Why Italian Citizenship by Descent
Italian citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis) provides full EU citizenship rights. However, significant law changes in 2025 have introduced new limitations.
EU Freedom of Movement: Live, work, and study anywhere in the 27 EU member states.
Powerful Passport: Italian passport provides visa-free access to 190+ countries.
Dual Citizenship: Italy fully permits dual citizenship.
2025 Law Change: The Tajani Decree (Law 74/2025) introduced a generational limit effective May 24, 2025.
Who Qualifies
Important: Italian citizenship law changed significantly in 2025.
Under Law 74/2025 (effective May 24, 2025), you may qualify for Italian citizenship if:
Italian-Born Parent or Grandparent: You have a parent or grandparent who was born in Italy and held Italian citizenship.
Parent Resided in Italy: Your parent resided in Italy for at least 2 consecutive years after acquiring Italian citizenship and before your birth.
Grandfathered Applications: If you submitted your application or received a consulate appointment by March 27, 2025, your case is processed under the previous rules (no generational limit).
No Longer Eligible: Claims through great-grandparents or earlier generations are no longer accepted for new applications after May 24, 2025.
1948 Rule Still Applies: Claims through a woman who gave birth before January 1, 1948 still require a court application in Italy.
The Process
Step 1: Eligibility Assessment
We trace your Italian lineage and verify eligibility. The key requirement is that your Italian ancestor did not naturalize in another country BEFORE the birth of the next person in your line.
Step 2: Document Collection
We help you obtain all vital records from Italy and your country of birth, including birth, marriage, death, and naturalization certificates.
Step 3: Document Preparation
All documents must be apostilled and translated. We coordinate this process.
Step 4: Application Submission
Submit through your local Italian consulate or directly in Italy (1948 cases or faster processing).
Need help finding documents? Our genealogical research service helps locate vital records across countries and generations. Learn more →
Requirements
Birth Certificate: Your official birth certificate with apostille.
Ancestral Vital Records: Birth, marriage, and death certificates for each generation linking you to your qualifying ancestor.
Proof of Ancestor's Citizenship: Passport, ID, or official records proving your ancestor held citizenship.
Apostilles and Translations: All foreign documents must be apostilled and translated into the official language.
What's Included
Complete lineage assessment
Italian record research and procurement
Document checklist and tracking
Translation coordination
Apostille guidance
Application preparation
Consulate appointment assistance
Ongoing support until recognition
Timeline
| Milestone | Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Eligibility assessment | 1-2 weeks |
| Document collection | 3-12 months |
| Document preparation | 1-2 months |
| Consulate processing | 1-4 years |
Consulate wait times vary dramatically by location. Processing in Italy can be faster (3-6 months) but requires temporary residency.
Important Notes
2025 Law Change: Law 74/2025 (Tajani Decree) introduced a generational limit. New applications require an Italian-born parent or grandparent.
Grandfathered Cases: Applications submitted or appointments received by March 27, 2025 are processed under pre-2025 rules.
The 1948 Rule: Claims through a woman who gave birth before 1948 require a court application in Italy.
Naturalization Alternative: Those ineligible under the new rules can apply for citizenship by residency after 2 years in Italy if they have an Italian-born parent or grandparent.
No language requirement for citizenship by descent (language required for residency-based naturalization).