Italy has tightened its citizenship regulations for individuals with Italian heritage, implementing a new law that requires applicants to have a parent or grandparent who was a citizen by birth. This amendment to the existing 'jus sanguinis' policy, which previously allowed anyone with an Italian ancestor dating back to March 17, 1861 to apply, aims to strengthen ties between Italy and its citizens overseas while addressing concerns regarding passport commercialization and application backlogs.
The country's government cited a substantial increase in citizens living abroad—from approximately 4.6 million in 2014 to an estimated 6.4 million by 2024—as a driving factor for the change, alongside over 60,000 pending citizenship verification cases. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani emphasized that while the new law sets firmer boundaries, it still allows for descendants of Italians to obtain citizenship under certain conditions, reinforcing the principle that "citizenship must be a serious thing." The Italian foreign ministry noted that the updates will improve consular efficiency by focusing on applicants with genuine ties to Italy.
