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Italy has passed a new law tightening the eligibility for citizenship through ancestry, aiming to restrict applications to those with a closer and clearer connection to the country, according to a report by BBC.
Until now, individuals with Italian ancestry dating back to 17 March 1861, when the Kingdom of Italy was established, could apply for citizenship under the jus sanguinis (right of blood) principle.
The revised law, approved by Parliament on Tuesday, limits eligibility to applicants who have at least one parent or grandparent who was an Italian citizen by birth.
The Italian government stated that the change is meant to strengthen the genuine link between Italy and citizens living abroad, reduce misuse of the process, and address a growing backlog in applications.
As per the BBC report, between 2014 and 2024, the number of Italians living abroad rose by 40%, from 4.6 million to 6.4 million, according to government data.
As of March this year, more than 60,000 cases were pending in court for citizenship verification.
The Foreign Ministry said the new rule would help improve consular efficiency by focusing services on applicants with a "real need" based on a "concrete connection with Italy."
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the principle of citizenship by descent remains intact but noted, “precise limits will be set, especially to avoid abuse or phenomena of 'commercialization' of Italian passports.” He added, “Citizenship must be a serious thing.”
