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Italian Citizenship by Descent: 2025 Law Changes & 2-Year Residency Path

Americans with Italian ancestry can secure Italian citizenship by descent faster under the 2025 law. Learn how GFG + ICA handle your U.S. documents and Italy filings.

Global Felicity Group, LLC

9/1/20258 min read

How Americans Can Claim Italian Citizenship by Descent in 2025, And Your Backup Paths by Marriage & Residency (With a Fast 2‑Year Option)

Partners featured: Italian Citizenship Assistance (ICA)
Author: Global Felicity Group, LLC (GFG) — U.S. apostille, certified translations, and document retrieval for Italy-bound applicants

Why This Guide

Acquiring a second passport from an EU country is a life upgrade: freedom of movement across 27 EU states, expanded careers and investments, access to world‑class universities at low tuition, public healthcare, family reunification rights, political participation—and the ability to pass citizenship to your children.

For Americans with Italian roots, the most direct path is Italian citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis). In 2025, however, Italy refined the rules. This guide explains what changed on March 28, 2025, what still qualifies, what to do if you fall outside the new limits, and how to pursue citizenship by marriage or by residency—including Italy’s fast‑track 2‑year residency for those with an Italian parent or grandparent.

Benefits of Italian & EU Citizenship

Live, work, study anywhere in the EU—no visas, no time limits.
Access to public healthcare and EU‑wide emergency coverage.
Low, in‑state‑like tuition at many EU universities.
Family reunification rights for non‑EU spouses and children.
Vote locally, nationally, and in EU Parliament elections.
Heritage & legacy: pass citizenship to future generations.

2025 Rule Changes for Jure Sanguinis (March 28, 2025 Decree)

On March 28, 2025, the Italian Council of Ministers approved changes affecting recognition of Italian citizenship jure sanguinis, applicable to administrative (consulates, Italian municipalities) and judicial (Italian courts) routes. The decree was published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale and—pending parliamentary conversion—took immediate effect for 60 days.

Who Still Qualifies Under the Decree

You qualify to apply for recognition by descent if any of the following are true:

You have an Italian parent (or adoptive parent) born in Italy; or
You have an Italian parent (or adoptive parent) who resided in Italy for two consecutive years prior to your birth/adoption; or
You have an Italian grandparent born in Italy.

Bottom line: a generational limit now applies—recognition is limited to descendants of an Italian‑born ancestor to the second degree (grandparent), or via the parent‑residency condition above. The new criteria also apply to persons born before the decree’s date.

Grace Periods for Pending Cases

If you submitted a consulate or municipality application by 11:59 p.m. Rome time on March 27, 2025, the previous rules (no generational limit, subject to other requirements) apply.
If you filed a court case in Italy by 11:59 p.m. Rome time on March 27, 2025, the previous rules also apply.
If you were already recognized (via consulate, municipality, or court), your citizenship remains valid.

Minor‑Age Interpretation (Oct 3, 2024 Circolare)

A Ministry directive of October 3, 2024 introduced an interpretation often called the “minor‑age issue” for administrative filings: if an Italian ancestor voluntarily naturalized as a foreign citizen while their child (next in line) was still a minor (before March 9, 1975, minority = under 21), the minor could be deemed to have lost Italian citizenship, blocking administrative jure sanguinis recognition through that line.

This interpretation does not affect court cases; judicial routes may still succeed depending on facts (e.g., maternal lines, involuntary naturalizations).
Previously recognized citizens are not affected.

Tip: If the minor‑age interpretation impacts your consular/municipal route, ask our partner ICA to evaluate a court strategy.

Eligibility: Key Dates & Laws You Must Check

Nationhood start: Your Italian line’s earliest possible ancestor must have been alive on/after March 17, 1861 (Italy’s unification); before that date there were no Italian citizens.
Pre‑Aug 1992 rule: If your Italian ancestor naturalized as a foreign citizen before your next‑in‑line ancestor’s birth, citizenship transmission broke. (From Aug 1992, Italy generally permits dual citizenship.)
Female line “1948 rule”: Children born before Jan 1, 1948 could not receive citizenship from an Italian mother under the old law; these cases must be litigated in Italy (see 1948 Cases).

Required Documents & Apostilles (U.S. side)

For each person in your direct line, you will typically need:

Long‑form birth, marriage, death certificates (where applicable).
Naturalization proof for the Italian‑born ancestor: either Certificate of Non‑Existence of Record (never naturalized), or naturalization certificate with exact dates.
Name/date corrections if there are discrepancies across records.
Apostilles for each U.S. document.
Certified Italian translations (accepted by Italian authorities).

GFG handles document retrieval, apostilles (state & federal), and human‑certified translations so your Italian filing is complete and compliant.

How to Apply — Consulate vs. In Italy

A) Applying Abroad (Consulate)

Check your consular jurisdiction and create an account on Prenotami.
Book the earliest appointment; lead times can be long.
Assemble originals with apostilles + certified translations.
Attend your appointment (only the applicant can attend) and submit.

Language: Speaking Italian is not required; interviews are typically in the local language of the consulate (e.g., English in the U.S.).

B) Applying in Italy (Comune)

Travel to Italy, establish residency in the Comune (lease/deed or hospitality letter; hotels/Airbnbs are usually not accepted).
Obtain codice fiscale (tax code) at the Agenzia delle Entrate.
Expect a police residency check within ~45 days.
Submit your citizenship application at the Ufficio Cittadinanza.
If your stay exceeds 90 days, apply for a permesso di soggiorno in attesa di cittadinanza.

Many applicants choose Italy for speed and direct municipal handling. Our partner ICA provides on‑the‑ground support for filings and residency compliance.

