Italy shuts door on easy citizenship for ancestry seekers

Proceeding from a fresh article, South China Morning Post describes that for decades, people of Italian descent worldwide have been able to trace their family history, identify an Italian ancestor, and apply for citizenship. 

This has granted them access to one of the world’s most powerful passports, allowing for visa-free travel to more countries than almost any other nationality. However, the surge in applications has overwhelmed Italy’s courts, consulates, and municipal offices, causing significant delays and obstructing other important tasks.

In response, the Italian government has decided to impose stricter regulations. A new decree, announced on Friday and effective immediately, limits citizenship eligibility to those with Italian parents or grandparents, eliminating a provision that allowed individuals to apply based on proving an Italian ancestor was alive after the country’s unification in 1861.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani explained that the decision was driven by "years of abuses" by applicants with minimal ties to the country, primarily seeking the benefits of Italian citizenship. Tajani emphasized at a press conference, “Being an Italian citizen is a serious thing,” stressing that it should not be reduced to simply obtaining a passport for easier travel.

The move comes amid broader shifts in immigration policies, with many countries reevaluating citizenship laws in response to rising migration. Traditionally, Italy has granted citizenship based on bloodlines, which connected the country to descendants of Italians who emigrated due to poverty and war in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Italy is also grappling with a demographic crisis, facing an aging population and declining birth rates. Critics argue that granting citizenship to those with distant ancestry while denying it to children of immigrants is unfair. Tajani suggested that new legislation could allow the children or grandchildren of Italian citizens to obtain citizenship after two or three years of residency, a departure from the current five to ten years required for other foreign nationals.

The tightening of bloodline-based citizenship surprised some on the political right, who argue that preserving Italy’s cultural identity should be a priority. Tajani also highlighted the rise of a profitable industry, with companies charging applicants thousands of dollars to trace their ancestry and submit citizenship applications. “We cannot encourage fraud or fake citizenship,” Tajani remarked, showing examples of companies advertising their services.

As the surge in applications continues, Italian institutions are struggling to keep up. Consular appointments have become so scarce that many Italian citizens abroad log on at midnight, hoping to secure an appointment. Over the last decade, the number of Italians abroad grew by 40 per cent, from 4.6 million in 2014 to 6.4 million in 2024. This includes significant numbers in Argentina and Brazil, where citizenship grants have surged in recent years.

The increase in applications has even affected local administrations, with some towns dedicating significant staff resources to processing citizenship requests from foreign nationals. Amid this growing demand, Italy’s citizenship laws continue to evolve in response to both domestic and international pressures.

By Naila Huseynova