How can I determine my eligibility for Italian citizenship by descent (Jure sanguinis)?
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Do you know your ancestor’s full name?
Do you have an approximate date of birth?
Do you know the Italian province and town where they were born?
These details are crucial for the first step in qualifying for dual citizenship by descent.
If you don’t know these important details, you can likely find them on websites such as:
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Here are a sampling of some of the many questions that may affect your Italian heritage:
What year did your Italian ancestor naturalize (become a citizen of another country like the US)?
Was your ancestor naturalized before June 14th 1912?
Is there a woman in your Italian lineage who gave birth to her child before January 1st, 1948?
Contact IHC for a free 1 on 1 consultation.
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Is your parent or grandparent an Italian citizen?
Did your Italian-born ancestor naturalize before their child’s birth (born in the US)?
Did you or any of your ancestors ever renounce your/their right to Italian Citizenship?
Have any of your family members already applied for or obtained Italian citizenship?
If an Italian citizen (mother) has a child born before January 1st, 1948: applicants in this category must directly appeal in Italy to an Italian civil court to obtain recognition of their citizenship.
Note:
The Supreme Court of Cassation issued a major ruling on July 26, 2026, stating that children born with Italian citizenship and another citizenship don’t lose Italian citizenship if a parent naturalizes while they’re minors. This is favorable for many applicants, but lawyers are still analyzing the full scope.
Contact IHC for a free 1 on 1 consultation.
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In March 2025, the Italian government passed an emergency decree, restricting who qualifies for citizenship by descent. Officially converted into law 74 2025.
The new laws states that if you’re born outside of Italy you must meet at least one of these conditions to qualify…
You submitted a full application or booked a recognized appointment or filed a court case by 3/27/2025.
A parent or grandparent held only Italian citizenship at the time of your birth, or if they died before you were born, and they held exclusively Italian citizenship at the time of their death.
A parent lived in Italy for two consecutive years after acquiring Italian citizenship and before you were born.
You’re a child of a recognized Italian citizen and your parent makes a formal declaration of your birth to the Italian government within one year of your birth, or if the child was already born at the time of this decree (3/27/25) the parents have until May 31st, 2026 to file.
The Italian Constitution is reviewing the current ruling and multiple legal challenges are currently underway.
In July, 2026, the Italian Supreme Court struck down the “Minor issue” (Law 555 of 1912) that stated that a minor child automatically lost the right to Italian citizenship if their parent naturalized in another country before the child reached adulthood. This is a landmark ruling that may affect many applicants.
Contact IHC for a free 1 on 1 consultation.
Italian Citizenship Update: 9/2026
Effective March 28, 2025, Italy implemented a significant reform of its citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis) laws, which restricts eligibility for individuals born and residing abroad (outside of Italy). The changes, introduced by the “Tajani” decree, limit citizenship applicants to those who have a “close and genuine” connection with Italy and who formally applied for citizenship prior to March 28, 2025. IHC believes that these new restrictions may be reversed in the next 1-2 years. However, as of right now, the major impacts of the new law (as of 3/28/25) include:
Generational cutoff: Eligibility is now limited to only applicants with an Italian parent or grandparent born in Italy. Claims through great-grandparents or more distant ancestors are no longer possible.
Two year Accelerated Track: If you have an Italian parent or grandparent but fail to qualify due to the new strict rules, you can establish residency for 2 consecutive years and apply for citizenship in Italy.
The Joint Civil Sections (Sezioni Unite) ruled that children born abroad (outside of Italy) who acquired Italian citizenship at birth alongside a foreign citizenship do not lose their Italian citizenship merely because their Italian parent later naturalized outside of Italy during their minority. So, applications whose cases were previously denied or put on hold by consulates of courts due to the “Minor Issue” can now challenge those rejections or move forward with their recognition claims.
Qualified residence: In cases where the Italian parent was born abroad (outside of Italy), that parent must have legally resided in Italy for at least two consecutive years after acquiring Italian citizenship but before the applicant's birth.
As of January 2026, the new law (Bill AC 2369-A) centralizes ALL Italian citizenship applications in Rome, starting in 2028. Permanently shifting processing away from all consulates.
Judicial pathway: If you applied for Italian citizenship prior to 3/2025, and can prove structural consulate delays or historical discrimination (1948 cases) there is a court centric pathway. In effect, arguing your case in an Italian court (with an Italian lawyer’s representation) may provide alternative results. Your physical presence isn’t mandatory, but you’ll need an Italian lawyer and all the relevant documents. This process can take up to two years after filing in Italy, depending on your individual circumstances.
Right now, the new restrictive Italian citizenship laws are being challenged in multiple courts all over the Italian peninsula. IHC believes that with the highly uncertain future and validity of the new laws, it is important that you proceed with preparing your application “as if the new laws never existed.” IHC strongly advises that you start the citizenship process now and be prepared to apply at your earliest opportunity, in the event the laws are reversed and returned to the pre 3/2025 level.
Regardless of how you qualify for Italian citizenship (pre or post March 2025), NOW is the time to understand your specific situation and to take action and begin the citizenship application process. Compiling all the pertinent documents, certifications, and translations will take time.
At IHC, we are here and ready to assist you in any way necessary. We offer free consultations so you can understand how your specific case should be handled.
At IHC, we found that temporarily moving to Italy and applying for Italian citizenship there was a transformative, life-changing event. Moving to Italy involves stepping out of your comfort zone, total immersion in the culture, embracing a simpler, safer, healthier lifestyle, and exploring a unique way of life; live La Dolce Vita.
Please contact IHC for a FREE consultation or if you have any questions regarding your personal Italian heritage citizenship circumstances.
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