Italy tightens rules for Italian descendants to become citizens

Applicants for an Italian passport must now have one parent or grandparent who was a citizen by birth.

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Previously, anyone with an Italian ancestor who lived after 17 March, 1861 - when the Kingdom of Italy was created - qualified to be a citizen under the 'jus sanguinis', or descendent blood line law.

Under the amended law, which parliament ratified on Tuesday, applicants for an Italian passport must now have one parent or grandparent who was a citizen by birth.

The government said it changed the rules to "enhance" the link between Italy and the citizen abroad, avoid 'abuse' and 'commercialisation' of passports, and free up resources to clear backlogged applications.

From the end of 2014 to the end of 2024, the number of citizens residing abroad increased by 40%, from around 4.6 million to 6.4 million, the government said.