Italy's Constitutional Court has upheld a reform restricting nationality by descent, limiting it to children and grandchildren of Italian citizens born abroad.
Italy's Constitutional Court recently confirmed the legality of a law limiting the granting of Italian nationality through descent. This law, championed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government and passed in May 2025, responds to the increasing number of nationality requests from abroad, particularly from South America. The court dismissed legal challenges presented by a Turin court, which deemed the objections to the law 'unfounded' and 'inadmissible.'
The new regulations mean that individuals born abroad and holding another nationality will not automatically acquire Italian citizenship unless they meet specific direct connection requirements. This significant shift impacts not just the diaspora but also those with Italian ancestry who may wish to reclaim their cultural heritage through the nationality process. The ruling clarifies that only direct descendants—children and grandchildren—of Italian citizens will benefit from the nationality law, further streamlining the application process.
The implications of this ruling are profound for many families of Italian descent, as it effectively narrows eligibility for citizenship. For those who had hoped to claim their Italian roots, the reform creates additional hurdles to navigate. This decision may lead to a decrease in applications from regions heavily represented by Italian descendants, such as South America, while reflecting broader trends in migration and nationality policy across Europe.
