Italy 2026: is your jure sanguinis (citizenship-by-descent) claim still valid?
As of 2026-06-01 · informational, not legal advice
It depends on when you applied and how close your Italian ancestor is. Italy's Law 74/2025 (in force May 24, 2025) added a generational limit to jure sanguinis. If you filed a complete application — or had a confirmed consular appointment — by 23:59 Rome time on March 27, 2025, your claim is still processed under the old, unlimited-generation rules. Otherwise, descent is generally preserved only if a parent or grandparent was (or, at death, was) exclusively an Italian citizen, or a parent lived in Italy for at least two continuous years after acquiring citizenship and before your birth. The Constitutional Court upheld the reform in Sentenza 63/2026.
Key facts
| In force | Law 74/2025 from May 24, 2025 (converting Decree-Law 36/2025; added Article 3-bis to Law 91/1992) |
|---|---|
| The cutoff | Applications filed — or a consular appointment confirmed — by 23:59 Rome on March 27, 2025 are processed under the old unlimited-descent rules |
| The new limit | A parent or grandparent (1st- or 2nd-degree ascendant) who was exclusively Italian — OR a parent resident in Italy ≥2 continuous years after naturalizing, before your birth |
| Constitutional Court | Sentenza 63/2026 (decided March 11, 2026) upheld the law and its retroactive reach — it struck nothing down |
| Consular fee (adults) | €600, non-refundable (this fee rose from €300 via the separate 2025 Budget Law, effective January 1, 2025) |
Likely still eligible
- Anyone who filed a complete application, or held a confirmed consular appointment, by 23:59 Rome on March 27, 2025 (old rules apply)
- A descendant with a parent or grandparent who was exclusively an Italian citizen
- A descendant whose parent lived in Italy for at least two continuous years after acquiring Italian citizenship, before the descendant's birth
Newly restricted
- Born-abroad descendants who also hold another citizenship, did not file by the March 27, 2025 cutoff, and whose nearest exclusively-Italian ancestor is beyond the grandparent (e.g. a great-grandparent) without the residence exception
Frequently asked
- I was planning to apply through my great-grandparent — can I still?
- Generally not under the new default rule, unless you filed or booked a confirmed appointment by March 27, 2025, or a parent or grandparent was exclusively Italian (or the two-year parental-residence exception applies). Every case turns on the documents — confirm with the competent Italian consulate.
- Did the Constitutional Court overturn the reform?
- No. In Sentenza 63/2026 (decided March 11, 2026), the Court upheld Law 74/2025, including its retroactive reach — it did not strike down any part.
- How much does an application cost now?
- The consular application fee for adults is €600 and is non-refundable. That figure rose from €300 via the 2025 Budget Law, which is a separate measure from Law 74/2025.
- Is there a separate "substantial link" test I have to pass?
- No standalone discretionary test. The law works through the exclusively-Italian-ascendant rule plus the dual-nationality preclusion — be cautious of marketing that describes a separate "substantial link" application step.
Related routes
Compiled from primary legal and official sources (below) — not legal advice. Citizenship law and fees change and turn on your exact documents; confirm with the competent authority or a licensed professional before acting. Verified as of 2026-06-01.
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