The Budget Proposal (Budget Maneuver 2025), signed by the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, this Wednesday (23/10) includes a new task of 600 euros per applicant in legal proceedings related to Italian citizenship.
The proposal, which will still be debated in Parliament, could significantly increase the cost of applications for Italian citizenship if approved without modifications.
Increase in fees in citizenship processes
As stipulated in the article 106 According to the proposed budget law, each applicant in contentious proceedings involving Italian citizenship will have to pay a fee of 600 Euros from 2025.
The amount applies to each person involved in the process. Currently, the total cost of a legal process of this nature is 545 Euros — value referring to unified contribution, paid regardless of the number of applicants, that is, per action.
The President's Decree Mattarella It is clearly stated in article 106: “For disputes concerning the recognition of Italian citizenship, the contribution due is 600 euros. The contribution is due from each appealing party, even if the application is submitted jointly in the same proceedings.”
This section reinforces that the new fee will be applied individually to each applicant, even if the request is made together in the same process.
The addition of this fee per applicant, added to the unified contribution, can multiply the costs for families wishing to file lawsuits.
For example, in cases of families with 10 members, the total amount to be paid only in court fees can reach 6 thousand euros (More than R$ 36 thousand), in addition to legal fees and other costs related to documentation.
Impact on families and access to justice
If approved, the measure could discourage many families from seeking recognition of Italian citizenship through the courts. Currently, family groups, including siblings, children, and cousins, can file a single joint action. However, with the new fee per applicant, these processes would become significantly more expensive.
This proposal reflects a trend observed in recent years of increasing consular and municipal fees in Italy, which many interpret as a way of making access to citizenship more difficult, and creating economic barriers for those who wish to exercise their right to recognition.
Next steps in Parliament
Although the decree was signed by President Mattarella, the proposed law will still undergo discussions in the Italian Parliament, where amendments may be suggested.
Discussions are expected to begin on October 28 and possible modifications are expected to be presented by November 10.
However, there are fears that the original text will be maintained, as there are strong indications that the government intends to move forward with these new austerity measures.
The discussion now turns to trying to reduce the amount of the proposed fee.
Lawyers' groups and organizations are already planning to push for the fee to be reduced to a more affordable amount, but the outcome will depend on parliamentary negotiations in the coming weeks.
If the proposal is approved without modifications, the increase in the cost of Italian citizenship processes will be a reality from 2025 onwards, directly affecting thousands of Italian descendants seeking legal recognition.
Read the decree in full
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