In brief
The new decree limits eligibility to individuals with Italian parents or grandparents, aiming to combat a congestion of citizenship claims.
Italy has rolled out new citizenship regulations, responding to a flood of applications from those of Italian descent seeking to claim their heritage and secure an Italian passport. Previously, any applicant able to trace their family tree back to an Italian ancestor alive post-1861 could apply for citizenship, but this has drastically changed. Effective immediately, the latest decree restricts eligibility exclusively to individuals with Italian parents or grandparents. The decision arose due to significant backlogs that have clogged Italy's courts and municipal offices, severely impeding other governmental duties. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani highlighted the rationale behind these changes, citing a “serious” issue with individuals leveraging Italian citizenship primarily for its travel advantages, rather than maintaining a genuine connection to the country. Tajani criticized those who have flooded the application process, particularly from South America, pointing out that many of these new citizens seemingly sought primarily to travel across Europe or to the United States, rather than uphold the weighty responsibilities and ties that come with Italian citizenship. "It’s not a game to get a passport in your pocket to go shopping in Miami," Tajani lamented during a media briefing, emphasizing the government’s intention to preserve the integrity of Italian nationality. With these new measures, Italy aims to streamline the process, reestablish the seriousness of citizenship, and ensure that the ties applicants have to the country are substantive and meaningful.
