Italy has introduced new rules for citizenship by descent, which came into effect on 28 March 2025. The updated framework applies to foreign-born applicants who already hold another nationality. According to the Italian Consulate General in Toronto, two specific categories of descendants are eligible under the new rules. These categories apply to individuals who can demonstrate a direct line of transmission through a parent or ancestor who was an Italian citizen.
The first eligible group includes first- or second-degree descendants of Italian citizens who held exclusively Italian nationality at the time the applicant was born. This means that the Italian ancestor in question must not have carried dual nationality at that point. This distinction is crucial in determining eligibility for Italian citizenship by descent. Applicants must provide documentation to support their claim, including historical records confirming their ancestor's Italian citizenship.
The second group applies in cases where a parent or adoptive parent lived in Italy for at least two uninterrupted years after obtaining Italian citizenship and before the applicant's birth or adoption. Prospective applicants falling into this category must submit historical residence and citizenship certificates to support their claim. This category also requires documentation to demonstrate the direct line of transmission through a parent or ancestor who was an Italian citizen.
Both categories come with an important caveat: simply having a grandparent who was solely an Italian citizen does not, by itself, establish eligibility. The direct line of transmission through a parent must also be demonstrated and verified before any application can move forward. This means that applicants must carefully prepare their documentation to meet the new requirements.
The updated framework sets a higher bar than many descendants may have assumed, particularly those whose connection to Italy runs through a grandparent rather than a parent. Confirming the citizenship status of a first-degree ascendant adds a layer of documentation that applicants must carefully prepare. Those who believe they meet either of the two criteria will need to compile historical records to support their claim.
The Italian Consulate General in Toronto has not announced a closing date for applications, but the criteria apply to all submissions lodged from 28 March 2025 onwards. Applicants can seek recognition of Italian citizenship by ancestry under the new rules, which introduce stricter documentation requirements than many applicants with Italian heritage may have anticipated.
The new rules are applicable to individuals already holding another nationality, including Canadian citizenship. The Italian Consulate General in Toronto detailed the eligibility criteria, providing clarity for prospective applicants. Those who meet the criteria can now apply for Italian citizenship by descent, provided they submit the required documentation to support their claim.
Key points
- The Italian government has outlined two categories of descendants eligible for citizenship by ancestry.
- Applicants must demonstrate a direct line of transmission through a parent or ancestor who was an Italian citizen.
- The updated framework introduces stricter documentation requirements for applicants with Italian heritage.
