more in line with other European countries. It’s about reducing administrative pressure, weeding out abuse, and strengthening the real-world ties between applicants and Italy itself.
But it also means many in the Italian diaspora— said to be as large as 80 million worldwide under the great grandparent rules, will now find the door to citizenship firmly closed.
It’s disheartening, especially for those who’ve spent years piecing together their family tree and gathering the right documents. And yes, it might mean more cost, more travel, and more time if you still want to go ahead.
A Quick Recap of the New Rules
| Aspect | Old Rules | New Rules (2025) |
| Generations Eligible | Parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and beyond | Only parents or grandparents |
| Automatic Citizenship for Children | Based on bloodline alone | Must be born in Italy or have a parent registered resident in Italy for 2 years prior. |
| Proof of Connection | Not required | Now required (language, culture, visits, etc.) |
| Where to Apply | Local consulate abroad | Centralised in Rome only |
| Deadline for Old Rules | N/A | Submit by 27 March 2025 at 11:59pm (Rome time) |
A Bit of Advice
If you’re planning to apply—or have been daydreaming about it—it’s worth speaking to an immigration and citizenship expert who specialises in Italian citizenship to clarify your rights. The requirements are more complex now, and a bit of professional guidance could save you a lot of time and stress.
This isn’t the end of the road. Italy still offers a path to citizenship by descent— and via residence via naturalization but now requires that your connection isn’t just distant, but current and personal too.
