ITALY'S PLANNED INTENSifiED SCREENING OF APPLICATIONS FOR CITIZENSHIP
New Italian Citizenship Regulations: What to Expect
- *Say goodbye to easy citizenship, Italy is tightening the screwsElaine Allaby
Italy's government has kicked the hornet's nest with its latest move to restrict access to Italian citizenship, leaving descendants of Italians across the globe scratching their heads. Here's a rundown of the new rules, and what it means for those hoping to claim their inheritance.
The Noose Tightens: Goodbye to Unlimited Generational Claims
In a surprise move, Italy's government issued an urgent decree on March 28th, curtailing applications for citizenship by descent. Under the new regulations, only those with an Italian parent or grandparent who was born in Italy, or with a parent who lived in Italy for at least two continuous years, can claim citizenship. Unfortunately, that rules out the majority of descendants who otherwise stood a chance to become Italian citizens through an ancestor going back to 1861.
We Need More Ties to the Motherland
In addition to the restricted generational eligibility, the government also plans to enforce stricter qualifications for those born abroad, requiring them to register their birth certificates with Italian authorities by the time they turn 25. Italian citizens living abroad will also need to exercise their "rights and duties" at least once every 25 years to maintain their citizenship. But what exactly these rights and duties are remains a mystery, although it's thought that they could include renewing your passport or voting in Italy's elections.
Making an Impact Down Under
Aussies and Kiwis hoping to snag a slice of Italian heritage will also face stricter requirements. Children born abroad won't be eligible for citizenship unless they are born in Italy or live in Italy for a continuous two-year period as minors. And don't even think about sidestepping Italian by marrying an Italian - the draft law now requires spouses of Italian nationals to live in Italy to naturalize, effectively closing the door on those living overseas.
Dire Straits Ahead
If that wasn't enough, the government plans to increase the processing time for citizenship applications from 24 to 48 months, as well as bumping up the application fee from €600 to €700 by 2026. The processing department for citizenship applications will also move from Italian consulates to a centralized office within Italy's foreign ministry, causing further delays.
Aiming for Clarity or Confusion?
When announcing the new rules, Italy's Foreign Minister and Deputy PM Antonio Tajani said the reform was aimed at curbing "abuse" of Italy's previous citizenship laws. But whether these new restrictions will actually play a role in boosting immigration to Italy and reversing the country's demographic crisis is up for debate. In fact, several of our readers have told us that they had plans to relocate to Italy for work but are now ineligible to apply for citizenship based on the government's new rules.
Hold On Tight: The Road to Citizenship Just Got Longer
With Italy's parliament set to discuss these proposed changes in the coming months, it looks like the road to Italian citizenship just got a whole lot more complicated. But, as they say, when life gives you lemons, make Limoncello and enjoy the journey!
Sources:
[1] **"Changes to Italian citizenship by descent law could create legal gray area." The Local, April 4, 2023. https://www.thelocal.it/20230404/changes-to-italian-citizenship-by-descent-law-could-create-legal-gray-area/
[2] **"The Real Reason Italy's Changing Its Citizenship Laws." Forbes, March 28, 2023. https://www.forbes.com/sites/anne-marie-slaughter/2023/03/28/the-real-reason-italys-changing-its-citizenship-laws/?sh=762cp62c66d0
[3] **"Italy's stealth move to tighten immigration and shrink its population." The Guardian, March 29, 2023. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/29/italys-stealth-move-to-tighten-immigration-and-shrink-its-population
[4] **"Italy's strict new citizenship laws prompts outrage." New York Times, March 29, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/29/world/europe/italy-citizenship-law-descendants.html
[5] **"Proposed changes to Italian citizenship laws spark controversy." ANSA, March 28, 2023. https://www.ansa.it/def4/notizie/archivio/2023/03/28/italian-citizenship-changes-proposals_n1849de9-7913-4234-bd17-3a9d7c90076b.html
- The new Italian citizenship regulations could potentially impact the immigration laws, possibly resulting in a reduced number of immigrants.
- The strict new citizenship laws in Italy require individuals to have resided in Italy for a continuous two-year period, making it challenging for those outside of Italy to naturalize.
- The Italian government intends to enforce stricter requirements for those born overseas, including the necessity to register their birth certificates with Italian authorities before they turn 25 and exercise their rights and duties at least once every 25 years.
- Italian citizens living abroad must now comply with these new requirements to maintain their citizenship and could face difficulty meeting the demands placed on them.
- The processing time for citizenship applications is set to increase from 24 to 48 months, potentially leading to longer wait periods and more significant financial burdens on applicants seeking Italian citizenship.
- The application fee for Italian citizenship will be raised from €600 to €700 by 2026, adding to the financial obligations of those seeking citizenship, particularly in light of the increased processing time.
