{"id":4809,"date":"2025-05-22T16:05:35","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T14:05:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shimmigrations.com\/?p=4809"},"modified":"2026-10-28T06:21:05","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T05:21:05","slug":"italian-citizenship-by-descent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shimmigrations.com\/en\/italian-citizenship-by-descent\/","title":{"rendered":"Italian Citizenship by Descent: 2026 Requirements and Process"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"article-summary\"><strong>In short.<\/strong> Italian citizenship by descent (<em>iure sanguinis<\/em>) allows some people with Italian ancestry to be recognised as Italian citizens from birth. Since Decree-Law no. 36\/2025, converted into Law no. 74\/2025, applicants born abroad who also hold another citizenship must meet new requirements, so eligibility can no longer be assessed only by counting generations. The first step is a review of your family line, naturalisation records and the dates of birth of each person in the line.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Important legal update:<\/strong> Decree-Law no. 36\/2025, converted into Law no. 74\/2025, introduced new limits and additional eligibility requirements. Older online guides stating that every descendant may apply without a generational limit may now be incomplete or misleading.<\/p>\n<p>If you want to understand whether you may qualify, the first step is a review of your family line, citizenship history, naturalisation records and the dates of birth of each person in the line. You can <a href=\"\/en\/contact\/\">request an English eligibility assessment<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>What is Italian citizenship by descent?<\/h2>\n<p>Italian citizenship by descent is based on the transmission of citizenship from an Italian parent to a child. Recognition is not the same as naturalisation: when the legal requirements are met, the applicant asks the competent authority to recognise a citizenship status that existed from birth.<\/p>\n<p>However, the transmission must not have been interrupted, and applicants born abroad who also hold another citizenship must now satisfy the requirements introduced by the 2025 reform. For an overview of all routes to citizenship, see our <a href=\"\/en\/italian-citizenship-official-guide\/\">Italian citizenship guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>What are the eligibility rules after Law no. 74\/2025?<\/h2>\n<p>According to official guidance published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Italian consulates, recognition may apply in specific situations. For applicants born abroad, the relevant categories include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>people who do not hold another citizenship (the restrictions of Article 3-bis apply only to people born abroad who also hold another citizenship);<\/li>\n<li>applicants covered by the transitional rules because an administrative or judicial application, or a qualifying confirmed appointment request, was submitted by the deadline of 11:59 p.m. Rome time on 27 March 2025;<\/li>\n<li>applicants with an Italian parent or grandparent who holds, or held at the time of death, only Italian citizenship (according to the Ministry of the Interior, the relevant date is normally the date of the applicant&#8217;s birth or, if the ancestor had already died, the date of death);<\/li>\n<li>applicants with an Italian parent, including an adoptive parent, who lived in Italy for at least two continuous years after acquiring Italian citizenship and before the applicant&#8217;s birth or adoption.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These categories are a summary, not a complete legal opinion. Transitional provisions, minor children, adoption, multiple citizenships and the history of the family line can change the analysis.<\/p>\n<h2>Why do naturalisation dates matter?<\/h2>\n<p>The citizenship history of the Italian ancestor and every generation in the line must be checked carefully. If citizenship was lost or the line was interrupted before the birth, majority or emancipation of the next descendant, depending on the law applicable at the time, recognition may not be available.<\/p>\n<p>A certificate showing whether and when an ancestor acquired another citizenship is therefore one of the most important documents in the assessment.<\/p>\n<h2>What about maternal lines and births before 1948?<\/h2>\n<p>Family lines involving an Italian woman and a child born before 1 January 1948 require specific legal assessment. These cases are often described as &#8220;1948 cases&#8221; and may involve a judicial procedure rather than the standard administrative route.<\/p>\n<p>The dates and citizenship status of every person in the line must be reviewed before deciding which procedure may apply.<\/p>\n<h2>Which documents are commonly required?<\/h2>\n<p>The exact documents depend on the authority handling the application and the countries involved. Commonly requested records include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>the Italian ancestor&#8217;s birth certificate issued by the Italian municipality;<\/li>\n<li>birth certificates for every person in the direct line, including the applicant;<\/li>\n<li>marriage, divorce and death records where applicable;<\/li>\n<li>naturalisation certificates or official evidence that the ancestor did not acquire another citizenship;<\/li>\n<li>documents concerning name, date or place discrepancies;<\/li>\n<li>legalisation or apostille of foreign records, where required;<\/li>\n<li>official translations into Italian.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Documents should be checked before filing. Inconsistent names, dates or places can lead to requests for clarification or corrections. Our guide to <a href=\"\/en\/apostille-legalisation-documents-italy\/\">apostille and legalisation of foreign documents<\/a> explains how to prepare foreign records.<\/p>\n<h2>How does the application process work?<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Preliminary eligibility review:<\/strong> reconstruct the direct family line and identify the law applicable to each generation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Citizenship and naturalisation checks:<\/strong> verify whether the transmission was interrupted and whether the post-2025 requirements are met.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Document collection:<\/strong> request civil-status and citizenship records from the relevant authorities.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Corrections, legalisation and translation:<\/strong> resolve material discrepancies and prepare foreign documents for use in Italy.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Application:<\/strong> submit through the competent Italian authority using the procedure applicable to the case.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Follow-up:<\/strong> respond to any request for additional documents or clarification.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>Where can an application be submitted?<\/h2>\n<p>The competent authority depends on where the applicant legally resides and on the type of case. Administrative applications may be handled by an Italian consulate abroad or by an Italian municipality for applicants who are genuinely resident in Italy. Judicial proceedings apply only in cases where a court route is legally appropriate.