Italy Citizenship Rules: Complete Guide for 2026 Applicants

Italy Citizenship rules changed a lot in the past months.
Italy’s citizenship landscape in 2026 presents both unprecedented opportunities and temporary uncertainties for prospective applicants. While recent legislative changes have created short-term confusion, the fundamental strength of Italian citizenship laws—built on over 150 years of jus sanguinis tradition—remains intact. For those planning to apply for Italian citizenship in 2026, understanding both current rules and expected legal developments is crucial for success.

The Italian government’s approach to citizenship has evolved significantly, with the most dramatic changes occurring through Law 75/2025. However, legal experts and constitutional scholars overwhelmingly predict these restrictive measures will be declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court, likely restoring previous, more accessible pathways by late 2026.

This comprehensive guide examines every pathway to obtain Italian citizenship, from the traditional citizenship by descent route to naturalization through residency. Whether you’re an italian descendant tracing your italian lineage back generations or a foreign national seeking to acquire italian citizenship through marriage or residency, this guide provides the clarity you need to navigate Italy’s complex citizenship framework.

Overview of Italian Citizenship Laws

Italy’s citizenship framework has been primarily based on jus sanguinis (right of blood) since the country’s unification in 1865, making it one of the most generous citizenship systems in the world for those with italian ancestry. Unlike many countries that rely heavily on jus soli (birthright citizenship), Italy maintains that italian nationality passes automatically through bloodline, regardless of where descendants are born abroad.

The current legal foundation rests on Law No. 91/1992, which governs the acquisition, loss, and reacquisition of italian citizenship. This law established multiple pathways for foreign citizens to become italian nationals: through descent from an italian ancestor, marriage to an italian citizen, naturalization after legal residence, and limited birthright citizenship for children born in italy under specific circumstances.

Recent amendments through Law 75/2025 have temporarily restricted some traditional pathways, particularly affecting citizenship transmission to foreign nationals with distant italian emigrants in their family trees. However, the italian constitution guarantees citizenship rights, and these restrictions face serious constitutional challenges that legal experts expect will succeed.

The system recognizes dual citizenship, allowing applicants to maintain their foreign nationality while acquiring european citizenship through Italy. This dual nationality framework makes italian citizenship particularly attractive for those seeking greater mobility within the european union and access to comprehensive social benefits.

2026 Legal Changes and Constitutional Challenges

The most significant development affecting italy citizenship rules came with Decree-Law 36/2025, commonly known as the Tajani decree, enacted on March 28, 2025. This legislation, later converted into Law 75/2025, introduced substantial restrictions on citizenship transmission through descent, fundamentally altering Italy’s traditionally generous approach to citizenship by descent.

Under the new provisions, automatic recognition of italian citizenship by descent became conditional rather than guaranteed. The law limits descent-based citizenship to essentially two generations from Italy, requiring that applicants satisfy at least one of three criteria: a citizenship application was submitted before March 27, 2025; a parent or grandparent held exclusively italian citizenship at the time of their death; or a parent resided in Italy for two consecutive years after acquiring citizenship and before the applicant’s birth.

However, the legal community has strongly criticized these restrictions. The Constitutional Court faces multiple challenges to Law 75/2025, with constitutional scholars arguing the law violates fundamental principles of equality and retroactively strips citizenship rights from eligible applicants. The retroactive nature of these restrictions—affecting people who were previously entitled to italian citizenship—forms the strongest basis for constitutional challenges.

Legal experts predict the Constitutional Court will declare Law 75/2025 unconstitutional by late 2026, primarily due to violations of constitutional provisions protecting acquired rights and equal treatment. The law’s arbitrary generational cut-offs and retroactive application contradict established constitutional principles that have protected citizenship rights since Italy’s post-war constitution.

For 2026 applicants, this legal uncertainty creates both challenges and opportunities. Applications filed before March 27, 2025, continue processing under the previous, unrestricted rules. Those filing after this date face temporary restrictions, but the expected constitutional court’s decision overturning Law 75/2025 should restore full citizenship rights for all qualified applicants by descent.

Italian Citizenship by Descent (Jus Sanguinis)

Italian citizenship iure sanguinis represents the most common pathway for foreign nationals to claim italian citizenship, particularly those in countries with large italian emigrant populations. The traditional rule allows unlimited generational transmission through an italian lineage, provided the italian ancestor never formally renounced their italian nationality before their descendant’s birth.

The system historically recognized descent through both paternal and maternal lines, though important gender-based restrictions applied until 1948. For children born before January 1, 1948, citizenship transmission through an italian citizen mother faced legal obstacles that required judicial remedy. These “1948 cases” now proceed through specialized civil court procedures, allowing descendants of italian women to claim their rightful citizenship despite historical gender discrimination.

