An IMGW News Report
Italy could soon open the door to citizenship for an estimated 2.5 million non-EU residents – if voters turn up to support a proposed reform in a national referendum scheduled for 8 – 9 June. But while the numbers are compelling, political resistance and widespread voter apathy threaten to derail the initiative before it gains traction.
The proposed law would halve the residency requirement for non-EU nationals from ten to five years, potentially transforming the legal status of over 1.4 million adult immigrants and nearly 230,000 children. An additional 55,000 minors could also become Italian citizens automatically through their newly naturalised parents, according to estimates by research centre Idos and the pro-European +Europa party.
Yet significant hurdles remain. Citizenship hopefuls must still clear stringent income thresholds—€8,263 annually for single applicants, rising to €11,362 for couples, plus €516 per child. Language proficiency is another barrier: candidates must pass the B1-level CEFR exam, demonstrating competence in grammar, listening, and written expression.
The political landscape is equally unfavourable. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Brothers of Italy party oppose the reform. Senate Speaker Ignazio La Russa has called for a passive boycott, urging Italians to stay home. Matteo Salvini’s League, once a champion of referendums, is actively campaigning for low turnout; Salvini himself has said he plans to go to the beach rather than the ballot box.
In Italy, referendums are only binding if over half the electorate votes—a threshold met just four times since 1995. With turnout trends persistently low, the odds are slim.
What’s at stake is more than paperwork. For many long-time residents, it’s the promise of belonging. For Meloni’s government, it’s a matter of political ideology. And for Italy’s fractured democracy, it’s yet another test of civic engagement in an age of polarisation and fatigue.
