An Italian politician known for advocating the remigration of foreigners has begun offering paid services to help them obtain residence permits, reunite with family members and apply for Italian citizenship.
Andrea Vasellini, a lawyer, city councilor in Grosseto, Tuscany, and former ally of Roberto Vannacci, created an immigrant assistance platform with information in 13 languages (Portuguese is not included).
According to a report published Thursday (12) by the newspaper Il Tirreno, the service offers consulting for Italian citizenship applications for €400.
Vasellini also charges €120 for assistance with renewing a residence permit, €180 for an initial application and €250 for family reunification procedures.
The lawyer put up a sign in different languages at the entrance to his office in Grosseto to promote the Immigration Service platform.
Proponent of remigration
Vasellini was the provincial head of a movement linked to Gen. Roberto Vannacci, known for his nationalist and anti-irregular immigration positions.
Advertisement
Asked by Il Tirreno about the apparent contradiction between his political positions and his professional activity, the city councilor said he could not turn away clients because of their nationality.
“I support remigration, but I don’t send anyone away from my office,” he said.
He said he continues to defend his political positions and that his opposition is directed mainly at irregular immigration.
Tajani criticized passport trade
The episode comes after Giorgia Meloni’s government mistakenly used the argument of passport commercialization to justify changes to Italian citizenship rules.
On March 28, 2025, when announcing decree-law No. 36, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani defended measures to combat abuses and the commercialization of Italian passports.
“Citizenship must be a serious matter,” he said at the time.
The decree, later converted into Law No. 74/2025, restricted citizenship recognition by descent, particularly affecting families of Italian origin in countries such as Brazil and Argentina.
However, the activity offered by Vasellini does not in itself constitute the unlawful commercialization of citizenship. Charging for legal consulting is permitted.
Advertisement
The case shows that the market for citizenship- and immigration-related services also includes Italian professionals, including those who advocate more restrictive immigration policies.