The fundamental requirement remains unchanged: an unbroken chain of citizenship from the italian ancestor to the applicant. The italian ancestor must not have acquired foreign citizenship before their child’s birth, as naturalization in a foreign country constituted automatic loss of italian citizenship under historical laws. This principle protects the “italian lineage” while ensuring genuine connection to Italy through maintained citizenship.

Documentation requirements demand meticulous preparation of vital records spanning multiple generations. Applicants must prove every link in their ancestral chain, from their italian ancestor’s birth in italy to their own birth abroad. The process requires no residency in Italy, no italian language proficiency, and no evidence of cultural connection—citizenship flows purely through blood relationship.

Current processing depends entirely on application filing dates relative to the March 27, 2025 deadline. Applications submitted before this date proceed under traditional rules with unlimited generational scope. Later applications face temporary restrictions under Law 75/2025, though the expected constitutional ruling should eliminate these barriers for all qualified applicants.

Required Documentation for Descent Applications

Gathering documentation for italian citizenship by descent demands systematic collection of vital records across multiple generations and jurisdictions. The competent consular office or italian municipality requires complete documentation of the entire lineage from the italian ancestor to the applicant, with each document properly authenticated and translated.

Essential documents begin with the italian ancestor’s birth certificate, obtained from the italian municipality where they were born. This foundational document establishes both italian birth and original italian citizenship. Marriage certificates for the italian ancestor and all subsequent generations prove family relationships and surname changes. Death certificates, where applicable, document the end of each generation’s life and often contain crucial citizenship information.

The most critical documentation involves proving the italian ancestor never naturalized in a foreign country before their descendant’s birth. This requires comprehensive naturalization records from immigration authorities in the ancestor’s country of residence. For italian emigrants to the United States, this means obtaining naturalization certificates or “no naturalization found” letters from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

All foreign documents require apostille certification under the Hague Convention, followed by certified translation into italian by court-approved translators. Birth, marriage, and death certificates must be long-form certified copies containing complete information about parents and circumstances of each vital event.

The documentation process often spans months or years, particularly when dealing with records from multiple countries. Applicants should begin gathering documents well in advance of their application, as missing or improperly authenticated documents cause significant delays. Working with specialized genealogists and italian citizenship consultants can streamline this complex documentation process.

Citizenship Through Marriage

Marriage to an italian citizen provides a direct pathway to italian nationality, with specific requirements varying based on residence location and family circumstances. The italian law establishes clear timelines: two years of marriage for couples residing in italy, or three years for those residing abroad. These periods reduce to half when the couple has minor children together.

The process requires maintaining the marriage relationship throughout the entire application period, which can extend 18-24 months beyond the initial waiting period. Divorce or legal separation during the application process terminates eligibility, making this pathway unsuitable for unstable relationships. The italian government scrutinizes marriage-based applications carefully to prevent citizenship fraud through marriages of convenience.

Language proficiency requirements mandate B1-level italian language certification since 2018, representing intermediate conversational ability. Applicants must obtain certification from approved testing centers or italian cultural institutes, with certificates remaining valid for specific periods during application processing. This requirement reflects Italy’s emphasis on integration and cultural connection for new citizens.

Civil union partners of italian citizens enjoy the same citizenship rights as married couples since 2016, when Italy legalized same-sex civil unions. Foreign partners in civil unions face identical requirements, timelines, and documentation standards as married applicants. This development significantly expanded access to citizenship for the LGBTQ+ community with italian partners.

Financial stability and clean criminal record requirements apply to all marriage-based applications. Applicants must demonstrate adequate income sources and provide criminal background checks from all countries of residence. Tax documentation showing legitimate income helps establish financial independence and integration into italian society.

Naturalization Through Residency

Naturalization through residency represents the most structured pathway to italian citizenship for foreign nationals without italian ancestry or marriage connections. The standard requirement demands ten years of legal, continuous residence in italy for non-EU citizens, establishing both physical presence and legal integration into italian society.

The italian state offers reduced residency periods for specific categories reflecting closer connections to Italy. European union citizens qualify after four years of legal residence, recognizing their existing european citizenship status. Refugees and stateless persons need five years, acknowledging their special humanitarian circumstances and lack of alternative citizenship options.

Descendants of former italian citizens—including those whose ancestors lost italian citizenship through foreign naturalization—qualify for naturalization after just three years of residency. This provision recognizes historical family connections to Italy while requiring demonstrated commitment through actual residence. Similarly, foreign nationals born in italy benefit from the three-year reduced period.

Language proficiency requirements mandate B1-level italian certification for all naturalization applicants, identical to marriage-based requirements. This standard ensures basic communication ability and cultural integration necessary for effective citizenship participation. Financial independence requirements include tax documentation covering the two to three years preceding application, proving legitimate income sources and tax compliance.

