An IMGW News Report
Italy has curtailed one of the most generous bloodline citizenship schemes in Europe. A surprise decree issued on 28 March slams the door on those hoping to claim an Italian passport through great-grandparents or older generations—until now a common and relatively frictionless path.
Applicants must now show direct descent from a parent or grandparent, possess certified Italian language proficiency, and have lived in Italy for at least three years. Even then, the process has been centralised under the national government and requires an in-person interview. Consulates abroad have cancelled thousands of appointments made under the old rules.
“Italy is no longer welcoming us home.”
The move has drawn sharp criticism from lawyers and consultants who argue that the decree is legally flimsy, rushed, and potentially unconstitutional. It has also upended the plans—and in some cases lives—of families who had invested time and money in what was once a well-trodden route to EU citizenship.
Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani defended the decision, saying that citizenship is “a serious matter” and that too many people had exploited the law to gain travel rights without ties to the country. Between 2014 and 2024, the number of Italians abroad grew by 40%, fuelled by applications from Latin America. Many new citizens, he argued, had never set foot in Italy, nor contributed to the state through taxes or voting.
Under the decree, dual nationals risk losing their Italian citizenship if they fail to keep it ”active’ by renewing documents or engaging civically. Those marrying Italians must now live in the country for two years before qualifying. Application fees have doubled.
Pending cases remain unaffected for now. But for those preparing to file, the next 60 days—during which parliament may amend or reject the decree—are critical. Otherwise, as one disillusioned applicant put it, “Italy is no longer welcoming us home.”
