Italian Citizenship by Descent
Reconnect with your Italian heritage through citizenship by descent
Quick facts
Italian Citizenship at a Glance
- Who qualifies
- An Italian parent or grandparent who was exclusively Italian
- Generations removed
- Parent or grandparent (new applications)
- Language test
- No
- Where you file
- Italian consulate, comune, or court
Italian Citizenship by Descent: Where Things Stand
The most sought-after citizenship by descent program in the world has changed significantly. Italy's 2025 reform narrowed who qualifies, and major court rulings in 2026 have shifted the picture again. For many families, citizenship is still possible. Here is exactly where things stand.
Do you qualify?
How to Qualify for Italian Citizenship by Descent
Under Law 74/2025, two things must be present in your line at the same time: a qualifying Italian ancestor and an unbroken line of descent to you. Having one without the other is not enough.
A qualifying Italian ancestor
Your anchor ancestor must be a parent or grandparent. Great-grandparents no longer qualify as the anchor for new applications. Your parent or grandparent qualifies if any one of these is true:
- They were exclusively Italian (no other citizenship) when you were born
- They were exclusively Italian at the time of their death
- They were your Italian citizen parent and lived in Italy for at least two consecutive years before you were born
An unbroken line of descent
Nobody in your direct line may have naturalized as a citizen of another country in a way that breaks the chain. The line is unbroken only if both of these hold:
- Nobody naturalized before 1992 AND before the next person in line was born
- Nobody naturalized before 1992 AND before the next person in line reached adulthood (age 21 if before 1975, age 18 if after)
Not sure which applies to your family?
Our team will map your line of descent and tell you exactly where you stand, with no obligation.
The Old Rules: How Jure Sanguinis Worked Before March 27, 2025
For most of its history, Italian citizenship by descent had no generational limit. If you could trace an unbroken line of citizenship from an Italian-born ancestor who was alive after March 17, 1861 (the date of Italian unification) to yourself, you qualified. That ancestor could be a grandparent, great-grandparent, or further back. What mattered was the chain.
The primary event that broke that chain was naturalization. If an ancestor in your direct line naturalized as a citizen of another country before the next person in line was born, Italian citizenship did not pass to that next generation. There was also the “minor issue”: whether a naturalization by an Italian parent while the child was still a minor broke the chain. The Ministry of the Interior took the restrictive position from October 2024 that it did. In July 2026 the Court of Cassation rejected that position for children who were dual citizens from birth, and in August 2026 the Ministry withdrew its policy (see below).
For female ancestors, the “1948 rule” applied: citizenship could pass through a female line only if the child was born on or after January 1, 1948, though court-based challenges to this rule have succeeded in some cases.
If you filed a complete application at an Italian consulate or municipality, or had a confirmed consulate appointment, before 11:59 PM Rome time on March 27, 2025, your case is evaluated under the old rules. That deadline is firm.
Law 74/2025, aka the Tajani Decree
On March 27, 2025, the Italian government issued an emergency decree that fundamentally restructured the jure sanguinis program. After parliamentary review, it became Law 74/2025 on May 24, 2025. For any application filed or consulate appointment made after March 27, 2025, the new rules apply. As of October 2026, Law 74/2025 remains in force while its retroactive application is reviewed by the European Court of Justice (see below).
The new law requires a qualifying parent or grandparent and an unbroken line of descent. See how to qualify above for the full requirements.
What About Your Children?
Your children do not automatically qualify alongside you. They must independently satisfy both requirements, meaning they need their own qualifying ancestor (which could be you, if you are exclusively Italian or meet one of the three criteria) and their own unbroken line.
If your children do not qualify by descent under Law 74/2025, a separate form of citizenship called cittadinanza per beneficio di legge (BdL) may be available. BdL is declared at the consulate and takes effect from the date of declaration, not at birth. A BdL citizen must live in Italy for at least two years before having children of their own, or their children will not be eligible by any descent-based route.
The Legal Challenges to Law 74/2025
Law 74/2025 continues to be challenged in court, and the legal landscape has shifted significantly in 2026.
The “Minor Issue” Has Been Resolved
On July 26, 2026, the United Sections of the Court of Cassation (Sezioni Unite), Italy's highest civil court, settled the long-running “minor issue” in applicants' favor (Judgment no. 24045/2026). The question was whether a child lost Italian citizenship when an Italian parent naturalized abroad while the child was still a minor. The Court held that children who were dual citizens from birth, such as those born in the United States to an Italian father, did not lose their Italian citizenship when that parent later naturalized. The Court also confirmed that Law 74/2025 does not apply to court cases filed before March 27, 2025.
