Italy’s New Ruling Sparks Fears: Millions with Ancestral Ties May Lose Citizenship Rights
Italy’s Constitutional Court recently upheld a controversial law that alters the country’s long-standing citizenship policies, affecting millions of people of Italian descent around the world. This landmark decision means that individuals born outside of Italy to Italian ancestors will now face significant hurdles in claiming Italian citizenship.
Since Italy’s unification in 1861, citizenship has been largely determined by ancestry, a policy known as ius sanguinis. This allowed Italian emigrants to pass down their citizenship to their descendants indefinitely. However, a law introduced in March 2025 by Italy’s government has reshaped this practice, limiting citizenship rights to those with a parent or grandparent born in Italy who retained Italian citizenship. Dual citizenship, which many in the Italian diaspora possess, is also effectively forbidden under the new regulations.
The court’s recent ruling dismissed challenges to this law, brought forth by four judges who argued it was unconstitutional. They hoped for a reversal that would honor Italy’s historical citizenship practices, but the court ruled otherwise. As a result, many descendants who could previously claim citizenship due to their family lineage will lose this right if they did not assert it officially by 2025.
For those interested in reclaiming their Italian heritage, the process has always been fraught with challenges. Applicants must gather a vast array of documentation, from birth to marriage certificates of their ancestors. These documents are often difficult and costly to obtain, sometimes requiring extensive legal intervention to expedite cases. The backlog is significant, with regional court systems overwhelmed by citizenship claims and consulates swamped with applications. For instance, in 2024, Italian consulates in Argentina managed a substantial increase in applications, reflecting the global interest in acquiring Italian citizenship.
Besides individual legacies, the recent change will also impact parts of Italy, like Sicily, that have sought to counteract depopulation by attracting descendants back to the region. With many Italian citizens emigrating for better opportunities—posing a demographic challenge—it was hoped that welcoming back descendants could help revitalize local communities.
The constitutional verdict reflects an official stance that foreign-born descendants, despite their ancestral link, may have only a tenuous connection to modern Italy. It has terminated efforts to maintain those ties under citizenship law, except in active claims. Lawyers and activists are contemplating next steps, with some keeping an eye on potential rulings from European courts, which might offer a reprieve or alternative legal route.
Overall, this development signifies a substantial shift in how Italy views its diaspora, prioritizing geographical and political considerations over historical familial ties. Yet, the decision to curtail this right remains a contentious topic, stirring debate over national identity, cultural heritage, and the legalities of citizenship by descent, as Italy continues to navigate its demographic and geopolitical realities.
