For generations, descendants of Italian emigrants could seek recognition of Italian citizenship through an unbroken family line, sometimes reaching back to a great-grandparent or an even earlier ancestor. That changed substantially in 2025.
Italy’s Law No. 74 of May 23, 2025, which converted Decree-Law No. 36/2025, introduced major restrictions on citizenship by descent, known in Italian as cittadinanza iure sanguinis. For most new applicants born outside Italy, having an Italian ancestor somewhere in the family tree is no longer sufficient.
The new rules are considerably more restrictive, but Italian citizenship by descent has not disappeared. Some applicants still qualify automatically, while others are protected by transitional provisions or may have options involving a parent’s residence in Italy.
This guide reflects the rules in force as of September 2026. Citizenship cases can turn on small factual differences, so applicants with complicated histories should obtain advice from the appropriate Italian consulate or a qualified Italian citizenship lawyer.
What Italian Citizenship by Descent Means
Iure sanguinis means “by right of blood.” Italian citizenship law traditionally treated a child of an Italian citizen as Italian from birth, even when the child was born in another country.
Recognition was generally declaratory rather than a conventional naturalization process. The applicant was not becoming Italian on the approval date; the Italian authorities were confirming citizenship considered to have existed since birth.
Under the previous interpretation, there was usually no fixed generational limit. An American with an Italian great-grandfather, for example, might qualify if citizenship passed without interruption through every generation.
The 2025 reform changed that principle for many people born abroad who already possess another citizenship.
The Main Change Introduced in 2025
Under the new Article 3-bis of Law No. 91/1992, a person born outside Italy who possesses another citizenship is generally considered never to have acquired Italian citizenship automatically—unless one of the law’s specific exceptions applies.
In practical terms, most new applicants must now demonstrate a much closer and more substantial connection to Italy.
The reform took effect on May 24, 2025. However, some applications, appointments and court cases initiated before the earlier cutoff of March 27, 2025, remain protected under the previous rules.
Who May Still Qualify Automatically?
A person born outside Italy and holding another citizenship may still be recognized as an Italian citizen from birth when at least one of the following conditions is satisfied.
A Parent or Grandparent Held Only Italian Citizenship
The applicant may qualify when a parent or grandparent:
• currently possesses exclusively Italian citizenship; or
• possessed exclusively Italian citizenship at the time of death.
This is now one of the most important routes for adult applicants.
The word “exclusively” is critical. It generally means that the parent or grandparent did not simultaneously possess another citizenship at the relevant time. A simple statement from the applicant is normally insufficient; official documentary evidence may be required.
A great-grandparent who remained exclusively Italian does not, by itself, satisfy this exception. The qualifying ancestor must be a parent or grandparent—an ancestor within the first or second degree.
For example, an applicant whose Italian-born grandfather became a U.S. citizen before his death may not satisfy the exclusive-citizenship test. The dates, applicable naturalization law and effect on the Italian citizenship line would need to be examined carefully.
An Italian Parent Lived in Italy for Two Continuous Years
A person may also qualify when an Italian parent or adoptive parent lived legally in Italy for at least two continuous years:
• after acquiring Italian citizenship; and
• before the applicant’s birth or adoption.
Only the residence of the Italian parent is relevant. Time the parent spent in Italy before becoming an Italian citizen does not count, nor does residence in Italy by the applicant’s non-Italian parent.
The authorities normally require a historical residence certificate issued by the Italian municipality. Visits, vacations, university semesters without registered residence or ownership of a home in Italy are not automatically equivalent to legal residence.
This provision can help families in which the Italian parent held dual citizenship but established genuine residence in Italy before the child was born.
People Born in Italy
The restrictions in Article 3-bis primarily address people born abroad. A person born in Italy to an Italian mother or father remains within the ordinary rule of citizenship by birth, subject to the circumstances of the individual case.
Being born in Italy to two foreign parents, however, does not normally make someone an Italian citizen automatically. Italy does not apply unrestricted birthright citizenship in the same way as the United States.
People Who Have Only Italian Citizenship
A person born abroad who has—and cannot possess—any citizenship other than Italian is also outside the general exclusion established by Article 3-bis.
