Italian citizenship by descent changed materially in 2025. Advice that simply says Italian citizenship passes without a generational limit is now incomplete and can be wrong for a new application. Law No. 74 of 23 May 2025 converted Decree-Law No. 36/2025 and introduced Article 3-bis restrictions for many people born abroad who hold another citizenship.
The 2025 eligibility change
Under the current Ministry of Foreign Affairs summary, a person born abroad who holds another citizenship is generally deemed never to have acquired Italian citizenship unless a statutory exception applies. For many new descent cases, the relevant exceptions include:
- a first- or second-degree ancestor–normally a parent or grandparent–who held exclusively Italian citizenship, or held it exclusively at death; or
- a parent or adoptive parent who resided in Italy continuously for at least two years after acquiring Italian citizenship and before the applicant’s birth or adoption.
Transitional provisions may preserve treatment for certain applications, appointments or judicial proceedings connected to dates stated in the reform. Because those provisions are fact-sensitive, do not infer eligibility from this summary alone.
The chain must still be continuous
Meeting the newer parent or grandparent condition does not remove the traditional need to prove transmission. The Italian ancestor must have retained citizenship until the birth of the next person in the line. Foreign naturalisation dates are therefore crucial.
For each generation, compare the birth date with any naturalisation, renunciation or loss event. Obtain the actual certificate or an official no-record result from the competent country. Electoral records and census entries can support research but may not satisfy the consulate.
Maternal lines and births before 1948
The Ministry explains that administrative recognition through an Italian mother generally concerns children born on or after 1 January 1948. Cases involving a child born to an Italian woman before that date are commonly associated with judicial proceedings rather than the ordinary consular route.
A court strategy requires Italian legal advice. Do not assume a favourable outcome from another family’s case, and do not describe all maternal-line cases as automatically approved.
Documents, names and civil registration
A file usually includes proof of the Italian ancestor’s birth and citizenship, the full civil-status chain to the applicant, naturalisation evidence, identity documents and any records requested for spouses or minor children. Foreign documents commonly need legalisation or apostille as applicable and Italian translation.
Inspect every record before translation. Anglicised first names, altered surnames, approximate birth dates and inconsistent places can break the apparent chain. Ask the consulate what corrections or supporting declarations it accepts; do not let a translator conceal the original discrepancy.
Where to apply
For an applicant resident abroad, the competent Italian consulate is normally determined by legal residence. A person resident in Italy applies through the relevant municipality. Judicial cases follow a separate court procedure.
Use only the appointment and payment methods published by the competent office. Appointment scarcity does not make a third party capable of guaranteeing eligibility or a slot.
Italian citizenship by descent FAQ
Is Italian citizenship still available through a great-grandparent?
Do not rely on the old generational-limit answer. The 2025 reform introduced closer-ancestor and residence conditions for many people born abroad with another citizenship, while transitional cases may differ.
Must my parent or grandparent have been only Italian?
Exclusive Italian citizenship of a parent or grandparent is one of the current statutory exceptions described by the Ministry. Another exception can involve a parent’s qualifying residence in Italy. The precise facts and transitional rules matter.
What is a “1948 case”?
It commonly refers to a line through an Italian woman whose child was born before 1 January 1948, which generally cannot use ordinary administrative recognition and may require judicial analysis.
Can I apply at any Italian consulate?
No. Consular competence normally follows the applicant’s legal residence. Check the Italian mission responsible for your Nigerian state or place of lawful residence.
Should I collect documents before checking the 2025 rules?
Start with a preliminary legal and timeline check. Historical records can be expensive, so confirm that the current or transitional route is plausible before ordering the entire file.
Official sources
Immigration rules can change without notice. Check the relevant authority before paying a fee, booking travel or submitting an application.