Italian Citizenship by Descent: What the Reform Means for Your Application

Contents

1. The different routes to Italian citizenship
2. The 2025 jus sanguinis reform: what has actually changed
3. Who is still eligible after the Tajani Decree?
4. The step-by-step process and documents required
5. Where to apply: consulates, timelines and fees
6. Dual citizenship: what you need to know

The different routes to Italian citizenship

Jus sanguinis is not the only way to become an Italian citizen. There are four main routes:

For people of Italian origin, the descent route is the most common — and it is the one that was overhauled in 2025.
The marriage route remains unchanged: if you are married to an Italian national and live in Italy, you can submit an application after two years of marriage. This period is halved if the couple has children together.

The 2025 jus sanguinis reform: what has actually changed

Until 27 March 2025, Italian law was among the most open in Europe. Any descendant of an ancestor who emigrated after 1861 could apply for citizenship, with no generational limit whatsoever. The result: more than 60,000 legal proceedings were underway in 2024 alone, and consulates were overwhelmed.
The Meloni government responded with the emergency Tajani Decree (named after the Foreign Minister) to bring this system to an end.

What Law No. 74 of 23 May 2025 provides

From now on, a person born abroad who already holds another nationality can no longer be automatically recognised as an Italian citizen, unless they meet one of the conditions set out in the new Article 3-bis of Law No. 91/1992:

• Having a parent or grandparent who holds (or held at the time of their death) exclusively Italian nationality
• Having a parent who resided legally in Italy for at least 2 continuous years after obtaining Italian nationality, and before the applicant was born

Who is still eligible after the Tajani Decree?

✅ You are likely eligible if…

• You have a parent or grandparent who held only Italian nationality (no other citizenship)
• You have a parent who resided legally in Italy for at least 2 continuous years before you were born
• Your application was received by the consulate before 27 March 2025 at 23:59 (Rome time)

❌ You are likely no longer eligible by descent if…

• Your connection to Italy goes back to the 3rd generation or beyond (great-grandparent or further)
• None of your parents or grandparents holds exclusively Italian nationality
• Your Italian ancestor naturalised as a citizen of another country before the birth of their children (broken chain of transmission)

A special case: Italian women who married before 1948

Before 1948, the Italian law of 1912 provided that an Italian woman automatically lost her nationality upon marrying a foreign national. Following a ruling by the Italian Court of Cassation in 2009, descendants of these women can still have Italian citizenship recognised — but only through the courts, via Italian judicial proceedings.

The step-by-step process and documents required

The 6 key steps

1. Check your eligibility — Build the family tree of your Italian line and identify which generation your ancestor of exclusively Italian nationality belongs to.
2. Gather the Italian records — Contact the comune (municipality) where your ancestor was born. The digital ANPR service has made this easier since 2023. Records from Italian municipalities are automatically apostilled.
3. Apostille and translate your foreign documents — All non-Italian documents must be apostilled and translated into Italian by a sworn translator. Budget around €35 per page, which typically comes to €800–€1,200 for a complete file.
4. Assemble your complete file — Any missing document will significantly extend the processing time.
5. Submit your file and pay the fee — €600 from 1 January 2025, payable by bank transfer. Payment does not guarantee a positive outcome.
6. Track progress via the Fast It portal — If additional documents are requested, you have 90 days to respond.

Documents required

For you:

• Full birth certificate, apostilled and translated into Italian
• Certificate of nationality or naturalisation decree
• Copy of a valid identity document
• Completed and signed application form

For each intermediate generation:

• Full birth certificate (apostilled and translated if foreign)
• Marriage certificate (apostilled and translated)
• Death certificate where applicable
• Certificate of nationality or naturalisation decree

For the Italian ancestor:

• Birth certificate issued by the Italian municipality of origin
• Proof that they did not renounce Italian nationality before the birth of their children

Where to apply: consulates, timelines and fees

Since the reform, citizenship-by-descent applications are centralised at the Farnesina (the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome). However, your physical file is still sent by post to the Italian consulate with jurisdiction over your place of residence. You can find the consulate responsible for your area via the Fast It portal or the official website of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The table below gives an overview of selected consulates across Europe and beyond, with observed average processing times where available.

In the event of a refusal or no response

If the consulate does not respond within four years, or explicitly refuses your application, you can bring the matter before the Rome civil court. This requires the assistance of a lawyer specialising in Italian nationality law.

Dual citizenship: what you need to know

The good news: holding dual citizenship alongside Italian nationality is entirely legal. You do not have to give up your existing passport.

The practical benefits

• European mobility: the right to live, work and study freely across all 27 EU countries
• Life in Italy: no residence permit required, access to the public health system (SSN), and the right to vote
• A powerful passport: visa-free access to more than 190 countries
• Passing citizenship to your children: possible, subject to the new 2025 rules

Frequently asked questions about Italian citizenship

My grandmother was born in Italy but acquired another nationality through marriage. Can I still apply?

It depends on when she naturalised. If your grandmother renounced Italian nationality before the birth of your parent, the chain of transmission is considered broken. If, however, naturalisation occurred after your parent was born, or after 15 August 1992, the transmission may still be valid. Every situation is different: seek advice from a specialist before drawing any conclusions.

How long should I realistically expect the process to take?

Between 2 and 4 years, depending on which consulate handles your file. Legal deadlines have now been established: 2 years for applications submitted up to 31 December 2025, and 3 years for those submitted after that date. Processing times vary considerably from one consulate to another, so it is worth contacting yours directly for the most up-to-date estimate.

I had my file ready before 27 March 2025 but had not yet sent it. Am I subject to the new rules?

Yes. Only applications actually received by the consulate before 27 March 2025 at 23:59 (Rome time) remain governed by the previous legislation. Having prepared or even posted your file before that date is not sufficient: it is the date of actual receipt that counts.
This article is provided for information purposes only, based on the legislative texts in force as of April 2026. Always consult the relevant consulate’s website or a specialist lawyer before beginning your application. allerenitalie.com is not a law firm.