Italian citizenship may be acquired automatically by birth, recognition, adoption, or descent, or by administrative and discretionary processes based on residence, marriage, or special provisions of law. It may be lost only through voluntary renunciation or exceptional circumstances, and reacquired either by declaration or by residence. The 2025 reform redefined the framework to align citizenship with an effective connection to Italy, preserving its legal value as both a right and a civic bond with the Republic.
Italian citizenship may be acquired automatically by birth, recognition, adoption, or descent, or by administrative and discretionary processes based on residence, marriage, or special provisions of law. It may be lost only through voluntary renunciation or exceptional circumstances, and reacquired either by declaration or by residence. The 2025 reform redefined the framework to align citizenship with an effective connection to Italy, preserving its legal value as both a right and a civic bond with the Republic.
Italian citizenship represents a legal bond with the Italian Republic and may be acquired, recognised, lost, or reacquired through several routes defined by Law No. 91 of 5 February 1992, as amended by Decree-Law No. 36 of 28 March 2025, converted by Law No. 74 of 23 May 2025.
The law distinguishes between:
– automatic or declarative acquisition, where citizenship arises by operation of law (for example, by descent or recognition of parentage); and
– discretionary or concessive acquisition, where citizenship is granted by the Italian State upon application and subject to specific requirements (for example, by residence or marriage).
Below is a detailed overview of the main legal avenues through which Italian citizenship can be obtained, regained, or formally recognised.
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Citizenship by Descent (Ius Sanguinis)
This is the principal method of acquisition and applies to those born to an Italian father or mother. Citizenship is transmitted automatically by bloodline, provided that the Italian parent had not lost or renounced citizenship before the child’s birth.
Following the 2025 reform, automatic transmission is limited to children and, in specific cases, grandchildren of Italian citizens, subject to the conditions laid down in Article 3-bis of Law No. 91/1992. Recognition of citizenship by descent is declaratory: it confirms that the person has been Italian since birth.
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Citizenship by Recognition, Adoption, or Judicial Declaration
Citizenship is automatically attributed to a minor in the following cases:
- Recognition of filiation by an Italian parent, even if the recognition occurs after birth.
- A judicial declaration of paternity or maternity establishing Italian descent.
- Adoption by an Italian citizen, whether in Italy or abroad (subject to recognition by the Italian courts).
- Cohabitation with a parent who becomes a naturalised Italian citizen while the child is under 18.
In all these scenarios, the acquisition is automatic and effective from the date of the legal act or court decision.
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Citizenship by Election (Declaration at the Age of Majority)
A person who was recognised as the child of an Italian parent after turning 18 may obtain Italian citizenship by electing to do so.
This election must be made within one year of the recognition of filiation by submitting a declaration of will at the competent Municipality in Italy or the Italian Consulate abroad.
This option also applies to individuals born in Italy to foreign parents who have lived continuously in Italy until the age of 18 and declare their intention to become Italian within one year after reaching majority (Article 4, paragraph 2, Law No. 91/1992).
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Citizenship by Application under the 2025 Reform (Law No. 74/2025)
The reform introduced new rules and exceptions governing applications for recognition of citizenship by descent.
Applications submitted before 27 March 2025 or scheduled by that date are processed under the previous regime (without generational limits).
New applications are examined under Article 3-bis of Law No. 91/1992, which restricts citizenship recognition to two generations, except when:
- A parent or grandparent held exclusively Italian citizenship; or
- The Italian parent (or adoptive parent) resided legally in Italy for at least two consecutive years after acquiring citizenship and before the child’s birth.
These conditions ensure that the right to citizenship corresponds to a genuine connection with Italy.
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Citizenship Provided by LawCertain individuals are granted Italian citizenship automatically under specific statutory provisions, such as:
- Children born in Italy to stateless or unknown parents.
- Individuals born in Italy who would otherwise be stateless under their parents’ national laws.
- Persons who acquire citizenship following changes in territorial sovereignty or by international agreements ratified by Italy.
- Minor children of Italian citizens who are legally recognised as such under special laws or decrees.
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Citizenship by Grant (Discretionary Naturalisation)
Citizenship may be granted by decree of the President of the Republic, upon proposal of the Minister of the Interior, in the following cases:
- Ten years of legal residence in Italy for non-EU citizens.
- Four years of residence for EU citizens.
- Five years of residence for stateless persons or recognised refugees.
- Two years of residence for those with an Italian parent or grandparent (as introduced by the 2025 reform).
- Five years of residence following adoption for an adult adoptee.
- Individuals who have rendered outstanding service to the Italian State, including service abroad.
The decision is discretionary and contingent upon good conduct, financial self-sufficiency, and integration into Italian society.
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Citizenship by Marriage or Civil Union
A foreign or stateless spouse of an Italian citizen may apply for citizenship:
- After two years of marriage if residing in Italy.
- After three years of marriage if residing abroad.
These timeframes are halved in the presence of children (natural or adopted).
Applicants must provide proof of B1-level Italian language proficiency and a clean criminal record. The granting of citizenship is discretionary and subject to a final decree by the Ministry of the Interior.
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Citizenship by Birth in Italy (Ius Soli)
Citizenship by ius soli (birth in Italy) applies only in residual cases, such as:
- Children born in Italy to stateless parents or to parents of unknown nationality.
- Children born in Italy who cannot inherit their parents’ nationality under their domestic law.
- Persons born in Italy to foreign parents who have lived continuously in Italy until turning 18, provided they declare their will to become Italian within one year of reaching majority.
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Loss and Renunciation of Citizenship
Italian citizenship may be lost:
- By formal renunciation, declared before the competent authorities, if the individual already possesses or acquires another citizenship.
- Automatically, in specific cases prescribed by international conventions or laws, such as voluntary service in a foreign army or taking public office in a foreign State contrary to Italian law.
However, since 16 August 1992, acquiring a foreign citizenship no longer entails automatic loss of Italian nationality unless accompanied by an explicit declaration of renunciation.
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Reacquisition of Citizenship
A former Italian citizen may reacquire citizenship by:
- Establishing residence in Italy and declaring the intention to reacquire citizenship before the competent Italian authority.
- Automatically, after one year of legal residence in Italy without renouncing.
- By declaration made abroad under special provisions for women who lost citizenship by marriage or by naturalisation prior to 1948.
Law No. 74/2025 also opened a special reacquisition window (2025–2027) allowing individuals who lost citizenship under the 1912 law to reclaim it by declaration without having to reside in Italy, provided they were born in Italy or had previously lived there for at least two years.
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Declaration of Uninterrupted Possession of Citizenship
Italian women who lost their citizenship by marrying a foreign citizen before 1 January 1948 may declare uninterrupted possession of Italian nationality, thereby re-establishing it without the need for a judicial process. This declaration must be submitted to the competent Italian consulate or municipality with supporting evidence of continuous Italian identity and status.
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Recognition of Citizenship under Special Laws
Italian citizenship can also be recognised under specific legislative provisions, such as:
- Law No. 379/2000, which allows descendants of former citizens of the territories of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire (annexed to Italy after World War I) to reclaim citizenship.
- Law No. 124/2006, which grants citizenship to descendants of individuals from the former Italian colonies who meet the conditions set out in the law.