New Italian Citizenship Rules 2025: What Changed and How to Protect Your Rights

Contents

• Introduction
• 1. What Is Law 74/2025?
• 2. The New Generational Limit
• 3. The Deadline That Changed Everything
• 4. New Requirements for Children and Grandchildren
• 5. Judicial Route for Distant Generations
• 6. The Importance of Certified Translations
• 7. How to Protect Your Citizenship Rights
• 8. Who Is Most Affected by Law 74/2025
• 9. The Broader Impact
• 10. How Roxo Translations Can Help

Introduction

The year 2025 brought significant changes to the process of obtaining Italian citizenship. With the approval of Law 74/2025, which converted Decree-Law 36/2025, the Italian government introduced new limits and requirements that directly affect descendants of Italian citizens worldwide.

Whether you’re just beginning your journey to citizenship or already have an application in progress, understanding these new rules is essential. Let’s explore what has changed, who is still eligible, and what you can do to secure your Italian recognition.

1. What Is Law 74/2025?

Law 74/2025 officially came into force on May 24, 2025, reforming the traditional “citizenship by descent” process (known as cittadinanza jure sanguinis).

The goal, according to the Italian Ministry of the Interior, was to simplify the system, reduce the administrative backlog, and focus resources on direct descendants with closer ties to Italy.

However, in practice, the law has significantly limited eligibility for millions of applicants of Italian descent, especially those living abroad.

2. The New Generational Limit

One of the most impactful changes is the restriction on how many generations can apply for citizenship administratively (through Italian consulates or Italian municipalities).

Under the new law:

• Only children and grandchildren of Italian citizens can apply directly via administrative channels.

• Great-grandchildren and beyond no longer qualify automatically through the consular or municipal route.

This means that if your Italian ancestor is your great-grandparent or further back, you’ll now need to pursue citizenship through judicial means (via the Italian courts).

3. The Deadline That Changed Everything

Applicants who had already submitted their documents before March 27, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. (Rome time) are protected under the previous rules.

However:

• Being on a waiting list or having an appointment without an official protocol number does not count as “submitted.”

• Only those with an officially filed application before the cutoff date retain their rights under the old system.

If you fall into this category, your case will continue to be processed normally under the previous citizenship criteria.

4. New Requirements for Children and Grandchildren

Even for those who still qualify (children or grandchildren), the requirements have become stricter.

The new law now demands:

• Proof that the Italian ancestor did not acquire another nationality before passing citizenship.

• In some cases, evidence that the ancestor resided legally in Italy for at least two years before the descendant’s birth.

These changes make the documentation process more complex and require accurate, certified translations and verifications.

5. Judicial Route for Distant Generations

For great-grandchildren and later generations, the judicial route remains open, but now it’s the only possible option.

Through the Italian courts, descendants can challenge the law based on principles such as:

• Equality and non-retroactivity of citizenship rights.

• Constitutional guarantees for Italian descent.

• International human rights principles regarding nationality.

Law firms and legal translators are already preparing thousands of judicial petitions to protect families affected by the new limits.

6. The Importance of Certified Translations

With the new restrictions, every detail counts. Documents must be:

• Properly translated and certified in Italian.

• Accompanied by apostilles or consular legalization.

• Free of discrepancies in names, dates, or locations.

At Roxo Translations, we specialize in certified translations for citizenship and immigration, ensuring your documents meet the latest Italian legal standards.

7. How to Protect Your Citizenship Rights

If you haven’t submitted your citizenship request yet, here’s what you can do now:

1. Collect all vital records, birth, marriage, death, and naturalization certificates for all ancestors in the lineage.

2. Verify naturalization dates, ensure your ancestor didn’t become a citizen of another country before their child was born.

3. Start document translation early, the new rules require stricter formatting, so using a certified translation agency like Roxo Translations is crucial.

4. Consult a citizenship expert, if you are a great-grandchild or further down the line, explore the judicial route before deadlines tighten further.

5. Act fast, the legal environment around citizenship continues to evolve. Waiting could mean losing your eligibility.

8. Who Is Most Affected by Law 74/2025

  Italian Citizenship 2025 - Eligibility Table

Italian Citizenship 2025: Who Is Still Eligible

Category	Impact
Child or grandchild of an Italian citizen	Still eligible through consulates or municipalities, under new documentation rules.
Great-grandchild or further descendant	Must apply through Italian court (judicial route).
Applicants filed before March 27, 2025	Protected by old rules.
Applicants waiting for appointments	Not protected, must comply with new law.
* Based on Law 74/2025 and Decree-Law 36/2025. Check with your local Italian consulate for case-specific updates.

9. The Broader Impact

Experts estimate that over 4 million Italian descendants worldwide, especially in Brazil, Argentina, and the United States, are affected by this reform.

While the law aims to streamline bureaucracy, critics argue that it unfairly penalizes families who have preserved Italian culture and lineage for generations.

International legal challenges are expected to test the constitutionality of the generational limit in the coming months.

10. How Roxo Translations Can Help

Navigating these new citizenship requirements can be stressful, especially when dealing with international documents.

At Roxo Translations, we help applicants worldwide by providing:

• Certified translations accepted by Italian consulates and courts.

• Fast turnaround and competitive rates.

• Support in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian.

• Experience with thousands of successful citizenship cases.

Don’t risk delays or rejection. Get your documents translated correctly the first time.

Request your free quote today and secure your path to Italian citizenship before the next legal changes.

Related topics: Italian Citizenship by Descent: Step-by-Step Guide | How to Translate Documents for Italian Consulates | Dual Citizenship and Naturalization: What You Need to Know | Why Certified Translations Are Essential for Immigration Cases | Top Mistakes When Applying for Italian Citizenship