Italian Citizenship: Why Italy Made It Harder to Qualify

The Italian government has introduced new citizenship regulations, significantly tightening eligibility criteria for those applying based on ancestry. The reforms aim to prevent system abuse, streamline processing, and reduce strain on consular resources.

Key Changes to Citizenship Laws

1. Stricter Eligibility for Citizenship by Descent
   • Applicants must now prove direct lineage to at least one parent or grandparent born in Italy.
   • Previously, individuals with an Italian ancestor alive after March 17, 1861, could apply, leading to a surge in applications from South America and other regions.
   • The changes aim to curb the use of distant ancestry as a means to obtain an Italian passport.
2. Reduction of Processing Burden on Consulates
   • Italian consulates, especially in Argentina and Brazil, have been overwhelmed by applications.
   • In Argentina alone, citizenship recognitions jumped from 20,000 in 2023 to 30,000 in 2024.
   • Processing will now be centralized in Rome to free up consular resources.
3. Ongoing Citizenship Debates and Referendum Proposal
   • Critics argue that while descendants of Italians abroad face relaxed requirements, children of migrants born and raised in Italy must still wait until age 18 to apply for citizenship.
   • Pro-migrant groups have proposed a referendum to ease citizenship requirements, seeking to reduce the residency requirement from 10 to 5 years and allow immediate citizenship for children of new citizens.
   • If approved, the referendum could enable 2.5 million foreigners to become Italian citizens.

The Italian government defends the reforms as necessary to protect the integrity of its citizenship system, while opponents argue for a more inclusive approach that reflects the realities of modern Italy. A potential nationwide vote in 2025 could determine the future direction of the country's naturalization policies.