The italian government evaluates naturalization applications holistically, considering not just technical requirements but also integration evidence. Community involvement, employment history, and family connections strengthen applications. Criminal record checks must cover all countries of residence, with certain convictions potentially disqualifying applicants entirely.

Expedited Residency Requirements

Italy’s naturalization framework recognizes various categories deserving expedited consideration based on special circumstances or enhanced connections to the italian state. These reduced timelines reflect policy priorities favoring european integration, humanitarian protection, and recognition of service to Italy.

Foreign nationals with italian ancestry who don’t qualify for citizenship by descent can pursue naturalization after three years of legal residence. This pathway particularly benefits those affected by historical citizenship interruptions or gender discrimination in transmission rules. The requirement demonstrates genuine commitment to Italy while recognizing ancestral connections.

European union citizens enjoy four-year naturalization periods, reflecting their existing status within the european community and simplified integration requirements. This reduced timeline acknowledges shared european values and the fundamental principle of freedom of movement within the union. EU citizens often find faster integration due to existing european citizenship familiarity.

Refugees and stateless individuals qualify after five years, recognizing their vulnerable legal status and humanitarian protection needs. This timeline balances integration requirements with acknowledgment that these individuals often lack alternative citizenship options. The italian government prioritizes providing stable legal status for those under international protection.

Individuals who served the italian state in military, diplomatic, or other official capacities may qualify for expedited naturalization after seven years. This recognizes their direct service contributions to Italy and demonstrated loyalty to italian institutions. Former italian territories residents, including those from Istria, Fiume, and Dalmatia, enjoy special provisions under Laws 379/2000 and 124/2006.

Adopted children who become italian citizens through adoption by italian parents represent another category with specific provisions. The adoption process itself often leads directly to italian citizenship, though some circumstances require separate naturalization procedures with reduced requirements.

Limited Birthright Citizenship (Jus Soli)

Italy maintains a restrictive approach to birthright citizenship compared to countries with broad jus soli policies, reflecting the nation’s emphasis on ancestral connection over territorial birth. Automatic citizenship acquisition for children born in italy occurs only under exceptional circumstances where other citizenship options are unavailable.

Children born in italy to stateless parents or parents of unknown nationality automatically acquire italian citizenship at birth. This provision prevents statelessness and ensures all children born on italian territory have legal citizenship status. The italian constitution prohibits creating stateless individuals, making this automatic provision necessary for fundamental rights protection.

Foreign parents whose children are born in italy do not automatically acquire italian citizenship for their children. Instead, these children may apply for italian citizenship between their 18th and 19th birthday, provided they have maintained legal, continuous residence in italy since birth. This conditional right requires both uninterrupted presence and timely application within the narrow one-year window.

The application process for these italian-born foreign nationals requires comprehensive documentation of continuous legal residence throughout their minority. Any periods of illegal residence or extended absence from italy can disqualify applications. The one-year application window creates urgency for eligible individuals to gather documentation and submit applications promptly upon reaching adulthood.

Vatican City citizens represent a unique case, as those holding vatican citizenship automatically acquire italian citizenship if they become stateless upon losing vatican citizenship. This provision reflects Vatican City’s unique status within Italy and prevents diplomatic complications arising from statelessness of vatican officials.

Special Circumstances and Re-acquisition

Italy’s citizenship framework includes specialized provisions for unique historical circumstances and individuals seeking to reclaim lost italian citizenship. These pathways reflect Italy’s complex history, territorial changes, and evolving understanding of citizenship rights and gender equality.

Former italian citizens who lost their nationality through foreign naturalization before August 16, 1992, can reclaim italian citizenship through re-acquisition procedures. Historical laws required automatic renunciation of italian citizenship upon acquiring foreign nationality, creating situations where individuals lost their italian identity involuntarily. Modern procedures allow these former citizens to reestablish their italian nationality through residence declaration in italy.

The re-acquisition process typically requires establishing legal residence in italy and declaring intent to reclaim italian citizenship to local authorities. This pathway particularly benefits italian emigrants and their immediate descendants who were forced to choose between italian citizenship and naturalization in their new countries during periods when dual citizenship was prohibited.

Special territorial provisions address complex historical situations in former italian territories. Laws 379/2000 and 124/2006 provide citizenship pathways for individuals from Istria, Fiume, and Dalmatia—territories that were part of Italy but later became part of other countries. These laws recognize historical italian connections while addressing the complex citizenship consequences of territorial transfers.

Between July 1, 2025, and December 31, 2027, special declaration procedures are available for specific categories of applicants who may have been affected by historical citizenship interruptions. These temporary provisions aim to address inequities created by past gender discrimination, territorial changes, and other historical circumstances that prevented legitimate citizenship transmission.

