On May 23, 2025, Law No. 74/2025 received official force in Italy, which radically changed the rules for obtaining citizenship by roots. Now this path will be available only for close generations of descendants with proven family ties to the country.
Key changes and reasons for the reform
The reform was a response to the collapse of consulates. Italy has seen an avalanche of applications, especially from Latin American countries and the United States. According to the ISMU research center, in 2022 alone, Italy granted citizenship to approximately 213,716 foreigners, becoming the leader in the EU in terms of the number of satisfied requests.
The new law defines:
- Restriction of granting citizenship by right of blood to 2 generations (parent or grandparent);
- The requirement of proof of genuine ties with Italy;
- Cancellation of the possibility of obtaining a passport through great-grandmothers and great-grandfathers;
- Stricter integration requirements for emigrant relatives.
According to the new rules, the right to an Italian passport is reserved only for those who have at least one parent, grandfather / grandmother were born in the Republic. According to the Italian Ministry of the Interior, about 80 million people in the world have Italian roots.
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Global trend and the naturalization referendum
Against the background of stricter rules for descendants, on June 8-9, 2025, Italy will hold a referendum on reducing the period of residence for naturalization from 10 to 5 years. This can make the path to citizenship easier for foreigners who are building a life directly in Italy.
For those who do not have Italian roots, but wish to live in Italy, there remains the possibility of obtaining a residence permit and subsequent naturalization. Currently, the naturalization process takes 10 years of legal residence. However, in case of a positive result of the referendum, this period may be reduced to 5 years. Otherwise, there is a risk that if the outcome of the vote is negative, the government may initiate an extension of the term to 12 years.
If you do not have Italian roots, but have a desire to move to Italy, our experts are ready to help you get a residence permit. Leave a request for a consultation and we will be able to find the right program.
Journalist, editor with 9 years of experience in investment immigration. I specialize in analysis of residency and tax programs, as well as individual selection of jurisdictions for relocation.
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