This is an unusual situation because children born in countries such as the United States ordinarily acquire that country’s citizenship at birth. Applicants relying on this provision must provide convincing evidence that they neither hold nor are entitled to another citizenship.
Applications Protected by the March 27, 2025 Cutoff
Some applicants may still be evaluated under the rules that applied before the reform.
The former rules may continue to apply when:
• a complete and properly documented application was submitted to the competent Italian consulate or municipality no later than 11:59 p.m., Rome time, on March 27, 2025;
• the applicant presented a complete application on the date of an appointment that the competent consulate or municipality had formally communicated by that same deadline; or
• a judicial citizenship claim was filed with an Italian court no later than 11:59 p.m., Rome time, on March 27, 2025.
Being on a waiting list without a confirmed appointment may not provide protection. Similarly, an incomplete application may not satisfy the transitional provision.
Applicants should preserve appointment confirmations, Prenot@Mi emails, receipts, tracking information and proof of the date on which documents were delivered.
What Happens to Long Ancestral Lines?
For most new applications, a distant Italian ancestor is no longer enough.
Someone whose only Italian connection is a great-grandparent or great-great-grandparent will generally need to show that a parent or grandparent satisfies one of the new conditions. An unbroken genealogical chain may still be necessary, but it no longer replaces the new closer-connection requirement.
Consider these examples:
• An applicant has an Italian great-grandfather, but every later generation was born in the United States and held U.S. citizenship. No parent or grandparent held only Italian citizenship or completed two continuous years of residence in Italy. The applicant will probably not qualify under the new administrative rules.
• An applicant’s mother is an Italian citizen by birth and lived as a registered resident in Italy for three continuous years before the applicant was born. The applicant may qualify through the parental-residence exception.
• An applicant’s grandfather possessed only Italian citizenship until his death. If the citizenship chain was not otherwise interrupted, the applicant may qualify through the parent-or-grandparent exception.
• An applicant filed a complete consular application before the March 27, 2025 deadline. The case may continue under the former rules even when the Italian ancestor is more remote.
The Naturalization Date Still Matters
Even when an applicant satisfies one of the new exceptions, the traditional citizenship chain must still be examined.
A key question is whether the Italian ancestor became a citizen of another country before the birth of the next person in the family line. If the ancestor lost Italian citizenship before the child’s birth, the chain may have been interrupted.
For U.S. families, the certificate of naturalization, petition for naturalization, oath of allegiance and records from the National Archives or USCIS may be essential.
A census record, passenger manifest or family story can provide useful clues, but it generally does not replace official naturalization documentation.
Does Italy Still Permit Dual Citizenship?
Yes. The reform did not create a general prohibition on dual citizenship.
An Italian citizen may normally hold another citizenship. However, the new law uses exclusive Italian citizenship held by a parent or grandparent as one of the tests for transmitting citizenship automatically to a person born abroad.
That distinction can be confusing: Italy continues to recognize dual citizenship, but having a dual-citizen ancestor may not satisfy the new exclusive-citizenship exception.
Citizenship for Children Born Abroad
The rules for children require particular attention.
A child born abroad may still be an Italian citizen automatically when the child meets one of the Article 3-bis exceptions—for example, when a parent or grandparent possesses only Italian citizenship or an Italian parent completed the qualifying two-year residence period.
When automatic transmission does not apply, certain children of an Italian citizen by birth may obtain citizenship through a parental declaration known as beneficio di legge.
For children born after the reform, both parents ordinarily must make the required declaration within three years of the child’s birth. The citizenship takes effect following the declaration rather than retroactively from birth.
A transitional provision applies to children who were minors on May 24, 2025 and have at least one parent who is an Italian citizen by birth. Under current official consular guidance, the declaration may be submitted by May 31, 2029, provided the legal requirements are satisfied.
Parents should not assume that registering a foreign birth certificate alone will automatically establish citizenship. They should consult the competent consulate promptly because the procedure, deadlines and documents depend on the child’s situation.
What About “1948 Cases”?