Adoptive parent relationships create special considerations for citizenship acquisition. Foreign children adopted by italian citizens may acquire italian citizenship through the adoption process itself, though specific requirements vary based on the child’s age and the type of adoption. International adoption cases often require additional documentation and may involve multiple legal systems.

Application Process and Timelines for 2026

The application process for italian citizenship varies significantly depending on the chosen pathway and filing location, with distinct procedures for consular applications versus municipal applications within Italy. Understanding these differences helps applicants choose the most efficient approach for their circumstances.

Consular applications, filed at competent consular offices in an applicant’s country of residence, typically require 2-4 years for complete processing. These extended timelines reflect heavy application volumes at many consulates and the complexity of verifying foreign documentation. However, consular applications allow applicants to remain in their home countries throughout the process.

Municipal applications, filed directly with italian municipalities, generally process faster, requiring 6-18 months for completion. These applications require either legal residence in the specific municipality or special circumstances justifying direct municipal filing. The faster processing reflects direct access to italian administrative systems and reduced documentation verification requirements.

Online application portals have been introduced for certain citizenship categories, streamlining initial submission processes while maintaining traditional documentation requirements. These digital systems improve efficiency for both applicants and italian administrative officials, though they don’t eliminate the need for authentic documentation and verification procedures.

In-person interviews are required for most citizenship applications, whether filed at consulates or municipalities. These interviews verify documentation authenticity, assess language proficiency for applicable categories, and allow officials to evaluate applicants’ genuine connections to Italy. Preparation for these interviews should include familiarity with submitted documentation and basic italian conversational ability.

Appeal processes are available for denied applications, allowing applicants to challenge negative decisions through administrative or judicial procedures. These appeals can address documentation issues, legal interpretation disagreements, or procedural errors in initial application processing. Working with qualified italian law attorneys often improves appeal success rates for complex cases.

The italian government has implemented various efficiency measures to address application backlogs, including additional staffing at high-volume consulates and streamlined documentation verification procedures. These improvements particularly benefit applicants filing under traditional citizenship by descent rules.

Benefits of Italian Citizenship

Italian citizenship provides comprehensive access to european union membership benefits, making it one of the world’s most valuable citizenship acquisitions for global mobility and opportunity access. As an italian citizen, individuals automatically become european citizens with fundamental rights throughout the 27-member european union.

Freedom of movement throughout the european union allows italian passport holders to live, work, study, and retire in any EU country without visa requirements or work permit restrictions. This mobility extends to european economic area countries and Switzerland, creating unprecedented access to diverse cultural and economic opportunities across the continent.

The italian passport consistently ranks among the world’s most powerful travel documents, providing visa-free access to over 190 countries worldwide. This travel freedom facilitates business opportunities, tourism, and family connections without the bureaucratic burdens faced by many other passport holders.

Italy’s comprehensive healthcare system becomes accessible to italian citizens, including emergency care, routine medical services, and specialized treatments. The national health service provides coverage comparable to other advanced european healthcare systems, with options for supplemental private insurance for enhanced services.

Educational benefits include access to european union universities at reduced tuition rates compared to international student fees. Italian citizens qualify for EU student status throughout the union, opening doors to world-class educational institutions in countries known for academic excellence and research innovation.

Social benefits encompass unemployment insurance, retirement pensions, family allowances, and other welfare state provisions available to italian nationals. These benefits provide economic security and social protection throughout an individual’s lifetime, from family formation through retirement years.

Political participation rights include voting in italian elections, european parliament elections, and local elections in EU countries where italian citizens reside. This democratic participation extends to eligibility for public office in Italy and certain positions within european institutions, enabling full civic engagement.

The ability to pass citizenship to minor children regardless of their birthplace ensures family unity and provides future generations with the same comprehensive benefits. Children of italian citizens automatically acquire italian nationality, maintaining family connections to Italy and preserving citizenship transmission for subsequent generations.

Property ownership rights in Italy become unrestricted for italian citizens, eliminating foreign buyer restrictions that may apply to certain types of real estate investments. This enables fuller participation in Italy’s property markets and potential residency establishment without bureaucratic complications.

Professional licensing and business establishment procedures are simplified for italian citizens, who can practice regulated professions and establish businesses throughout the european union under mutual recognition agreements. This professional mobility enhances career development opportunities across diverse european markets.

Italian dual citizenship policies allow retention of original nationality in most cases, preserving connections to birth countries while gaining comprehensive european access. This flexibility enables individuals to maintain multiple cultural and economic connections while expanding their global opportunities through italian citizenship acquisition.

---

The information in this guide reflects italian citizenship laws as of 2026, with particular attention to expected constitutional developments regarding Law 75/2025. While legal experts strongly predict the Constitutional Court will overturn restrictive provisions by late 2026, applicants should consult with qualified italian citizenship attorneys for personalized guidance based on their specific circumstances and the most current legal developments.