Is your Italian passport dream over? Here's what the new rule says
Italy has recently implemented significant reforms to its citizenship laws, particularly affecting individuals seeking citizenship through ancestral ties. These changes, enacted under Decree-Law No.
36/2025 on March 28, 2025, aim to tighten eligibility criteria and ensure a genuine connection between applicants and the Italian state.
Key changes in citizenship eligibility
As per the earlier system, all those with Italian ancestry dating back to March 17, 1861, were allowed to apply for citizenship under the principle of jus sanguinis (right of blood). However, the revised law states otherwise, which going forward, will restrict eligibility to applicants who have at least one parent or grandparent who was an Italian citizen by birth.
This change effectively excludes those whose connection to Italy traces back to great-grandparents or earlier ancestors, unless they can demonstrate a tangible and recent link to the country.
Read more:
Vietnam's 10-year Golden Visa program: Key features, perks, and eligibility
Introduction of the 'effective bond' requirement
A notable addition to the citizenship criteria is the requirement of an "effective bond" (vincolo effettivo) with Italy. Applicants must now provide evidence of a real and recent connection to the country, such as recent residence in Italy or direct parental ties.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn
IC Markets
Đăng ký
Undo
This move aligns Italy with other European nations that emphasize a genuine link between the applicant and the state.
Administrative and social implications
Referring to the development, the Italian Government cites administrative efficiency and prevention of system abuse as primary motivations for the reform. As per the records, the number of Italian citizens residing abroad increased by 40%, from 4.6 million to 6.4 million, between 2014 and 2024, with significant numbers in countries like Argentina and Brazil.
This surge has reportedly strained consular resources and raised concerns about individuals obtaining citizenship without meaningful ties to Italy.
Impact on applicants and families
However, many aspirant citizens are now uncertain and disappointed by the new rules. People who intended to petition for citizenship on the basis of their great-grandparents' Italian ancestry are now ineligible. Families may also encounter circumstances in which certain members meet the requirements of the previous regulations while others do not, potentially resulting in further divides within the family.
Read more:
10 weekend getaways in India under INR 5,000
Transitional provisions and future outlook
Reports add that applications that have been submitted before March 28, 2025, will be processed under the previous rules. However, the decree remains provisional and requires parliamentary approval within 60 days to become permanent. During this period, amendments or a complete repeal are possible, and legal challenges are anticipated.
It's anticipated that the modifications will have ramifications for people looking to rediscover their Italian roots, even as they attempt to overcome administrative difficulties and maintain the integrity of Italian citizenship. The decree's ultimate effects will be ascertained over time, when the outcomes become more clearer.
One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
Allowing Maha to accept foreign aid: Kerala alleges political bias
1 2 3 T'puram: Kerala has questioned Centre's decision to allow Maharashtra to receive foreign contributions, alleging political bias. Finance minister K N Balagopal told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday that Centre is showing selective discrimination in permitting foreign aid, particularly towards opposition-ruled states. Recently, Centre approved foreign contributions to the Maharashtra chief minister's relief fund under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). This is the first time Centre has granted an FCRA licence to a state govt's account. The fund is registered as a trust and the approval is specifically for receiving donations for social work. Balagopal said that though the permission granted to Maharashtra is reasonable under such circumstances, this move contradicts Centre's earlier stand during the 2018 Kerala floods, when countries including the UAE offered substantial aid. The UAE pledged Rs 700 crore, but the Union home ministry denied Kerala permission to accept it, despite a formal request from the state govt. The decision had sparked widespread controversy. "Disasters, not politics, should be the criterion," the minister said. Balagopal said that during Covid-19 pandemic, Centre allowed foreign donations to the PM CARES Fund through a special account while Kerala was denied similar approval. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like People Born 1940-1975 With No Life Insurance Could Be Eligible For This Reassured Get Quote Undo He said Centre's decision in favour of Maharashtra triggered opposition from several non-BJP ruled states, which see it as discriminatory. He also said Maharashtra govt's perceived closeness to the ruling front at Centre leads other states, including Kerala, to believe that this played a role in the decision. He also criticized BJP leaders who, at the time, made remarks blaming the floods on beef consumption in the state. The minister also expressed disappointment that Centre has not provided any aid for Mundakkai-Chooralmala so far and did not announce any support during the Vizhinjam commission period either. He urged Centre to uphold equal standards for all states and not allow political considerations to influence disaster relief decisions.
