03/04/2025
Citizenship by Descent in Italy Just Changed. Here's What That Means—and What You Can Still Do
On March 28, 2025 a government decree was quietly passed that could change the way many people pursue Italian citizenship through their ancestry. For years, countless families around the world have reconnected with their Italian roots through the principle of jure sanguinis—citizenship by blood. Now, the rules of that path have shifted dramatically, and not everyone is in the clear.
Let’s talk about what changed, who it affects, and—most importantly—how you can keep moving forward, even with this uncertainty in the air.
So, what’s changed exactly?
In short: the new decree dramatically narrows the eligibility for citizenship by descent. If you’re applying today, only those with a direct connection to an Italian parent or grandparent who held citizenship at the time of their child’s birth still seem to qualify without issue.
That means if you were planning to apply through a great-grandparent, or if your case relied on special exceptions like a 1948 case through the maternal line, your eligibility may no longer stand under this new framework—unless your application was officially filed before March 27, 2025.
This change affects anyone whose application is still pending, not yet submitted, or scheduled for a future consulate or comune appointment. If you missed the cutoff date, your case may now fall under the new restrictions.
Still with me? Good—because this is where it gets important.
Despite how final it may seem, the decree isn’t permanent law just yet. According to Italy’s Constitution, Parliament has 60 days to decide its fate. They can approve it as is, make changes, or reject it entirely. That 60-day window ends on May 28, 2025—a date worth remembering.
There’s a real possibility that the rules may shift again, that a grace period could be added, or that Parliament could soften the decree before it becomes law.
