If you have Italian great-grandparents (or great-great-grandparents), you may have grown up visiting Italy or experiencing Italian culture. This may encourage you to pursue Italian dual citizenship. While this is an excellent option for those who were not born in Italy, it can be challenging to know if you qualify for this type of Italian dual citizenship and how to start the process. Especially since the rules for Italian dual citizenship by descent (jus sanguinis) changed significantly in 2025.

Italian citizenship by descent is still within reach, but the new Italian citizenship law (Law 74/2025) now sets stricter standards and limits how far back your claim can run.

At With_Papers, our licensed attorneys in New York and Rome have over 30 years of experience in international business law and Italian dual citizenship and residency law in Italy. We provide comprehensive legal support to help you navigate these changes and determine the best path to citizenship for your family.

What Changed in 2025

• Generational limits:Citizenship by descent is now generally restricted to applicants with a parent or grandparent born in Italy. Claims based solely on great-grandparents or earlier ancestors are no longer recognized as descent-based claims.
• “Genuine link” requirement:Applicants born abroad who also hold another nationality are no longer presumed to have acquired Italian citizenship at birth. Recognition now requires proof of a direct and effective connection to Italy.
• Third-generation descendants (great-grandchildren):If your closest Italian-born ancestor is a great-grandparent or great-great-grandparent, the jus sanguinis route is no longer available. To pursue citizenship, you must apply by naturalization after 10 years of legal residence in Italy (general rule under Italian law).
• Grandfathering rule: Applications or court cases filed before March 27, 2025, 11:59 PM (Rome time)remain under the old, broader rules. Recognitions already granted are unaffected.

Constitutional Legitimacy Under Review

Legal scholars, practitioners, and judges have questioned the constitutionality of the new reform. In particular, as applied to third- and fourth-generation descendants, it is said to retroactively deny recognition of Italian citizenship to individuals already entitled to it by descent, but who had not yet formalized their status through a court judgment, consular application, or municipal registration. The Constitutional Court is now examining challenges on these grounds, and its rulings will be decisive in determining whether the reform remains in force, must be amended, or should be annulled.

What Still Applies

Even under the new framework, traditional descent rules continue to matter:

• Your Italian ancestor must have been alive on or after March 17, 1861 (unification of Italy).
• No one in the direct line must have renounced citizenship before the birth of the next descendant.
• All records—birth, marriage, death, naturalization, and proof of non-naturalization—must be properly obtained, apostilled, and translated into Italian.

How We Can Help

The 2025 Reform makes the process more complex, but our team at With_Papers can assist by:

• Evaluating your family tree under both the old and new law to determine eligibility;
• Advising whether your case qualifies under the grandfathering rule or falls under new exceptions;
• Collecting, legalizing, and translating required documentation;
• Preparing your dossier for consular or judicial proceedings;
• Representing you in Italian court when necessary;
• Providing clear, personalized guidance at every stage.

Our mission is to make the path to Italian citizenship as seamless and stress-free as possible, even in light of the new restrictions.

Our skilled and knowledgeable team works hard to make the Italian dual citizenship process as seamless and smooth as possible by taking challenging tasks off your plate and supporting you from start to finish. Every client’s family history is unique, as are the reasons for pursuing Italian citizenship – so we take the time to listen to your story, address your concerns, and determine the best path to achieve your dreams.

Contact the experienced team at With_Papers to schedule a consultation today

Our founder has been an Italian dual citizen for over 25 years, so we understand the complexities of this process and how to streamline your experience. With our open and honest communication and full-service approach, you can rest assured you are in the right hands. Whatever your reasons for pursuing Italian dual citizenship, we are here to support you. To schedule a consultation, call us at 917-310-2246 or fill out our contact form or schedule a free consultation today.