The Associazione Veneti nel Mondo has called for a review of the Italian citizenship reform, including an end to generational restrictions and the retroactive effects of legislation passed in 2025. The organization also supports measures to protect descendants who were unable to submit their applications because of difficulties booking appointments at consulates.
The demands were reported Thursday (5) by the Italian news agency AISE (Agenzia Internazionale Stampa Estero), which covered the association’s statement.
The organization, which has worked for nearly 30 years to preserve ties between Veneto and its communities abroad, criticized the changes introduced by Decree-Law 36/2025, later converted into Law 74/2025, known as the Tajani Decree.
According to the association, the reform has especially harmed descendants of Italians who emigrated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including families that have maintained cultural and historical ties with Italy across generations.
Association presents four demands
First, Veneti nel Mondo supports eliminating the generational limit imposed by the new legislation or, alternatively, expanding the criteria that allow citizenship recognition by descent.
The organization also questions the requirement that a parent have lived continuously in Italy for two years, one of the conditions provided for by the legislation in certain citizenship-transmission cases.
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The second demand is an end to the reform’s retroactive effects, which came to apply to people born before it took effect.
The association argues that the change harmed descendants who had already gathered and translated documents but were unable to formally submit their applications by 11:59 p.m. on March 27, 2025, the deadline set by the legislation.
The third proposal calls for a safeguard clause for people prevented from filing their applications because of administrative problems, especially difficulties accessing the Prenot@Mi appointment-booking system.
According to the organization, waiting lists at Italian consulates in Brazil in some cases exceed 10 years.
The association also supports increasing consular staff in South America to reduce the backlog of applications.
Finally, Veneti nel Mondo is calling for an extension of the extraordinary deadline for reacquiring citizenship, currently set for Dec. 31, 2027, as well as a reduction or elimination of the €250 fee charged for the procedure.
This reacquisition mechanism is intended for certain categories of former Italian citizens who lost their nationality by Aug. 15, 1992. It should not be confused with citizenship recognition by descent.
Reform is under judicial review
Veneti nel Mondo’s statement comes amid legal challenges to the new rules.
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On April 30, 2026, Italy’s Constitutional Court published ruling 63/2026, in which it rejected the constitutional challenges examined in that case and recognized the legislature’s discretion to establish criteria for acquiring citizenship.
On July 23, however, the court itself published ordinanza 147/2026, referring a preliminary question to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) on whether certain effects of the reform are compatible with European law.
The question concerns applying the restrictions to people born abroad before the new legislation took effect, also taking into account the possible effects on European Union citizenship.
The referral does not automatically suspend application of the reform or constitute a declaration that the law is unconstitutional.
Organization calls for action by the Veneto government
In light of this situation, Veneti nel Mondo asked local authorities and the regional government of Veneto to support a review of the national legislation.
The association acknowledges the need for mechanisms to combat irregularities and abusive practices by private intermediaries, but believes those controls should not prevent recognition for descendants who maintain ties with Italy.
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For the organization, the legislative review must respect the identity, culture and history of the Venetian communities around the world.
The demands depend on changes to Italian legislation and, so far, do not represent any change to citizenship-recognition rules.
