Citizenship by descent

Cittadinanza iure sanguinis

Claim the Italian citizenship your ancestors passed down. Changed significantly in 2025.

Who it's for: People with an Italian parent or grandparent, and people whose application was already filed before March 27, 2025.

Requirements

2025 rules (Law 74/2025): if you were born abroad and hold another citizenship, you generally qualify only if a parent or grandparent held exclusively Italian citizenship, or a citizen parent lived in Italy for 2 continuous years before your birth
Applications or court cases filed by 11:59 pm Rome time on March 27, 2025 are judged under the old, unlimited-generation rules
An unbroken line: no ancestor naturalized abroad before the next generation was born, or while that child was a minor (under 21 under the old law)
Maternal line with a child born before January 1, 1948: requires a court case (a '1948 case'), not a consulate application
Birth, marriage and death records for every generation, apostilled and translated into Italian
Proof of naturalization date, or a certificate of non-existence of naturalization records (USCIS / National Archives)

Timeline: Consulate: 1–3+ years including appointment waits. In Italy (comune): often 6–12 months. Court cases: 1–3 years.
Approximate cost: €600 government fee per applicant, plus €1–5k for documents and translations; lawyers €3–10k+ for court cases
Can you work?: Yes. As an EU citizen you can live and work anywhere in the EU.
Path to permanent: Immediate: you are a citizen. Register with AIRE if you live abroad, or with your comune's anagrafe if you live in Italy.

Pros

Full EU citizenship with no income requirements
Passes to your children
Fastest route for eligible people

Cons

Great-grandparent lines are now mostly closed for new applicants
Paperwork heavy; one wrong date can break the line
Court challenges to the 2025 law are ongoing; check the current status

Official source: www.esteri.it

General information as of autumn 2026, not legal advice. Requirements vary by consulate. Confirm with yours or with a licensed Italian immigration lawyer.