Italy expands jus sanguinis to great‑grandchildren, court backs pending applications

A recent Italian court ruling reaffirms the principle of citizenship by descent (ius sanguinis), allowing descendants as far as great‑grandchildren and great‑great‑grandchildren to claim Italian nationality if they can prove an uninterrupted lineage to an Italian ancestor. The decision comes amid the implementation of Law 74/2025, which altered consular procedures and set a March 27 2025 deadline for filing applications. Courts have indicated that applicants who attempted to file before that date but were blocked by administrative issues—such as lack of consular appointments or delayed processing—may still have a legal pathway to recognition.

The ruling has particular relevance for the large Italian diaspora in Latin America, especially in Argentina and Brazil, where millions of people trace their roots to Italy. Obtaining Italian citizenship not only restores a legal bond with the ancestral homeland but also confers the right to live, work, and study throughout the European Union. Legal experts note that the key requirement remains that the ancestor did not renounce Italian citizenship before passing it on.

The judgment clarifies that the historic model of transmission by blood remains valid under the Italian Constitution, and it offers renewed hope to families whose applications were stalled by the new procedural rules.