Italy Tightens Citizenship Rules for Foreign Descendants

Italy has introduced stricter citizenship rules, limiting eligibility for citizenship by descent to only those with an Italian parent or grandparent born in Italy, effective March 29, 2025. This reform, announced by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, aims to curb abuses of the system and manage the overwhelming demand for Italian citizenship applications, particularly from countries with large Italian diasporas like the U.S. and South America. Previous rules allowed broader claims based on distant ancestry, but the new regulations will not be retroactive, meaning those who have already obtained citizenship or applied before the March 27 deadline will retain their status. The changes come amid a surge in citizenship applications, with a notable increase in approvals from Argentina and Brazil, driven by companies assisting applicants in tracing their lineage. Tajani emphasized the need to protect the integrity of Italian citizenship, stating that the process should not be exploited for convenience. The reform is also designed to ease the administrative burden on Italian consulates overwhelmed by requests.