Italy Ends Ancestral Citizenship Through Great-Grandparent Lineage
Italy Tightens Citizenship Rules: Claims Through Great-Grandparents No Longer Accepted
Effective May 20, 2025, Italy has implemented a significant change in its citizenship law, officially ending the eligibility for citizenship by descent through great-grandparents. This move marks a stricter interpretation of jus sanguinis (citizenship by bloodline), impacting millions of people of Italian ancestry living abroad.
Residency Now Required for Ineligible Applicants
Under the new law, individuals who no longer qualify for citizenship through ancestry must now relocate to Italy and apply based on residency. However, this alternative path is more complex, especially for non-EU citizens, due to increasingly strict visa regulations and longer processing times.
Decree-Law Passed by Senate
The new citizenship restrictions were enacted through a decree-law approved by the Italian Senate with 81 votes in favor and 37 against. The legislation aims to narrow the scope of descent-based citizenship claims, limiting eligibility to those with at least one Italian parent or grandparent.
Additionally, applicants are now required to demonstrate proficiency in the Italian language, a requirement that previously applied only to naturalization through residency or marriage.
Government Defends the New Policy
The Italian Interior Ministry estimates that over 80 million people of Italian descent live globally. Many had relied on great-grandparental ties to claim citizenship. Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani defended the reform, emphasizing the seriousness of Italian citizenship:
“Being an Italian citizen is a serious matter; it is not a joke to have an Italian passport in your pocket to go shopping in Miami. We want those who wish to become Italian citizens because they have the right and because they feel connected to our country, to be able to do so — but without abuse.”
Brazilians Among the Most Affected
The new rules are expected to impact Brazilian descendants the most. According to NSC, in 2023 alone, 42,000 Brazilians acquired Italian citizenship through descent, accounting for 68.5% of all citizenships granted under jus sanguinis that year (61,000 total).
Argentina also remains a major source of new Italian citizens. ISTAT data show that over 16,000 Argentinians were naturalized in 2023—a sharp rise from previous years, reflecting growing interest in dual citizenship among South Americans.
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