Italy implements new citizenship rules amid shifting acquisition trends

New legislative changes in Italy have significantly altered the process for obtaining citizenship through descent (iure sanguinis). Following the enactment of Decree-Law No. 36/2025 and Law No. 74/2025, recognition for descendants born outside of Italy now requires a complex analysis of family legal history, including the citizenship status and naturalization timelines of ancestors.

Data from Milan reflects these shifting patterns. In 2025, the city recorded 9,404 citizenship acquisitions, a 4.2% increase from 2024. However, only 160 of these cases—approximately 1.7%—were granted through descent. The majority of new citizens in Milan obtained nationality through residency (55.5%), followed by minors of naturalized parents (25.6%), young adults born in Italy (12.1%), and marriage (5.1%).