Fees & Timelines (2025 Updates)

As of January 1, 2025 (budget law/financial decree):

Consulate filings abroad: €600 per adult applicant (paid at appointment in local currency; consulates update exchange rates quarterly).
Comune filings in Italy: up to €600 per adult.
Court filings: per‑petitioner court fee increased from €518 to €600.

Processing time: Consulates have up to 24 months (can extend with requests for additional documents). Municipal timelines vary by Comune. Court cases may conclude in 3–9 months from filing, depending on complexity and judge calendars.

After approval: Your vital records are registered in the Comune of origin; you’re added to A.I.R.E. (if abroad). You may then apply for an Italian passport.

“1948 Cases” — Maternal Line Before 1948

Until the Constitution took effect on Jan 1, 1948, only fathers passed citizenship at birth. If your line requires transmission from an Italian mother to a child born before 1948, you must file a court action in Italy to have citizenship recognized retroactively.

Applicant need not be physically present in Italy; an attorney can act via power of attorney (notarized and apostilled if executed abroad).
Gather the same vital records + apostilles + certified translations; your counsel files in the court of the Comune where the Italian‑born mother was born.
Typical duration: 3–9 months; some judges decide after the first hearing; others take additional weeks to issue the written judgment.

ICA has deep experience evaluating and litigating 1948 cases. GFG prepares the U.S. documentation package; ICA manages the litigation strategy in Italy.

Citizenship by Marriage (Jure Matrimonii)

If you are married (or in a recognized civil union) to an Italian citizen:

Residing in Italy: Apply after 2 years of marriage; 1 year if you have minor children.
Residing abroad: Apply after 3 years; 18 months with minor children.

Requirements: B1 Italian language certificate (from MIUR/MAECI‑recognized bodies), criminal background checks (U.S. states + any other countries lived in since age 14), and registration of the marriage in Italy/A.I.R.E.
Fee: €250; Processing: typically 24 months (extendable to 36).

Citizenship by Residency (Ordinary & Fast‑Track 2‑Year Path)

Standard residency:

EU citizens: after 4 years of legal residency in Italy.
Non‑EU citizens: after 10 years (continuous, with income requirements).

Reduced residency:

3 years if your parent or grandparent was Italian by birth (and other reduced cases, including certain Italy‑born non‑citizens).

Fast‑track 2‑year path (2025): If you have an Italian parent or grandparent, Italy now allows you to apply for citizenship after 2 years of legal residence in Italy.

You’ll need to show:

Continuous residency registration in Italy (no interruptions).
B1 Italian (or qualifying education in Italian).
Income threshold (e.g., at least €8,263.31 annually for the prior 3 years, standard benchmark; confirm your specific case).
Clean criminal background checks and apostilled, translated U.S. documents.

Where to apply: Ministry of the Interior online portal → then present originals at your Prefettura.
Timeline: commonly up to 24 months (extendable to 36 months).

How GFG + ICA Help You Succeed

Global Felicity Group (GFG) manages the entire U.S. document workflow so your Italy‑side filing is seamless:

Full vital record retrieval (birth, marriage, death) in U.S. jurisdictions.
Apostille facilitation (state & federal, including FBI background checks).
Human‑certified translations accepted by Italian authorities.
Name/date discrepancy remediation and document re‑issues where needed.

Our Italy‑based partner—Italian Citizenship Assistance (ICA)—provides:

Case strategy (administrative vs. court; 1948 cases; minor‑age interpretation workarounds).
Comune filings, court petitions, and residency permits.
On‑the‑ground legal and procedural representation in Italy.

We are your U.S. document engine; ICA is your Italian legal driver. Together we build a single, end‑to‑end path from paperwork to passport.

FAQs

Q1: Do I need to speak Italian for jure sanguinis?
A: No. Language is not required for jure sanguinis recognition. It is required for marriage (B1) and residency routes (B1 or equivalent).

Q2: My ancestor naturalized before my grandparent’s birth—am I out?
A: If naturalization occurred before the next‑in‑line birth, the line typically breaks for administrative filings. Court strategies may still exist—ask ICA to review.

Q3: Does the Oct 3, 2024 “minor‑age” interpretation kill my case?
A: It can block consulate/Comune filings if a parent was a minor when the Italian ancestor naturalized. Court options may remain; get a legal review.

Q4: Can I apply in Italy for speed?
A: Many do. With residency established, municipalities may process faster. Our partner ICA handles the on‑the‑ground steps.

Q5: What if my line goes through a woman who gave birth before 1948?
A: That’s a 1948 case—filed in court in Italy. Success is common with solid documentation.

Q6: What are 2025 fees?
A: €600 at consulates and up to €600 in Comuni per adult; court fee €600 per petitioner; marriage route costs €250.

Q7: How long does it take?
A: Consulates: up to 24 months; courts: often 3–9 months after filing; residency/marriage: commonly 24–36 months.

Ready to Start? Here’s Your Action Plan

Free ancestry check: Tell us who in your family was born in Italy and when.
We verify your line against 2025 rules (and 1948/minor‑age issues).
Document sprint: GFG retrieves U.S. vital records, apostilles, FBI/state checks, and certified translations.
Italian strategy: With ICA, we select consulate vs. Comune vs. court, or map your marriage/residency path (including 2‑year residency if eligible).
Submission to approval: We coordinate across jurisdictions so you can move from paperwork to passport.

👉 Start your Italian citizenship case with Global Felicity Group today.

We’ll handle the U.S. documents; ICA will handle the Italy‑side filings. Together, we deliver a smooth, compliant, end‑to‑end experience.