<\/p>\n<p>Moving temporarily or declaring a residence that is not genuine can create serious problems. The correct authority should be identified before organising documents or travel.<\/p>\n<h2>How long does recognition take?<\/h2>\n<p>Timing varies considerably according to the authority, appointment availability, document quality and complexity of the case. No professional can guarantee a fixed completion date or a successful outcome.<\/p>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>Is there still no generational limit?<\/h3>\n<p>It is no longer accurate to assess eligibility only by saying that there is no generational limit. The 2025 reform introduced additional conditions for people born abroad, including rules connected with parents, grandparents, exclusive Italian citizenship, two years&#8217; residence in Italy of the Italian parent and applications filed before the 27 March 2025 deadline.<\/p>\n<h3>Can I apply through a great-grandparent?<\/h3>\n<p>Possibly, but ancestry alone is not enough. The full family line, the naturalisation history of each generation, the transitional rules for applications filed by 27 March 2025 and the additional requirements introduced by Law no. 74\/2025 must all be reviewed before deciding whether an application is possible.<\/p>\n<h3>Can I apply while living outside Italy?<\/h3>\n<p>Depending on the case, an applicant resident abroad may apply through the competent Italian consulate for their place of residence. Appointment availability and local document instructions differ between consular jurisdictions, so check the requirements of your consulate before collecting and translating records.<\/p>\n<h3>Can I apply directly in Italy?<\/h3>\n<p>An administrative application in Italy generally requires genuine legal residence in the municipality handling the procedure. A temporary visit is not the same as residence, and declaring a residence that is not genuine can create serious problems, so identify the correct authority before organising documents or travel.<\/p>\n<h3>Can anyone guarantee that my citizenship will be recognised?<\/h3>\n<p>No. Recognition depends on the law applicable to the case, the family history, the documents and the decision of the competent authority. A preliminary assessment of the family line and the records reduces avoidable errors, but it cannot guarantee the outcome or a fixed completion date.<\/p>\n<h2>Official sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/sala_stampa\/archivionotizie\/comunicati\/2025\/03\/il-consiglio-dei-ministri-approva-modifiche-alla-legge-sulla-cittadinanza-ius-sanguinis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: press release of 28 March 2025 on the decree-law as first approved (the final text was changed on conversion)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/conssanfrancisco.esteri.it\/en\/servizi-consolari-e-visti\/servizi-per-il-cittadino-straniero\/cittadinanza\/citizenship-by-descent-iure-sanguinis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco: citizenship by descent (iure sanguinis)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.normattiva.it\/uri-res\/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:legge:1992-02-05;91!vig=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Law no. 91 of 5 February 1992 on citizenship \u2014 Normattiva (Italian legislation)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gazzettaufficiale.it\/eli\/gu\/2025\/05\/23\/118\/sg\/pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Law no. 74 of 23 May 2025, converting Decree-Law no. 36\/2025 \u2014 Gazzetta Ufficiale (in Italian)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/libertaciviliimmigrazione.dlci.interno.gov.it\/sites\/default\/files\/2025-06\/circolare_26185_del_28_05_2025.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ministry of the Interior, Circular no. 26185 of 28 May 2025 (in Italian)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Sources were consulted on 19 October 2026. Citizenship law and administrative guidance can change, and each case depends on its own facts and documents: always check the latest instructions of the competent consulate or municipality.<\/p>\n<h2>How can SH Immigration Specialists help?<\/h2>\n<p>SH Immigration Specialists assists international clients with preliminary eligibility reviews, document planning and Italian citizenship procedures. We can review your ancestry, the relevant dates and the documents already available before you begin a formal application, in English. You can also read how to choose between an <a href=\"\/en\/immigration-law-firm-or-agency-italy\/\">immigration law firm or an agency in Italy<\/a>. The outcome depends on the competent authorities. For an assessment, <a href=\"\/en\/contact\/\">contact us<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This content provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.<\/p>\n<h2>Which other guides may help you?<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/reclaim-italian-citizenship\/\">Reclaim Italian citizenship<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/italian-citizenship-official-guide\/\">Italian citizenship 2026: requirements, documents and the 2025 reform<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/italian-citizenship-by-marriage\/\">Italian citizenship by marriage: requirements, timing and refusal risks<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/italian-citizenship-7-steps\/\">Italian citizenship application: the 7 steps explained<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/italian-citizenship-types\/\">Types of Italian citizenship: how each is obtained<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/dual-citizenship-italy\/\">Dual citizenship in Italy: what Italian law allows and what changes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/italian-citizenship-minor-children\/\">Italian citizenship for minor children: when they become Italian and what to do<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Updated for Italy\u2019s 2025 citizenship reform.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4810,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[74],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4809","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-italian-citizenship"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shimmigrations.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4809","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shimmigrations.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shimmigrations.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shimmigrations.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shimmigrations.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4809"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.shimmigrations.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4809\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8758,"href":"https:\/\/www.shimmigrations.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4809\/revisions\/8758"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shimmigrations.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4810"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shimmigrations.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4809"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shimmigrations.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4809"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shimmigrations.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4809"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}