In brief
In an effort to address the overwhelming influx of citizenship applications from individuals of Italian descent, Italy's government has enacted stricter regulations that limit eligibility for obtaining citizenship. Previously, anyone able to trace their ancestry to an Italian ancestor alive since 1861 could apply, leading to significant delays in processing times.
This week, the Italian foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, announced that the new rules restrict citizenship to those individuals with Italian parents or grandparents only, effectively removing the broader eligibility criteria. Tajani cited “years of abuses” as the motivation for this change, alleging that many applicants had minimal connections to Italy and were primarily interested in acquiring a passport for convenience in travel and commerce.Tajani stated, “Being an Italian citizen is a serious thing...It’s not a game to get a passport in your pocket to go shopping in Miami.” The move follows a substantial increase in citizenship approvals, particularly from South American descendants, prompting the need for more rigorous standards to ensure that citizenship remains a meaningful status connected to familial ties.