Historically, Italian women could not transmit citizenship to children born before January 1, 1948 in the same way as Italian men. Descendants affected by this discrimination have commonly sought recognition through the Italian courts.
These cases are generally called “1948 cases.”
The 2025 reform did not make every maternal-line case eligible. A new court action filed after the March 27, 2025 cutoff may still be affected by the new Article 3-bis restrictions. A maternal line, by itself, does not avoid the new parent, grandparent or residence requirements.
Because judicial interpretation continues to develop, anyone considering a new 1948 case should obtain an assessment based on the exact family history and filing date.
Documents Applicants Commonly Need
Requirements vary by consulate and by the legal basis of the application, but applicants should generally expect to collect:
• the Italian ancestor’s birth certificate from the Italian municipality;
• birth certificates for every person in the direct line;
• marriage, divorce and death records where applicable;
• naturalization records or official certificates showing that naturalization did not occur;
• evidence that a qualifying parent or grandparent held only Italian citizenship;
• a historical Italian residence certificate when relying on the two-year rule;
• proof of the applicant’s residence within the consulate’s jurisdiction;
• certified Italian translations; and
• apostilles or other required legalizations.
Names and dates should be consistent throughout the file. Significant discrepancies may need to be corrected or supported with additional documentation before the application is submitted.
Where to Apply
An applicant normally applies through the Italian consulate responsible for the applicant’s legal place of residence.
People who are genuinely resident in Italy may apply through their local Comune. Establishing residence solely on paper can cause serious problems: the municipality may verify that the person actually lives at the declared address. Italia Mia’s guide to registering residence in Italy explains how municipal registration works.
Court proceedings may be necessary for certain maternal-line cases, disputed interpretations or unreasonable administrative delays, but litigation is not an automatic way around the eligibility requirements.
Costs and Processing
Consular applications for recognition of citizenship by descent are generally subject to a non-refundable €600 administrative fee for each adult applicant. The payment is due even when the application is rejected.
Municipal procedures in Italy may involve locally determined administrative fees. Applicants should verify the current amount directly with the Comune or consulate before paying.
Additional expenses can include certificates, apostilles, translations, professional genealogical research and legal representation. Processing times vary considerably and may be extended when records must be verified in several countries.
A Practical Eligibility Checklist
Before ordering every family certificate, answer these questions:
- Were you born outside Italy, and do you possess another citizenship?
- Does a parent or grandparent currently possess only Italian citizenship, or did that person possess only Italian citizenship at death?
- Did an Italian parent live in Italy as a registered resident for two continuous years after acquiring citizenship and before your birth?
- Was your complete application or court case filed by March 27, 2025?
- Did you receive a confirmed appointment by that deadline under which a complete application could later be presented?
- Was citizenship transmitted without interruption through every relevant generation?
- Are you dealing with a maternal ancestor whose child was born before January 1, 1948?
- Are there minor children who may qualify automatically or through a time-limited declaration?
The answers can help determine whether a full document search is worthwhile.
The Bottom Line
Italian citizenship by descent remains possible, but the system is no longer based principally on how far back a family can trace an Italian ancestor.
For most new applicants born abroad with another citizenship, the strongest cases now involve:
• a parent or grandparent who held only Italian citizenship;
• an Italian parent who lived in Italy continuously for at least two years before the applicant’s birth;
• a complete application, protected appointment or court filing dating from before the March 27, 2025 cutoff; or
• a child who qualifies under the automatic-transmission rules or the benefit-of-law procedure.
People who began researching their ancestry under the previous system should have their eligibility reassessed before spending substantial amounts on certificates, translations or legal fees.
Italian citizenship can open the door to living, working and studying throughout the European Union, but every application depends on documented facts. Start with the citizenship status and residence history of your parents and grandparents—not simply the oldest Italian name in your family tree.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice.
External Sources
Law No. 74 of May 23, 2025 – Normattiva
Italian citizenship by descent under the new rules – Italian Consulate in New York
New iure sanguinis rules – Italian Consulate in London
Citizenship by benefit of law for minor children – Italian Consulate in London
Ministry of the Interior Circular No. 59 of June 17, 2025