Hans India
40 minutes ago
- Hans India
Ukraine claims devastating strike on Russian strategic air assets in Siberia, north Russia
Amid reports that European powers were preparing to lift curbs on Kyiv's use of long-range weaponry and a day before the next round of peace talks, Ukraine on Sunday claimed to have struck over three dozen Russian strategic aviation assets at several military airfields located deep inside Russia, including in Siberia and Murmansk. In what was termed to be one of the most widespread drone attacks so far on the Russian air forces, Ukraine's security service, the SBU, in a statement, said: "Enemy strategic bombers are burning en masse in Russia." Ukraine is conducting "a large-scale special operation aimed at destroying enemy bomber aircraft", it said. Footage has emerged purportedly showing a drone attack at Belaya airbase in Irkutsk oblast, Siberia, thousands of miles from Ukraine, the BBC reported. While the Russian military has not commented on the Ukrainian attacks, authorities in Siberia said several drones targeted a military installation in the Irkutsk Region in "the first such attack in Siberia". Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev said the incident occurred near the settlement of Sredny, about 150 km from Lake Baikal and 70 km from the regional capital, RT reported. He also said that one drone reportedly hit an abandoned building in the nearby village of Novomaltinsk. According to the governor, the drones were launched from a small truck, though the exact number of UAVs involved remains unclear. Unverified footage on social media suggests that at least three drones took part in the raid, RT said. Kobzev added that the launch site had been 'blocked' and that there was 'no threat to the lives and health of civilians.' Emergency services and law enforcement were dispatched to the scene, he said. While Kobzev did not say who was behind the attack, both Russian and Ukrainian media outlets have suggested that the attack was orchestrated by Kiev, RT reported. According to Russian media, the Irkutsk attack coincided with reports of a similar drone strike in the northern Murmansk Region, though details were not available. While officials in the Murmansk region reported a similar drone raid, they did not provide any further details. The latest wave of drone strikes on Russian strategic military assets comes hours before Russia and Ukraine are set for the next round of peace talks in Istanbul.
Time of India
44 minutes ago
- Time of India
Germany's Max Planck society emerges as magnet for US researchers amid Trump-era turmoil
Germany's Max Planck Society has recorded a dramatic threefold increase in applications from the United States, reflecting growing unease among American scientists over the future of research under President Donald Trump's administration. The spring 2025 recruitment round saw 81 applications from early-career women scientists in the US, compared to just 25 in the previous year as reported by Reuters. 'Applications from other parts of the world have remained constant. The surge is distinctly American,' confirmed Max Planck president Patrick Cramer. Top US institutions at the center of the exodus Almost half of the new US applicants are affiliated with just five institutions—Harvard University, Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the University of California. The Max Planck Society, a German state-funded research network with 84 institutes, a €2 billion annual budget, and 39 Nobel laureates, is now considering hiring 20 candidates, up from the originally planned 12, if the quality threshold is met. Research crackdown and the Harvard controversy The migration of talent follows the Trump administration's revocation of Harvard University's certification to host international students, a move currently blocked by a federal court. The policy mandates that foreign students either transfer to compliant institutions or lose their legal status in the US. The White House has indicated intentions to broaden the restrictions to additional universities. These developments have sent shockwaves through the global academic community, especially as prominent scholars, such as Yale historian Timothy Snyder, have already resigned in protest and relocated to institutions abroad. Europe seeks to absorb displaced talent Cramer, recently returned from discussions in the US, revealed to Reuters that international research leaders are increasingly focused on safeguarding academic talent. 'Our main concern is that a whole generation of scientists may be lost to global science,' he said. 'Europe must become a safe haven and help bridge the years ahead.' The German government is preparing a national initiative, tentatively titled the '1,000 Brains' programme, to expand research infrastructure in anticipation of an influx of international academics fleeing US policy disruptions. Germany's call to action: A wounded scientific benchmark Petra Olschowski, the research minister of Baden-Württemberg—home to four of Germany's 11 top-tier universities—warned that the global research ecosystem could suffer if American institutions continue to lose credibility. He said in an interaction with Reuters, 'Harvard and other major US universities are our benchmarks,' she said. 'That very standard is now under threat.' Global science at a crossroads Despite European enthusiasm to accommodate affected scholars, budgetary constraints remain a concern. Still, research organisations across the continent are aligning their efforts to counterbalance the instability in the US. As Trump's education policies grow increasingly nationalistic, Europe is positioning itself not just as an academic alternative, but as a sanctuary for scientific inquiry in peril. Ready to empower your child for the AI era? Join our program now! Hurry, only a few seats left.