On August 10, 2026, the Ministry of the Interior adopted this ruling in Circular no. 65050. The circular withdraws the restrictive policy the Ministry introduced in October 2024 and allows applicants who were rejected over the minor issue to have their cases reviewed again.
The Referral to the European Court of Justice
The retroactive application of Law 74/2025 is now before the Court of Justice of the European Union. In April 2026, Italy's Constitutional Court rejected a challenge brought under the Italian Constitution by the Tribunal of Turin. Then, on July 23, 2026, it took a different approach to new challenges raised by the Tribunals of Mantua and Campobasso. Rather than ruling on them, the Court suspended those proceedings and referred the question to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg (Order no. 147/2026).
Italian citizenship also carries European Union citizenship. The European Court will therefore decide whether EU law allows Italy to retroactively deny citizenship to people who were born before the 2025 reform and would have qualified under the rules in force at their birth. The European Court has previously held that the automatic loss of EU citizenship, without an individual assessment, can be disproportionate.
We strongly believe the European Court will find that the retroactive application of Law 74/2025 is incompatible with EU law, and that it will ultimately be removed. A decision is likely still some months away. Until then, Law 74/2025 remains in force, and individual judges may choose to proceed with or pause similar cases while the referral is pending. Every case is different, so we recommend speaking with us about how these developments apply to your family's line.
Building Your Italian Documentary Chain
Whichever rules apply, the documentary requirements are similar. You need a complete vital records chain from your qualifying Italian ancestor to yourself: birth, marriage, and death certificates for every person in the direct line. For ancestors who emigrated to the United States, naturalization records are critical, because they establish the date of naturalization and determine whether the chain holds or breaks.
Under Law 74/2025, documentation showing that your parent or grandparent was exclusively Italian at the relevant time is also required. This can include certificates of non-naturalization from the countries where they lived. See our citizenship by descent services for how we gather, translate, and apostille these records.
Three simple steps
Your Path to Italian Citizenship in 3 Steps
Free Eligibility Review
We review your family history and tell you whether you qualify under current law, under the old rules, or may benefit from pending legal challenges.
Build Your File
We gather vital records, naturalization and non-naturalization documents from Italy, the US, and elsewhere, then handle certified translations and apostilles.
File & Follow Through
We submit your application through the right channel, consular or judicial, and monitor your case until your citizenship is recognized.
Questions answered
Italian Citizenship by Descent: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still get Italian citizenship by descent after the 2025 law?
Yes, if you have a qualifying Italian parent or grandparent and an unbroken line of descent to you. Each case is evaluated individually, and the law is being challenged in court, so a careful review matters.
Does my great-grandparent qualify?
Not as the anchor ancestor for new applications under Law 74/2025, which requires a parent or grandparent. If you would have qualified under the old rules, your options depend on the pending court challenges, so it is worth a review.
What if I applied before March 27, 2025?
If you filed a complete application, or had a confirmed consulate appointment, before 11:59 PM Rome time on March 27, 2025, your case is evaluated under the old rules. That deadline is firm. In July 2026 the Court of Cassation also confirmed that Law 74/2025 does not apply to court cases filed before March 27, 2025.
Do my children qualify too?
Not automatically. They must satisfy both requirements on their own. If they do not qualify by descent, citizenship per beneficio di legge (BdL) may be available.
What changed for Italian citizenship in 2026?
In July 2026 the Court of Cassation's United Sections settled the “minor issue” in applicants' favor (Judgment no. 24045/2026), and in August 2026 the Ministry of the Interior adopted that ruling in Circular no. 65050. Also in July 2026, Italy's Constitutional Court referred the question of Law 74/2025's retroactive application to the European Court of Justice. Law 74/2025 remains in force until that court decides.
My application was rejected over the “minor issue.” Can it be reviewed?
Possibly. Circular no. 65050 withdraws the Ministry's restrictive October 2024 policy and allows applicants who were rejected over the minor issue to have their cases reviewed again. Every case is different, so we recommend a review of your family's line.
What documents do I need?
A complete chain of birth, marriage, and death certificates from your Italian ancestor to you, plus naturalization records. Under Law 74/2025 you also need documents showing your parent or grandparent was exclusively Italian. We order, translate, and apostille them for you.
Do I have to move to Italy or speak Italian?
Citizenship by descent generally does not require you to move to Italy or to pass a language test. We confirm the requirements for your route during your free review.
Explore Citizenship by Descent in Other Countries
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