The immigration system and rules for citizenship recognition in Italy will undergo a transition period in 2026. The year will be marked by court decisions regarding descent restrictions, new work quotas, and the implementation of digital controls across the European Union.
Citizenship by descent and the Constitutional Court
Italy's Constitutional Court will rule on the legality of the change in the law that blocked thousands of citizenship applications by descent. (ius sanguinis)The court, based in Rome, set a date. public hearing scheduled for March 11, 2026 to examine the government decree of March 2025, the infamous Tajani Decree.
Current legislation limits eligibility only to people who have a parent or grandparents born in Italy. Before the restriction, the right of blood (jure sanguinisIt was guaranteed to anyone who could prove an unbroken line of descent.
If the court decides that the changes are unconstitutional, applicants whose requests were denied under the new rule will be able to appeal. Additionally, people who missed the March 2025 deadline may get a new opportunity to apply. The ruling is expected in April.
Work quotas and the workflow system
Italy plans to hire around 165 workers from outside the European Union by 2026 through a quota system. The government has promised to reform the current model, known as... flows decree, which faces recurring criticism for its bureaucracy.
Most of the permits will be allocated to the seasonal agriculture, hospitality, construction, and personal care sectors. The first “click day”The date on which the government portal opens for applications is January 12th for the agricultural sector. In February, vacancies open for tourism and domestic work.
A new measure for 2026 will allow families to hire caregivers for children under six years old outside of the quota system. This rule already applied to the elderly and people with disabilities. The government also announced a specific program for descendants of Italians residing in seven countries, including the United States, but details have not yet been published.
Nursing home reform and administrative simplification
Starting in the summer of 2026 (mid-year)Italy will adopt the new asylum rules of the European Union. The bloc foresees the creation of return centers in countries outside the European territory for migrants whose applications are denied, and longer detention sentences for those who refuse voluntary departure.
Meanwhile, a simplification law seeks to facilitate the hiring of foreigners. The processing of work visas will be shortened for those who have participated in training programs supported by Italy abroad. Another advance is the permission for employment contracts to be signed entirely digitally.
New digital controls
Two electronic systems will change the routine at Italian borders. The Entry/Exit System (EES), which replaces physical stamps with biometric records, should be fully operational at all checkpoints by April 2026.
ETIAS, the mandatory travel authorization for citizens of visa-exempt countries like Brazil, is expected to come into effect at the end of 2026. The fee will be €20 and it will be valid for three years.
For foreigners residing in Italy who travel to the United Kingdom, the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system will become mandatory for all nationalities (except British and Irish) from February 2026. The document costs £16 and is valid for two years.
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