LATEST NEWS: Limits on Italian Citizenship by Ancestry

Big changes may be coming for those seeking Italian citizenship by descent. In October 2024, Members of Parliament (MPs) from Forza Italia – Berlusconi Presidente – Partito Popolare Europeo introduced new proposals that could make it harder for descendants of Italian ancestors to claim citizenship.

What Are The Latest Proposals About?

The proposed bills aim to restrict who can qualify for Italian citizenship by lineage. Under these new rules, only descendants within the third generation would be eligible. This means that if your parent, grandparent, and great-grandparent were all born outside Italy, you would no longer qualify for citizenship. Essentially, the proposals would cut off the right to citizenship for fourth-generation descendants born overseas.

On top of that, the proposals would increase the citizenship application fee to €600.

You can find the details of these proposals on the Italian Parliament’s website under Bills no. 1263 S and 2080 C.

Family Degrees 101: Know Your Rank

Understanding your eligibility under this new draft law necessitates a detailed grasp of Italian kinship degrees. Here’s a breakdown:

Rank 0: Original Italian Ancestor (e.g., Mario)

Rank 1: Child of Original Ancestor (e.g., Luca, son of Mario)

Rank 2: Grandchild of Original Ancestor (e.g., Serena, daughter of Luca)

Rank 3: Great-Grandchild of Original Ancestor (e.g., Anna, daughter of Serena)

Rank 4: Great-Great-Grandchild of Original Ancestor (e.g., Silvia, daughter of Anna)

Rank 5: Great-Great-Great-Grandchild of Original Ancestor (e.g., Giovanni, son of Silvia)

With these rankings in mind, here is how the new draft law would apply:

Ranks 0-3: Eligible for citizenship by merely demonstrating Italian language proficiency at the B1 level.

Ranks 4 and beyond: Must not only prove language proficiency but also complete a year’s residency in Italy.

Why Are These New Changes Being Proposed?

The MPs behind these proposals argue that Italy currently grants more citizenships than any other European country. They point out that there has been a massive increase in people born and living abroad who claim Italian citizenship, often without a strong connection to Italy. To address this, they want to limit how many generations can pass down citizenship if the descendants are all born outside Italy. Their argument: if your parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents were born abroad, you shouldn’t automatically qualify as an Italian citizen.

How Do These Proposals Compare to Other Bills in Discussion?

These new proposals are part of a broader effort to tighten Italian citizenship laws. While they suggest a straightforward cut-off for fourth-generation descendants, previous bills took a different approach.

Earlier proposals included requirements like proving proficiency in the Italian language or, in some cases, needing to live in Italy for at least one year before applying for citizenship. For example, Bill 752 S focuses on fourth-generation descendants and would require them to move to Italy for at least a year before their application.

For more on previous proposals, check out my article, Italian Citizenship Law: Follow Ancestry Bill Updates.

Are The Reasons for These Proposal Justified?

Each country has the power to decide independently who qualifies as a citizen, and Italy is no exception. It’s true that Italy has granted citizenship to a large number of descendants in recent years, particularly as global mobility and connections with Italy have increased. However, we must consider Italy’s unique history of emigration.

Since the late 1800s, Italians have left the country in massive waves, second only to China in terms of the scale of emigration. Today, while almost 60 million people live within Italy, there is practically another “Italy” outside the country’s borders. Yet, fewer than 6 million people abroad hold Italian citizenship.

In light of Italy’s ongoing demographic decline and the economic and welfare crises it faces, granting citizenship to descendants who seek to maintain close ties with Italy and fulfill the rights and responsibilities of citizenship could be a crucial step forward. Data consistently shows that citizenship applicants by lineage come from well-established communities, are highly educated, and are economically active.

These descendants honor the legacy of Italian emigration and have the potential to contribute positively to Italy’s future, offering hope for reversing the economic downturn and demographic challenges. Recognizing their connection to Italy could strengthen the nation and offer a brighter outlook for generations to come.

How to Stay Updated

These proposed changes could have a major impact on the Italian diaspora, so it’s important to stay informed and prepared. I’ll continue to share updates as the situation develops.

If you want to keep up with these discussions, visit the official Senate agenda at this page. Whenever they have a discussion session on citizenship, you will find the subject in the “IN SEDE REDIGENTE” section of the agenda.

In this article I published an overview of the proposals to change the law on Italian citizenship that are being discussed in the Parliament: “Italian Citizenship Law: Follow Ancestry Bill Updates”

Keep an eye out for more information and what these potential new rules could mean for you and your family’s path to Italian citizenship. You’re welcome to sign up for my email updates.

Apply for citizenship now

If you’re considering to apply for citizenship by lineage, I recommend doing it FAST and correctly. You’re welcome to use my Ultimate Checklist, complete with PRO Tips and the Exclusive Template to get the Italian records quickly.

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