The Italian Chamber of Deputies has begun reviewing a bill that could drastically alter—even further—the process of obtaining Italian citizenship by right of blood outside the country.
Currently handled by consulates, these requests will now be processed by a new office within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI) in Rome.
The proposal is part of the DDL 2369-A, called "Review of Services for Citizens and Companies Abroad." The text provides for the creation of a central administrative structure to process applications submitted by descendants of Italians residing outside Italy.
According to the project, the new model would come into effect from January 1, 2028.
What will the new process be like?
According to the proposal, adults wishing to obtain Italian citizenship must send the original documentation by mail to the Ministry in Rome. The process will be conducted exclusively by mail, and all communications will be via email.
Consulates will maintain only two functions: certifying the maintenance of already recognized citizenship and confirming the right for minors whose parents are already Italian citizens.
The deadline for analyzing requests will be up to 36 months.
Transition and impact
During the transition period, consulates will continue to receive applications, but with an annual limit. Each office may only accept a number equivalent to the citizenships effectively recognized in the previous year, with a minimum of 100 applications per year.
The justification is to avoid overloading the consulates until the new structure is fully functional.
Opposition criticism
The proposal, promoted by Vice Prime Minister Antonio Tajani and supported by the government of Giorgia Meloni, faces resistance from sectors of the opposition.
“The attack on Italians abroad and their rights continues,” said MP Toni Ricciardi, from the Democratic Party (PD).
Fabio Porta, also from the PD, warned about the risk of centralization and setbacks in services.
“Therefore, we will propose specific amendments to correct these points, hoping that urgent and necessary modifications can be made in the plenary to avoid even greater penalties for Italians abroad.”
"The law on the review of services for citizens and companies abroad, under discussion today in the Chamber, risks representing a real tombstone for the rights of Italians abroad"
“Although we recognize some advances achieved thanks to the efforts of the Democratic Party, such as the reduction of the period for recognition of citizenship from 48 to 36 months and the introduction of the electronic identity document for our compatriots, the text still has serious flaws: from the centralization of processes to the absence of a real digitalization process, from new costs to citizens to the persistent fragility of the consular network,” he said in a note to Italianism.
Change in the concept of jus sanguinis
The debate is taking place amidst a significant shift in the recognition of Italian citizenship by descent. Now, the right is restricted to descendants of Italians who have a father or grandfather born in Italy with exclusively Italian citizenship.
Cost and structure
To implement the new structure, the government plans to hire at least 87 new employees and invest more than €10 million by 2028.
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