In relation to the matter of obtaining Italian citizenship through descent, some novelties are contained in the bill filed at the Senate last June. Find out the detailed new rules on Italian citizenship proposed in the Senate at this link.
The main points of the new proposal for obtaining citizenship iure sanguinis
The three main points of the new proposal to obtain citizenship iure sanguinis by descent from Italian emigrants since 1860 are part of a bill containing new proposals aimed at Italian citizens living abroad, and are:
- Electronic vote for Italian citizens residing abroad.
- Facilitations for the recovery of citizenship for Italians who have naturalised in another country and lost it.
- New requirements for descendants of Italians who intend to obtain Italian citizenship through genealogical reconstruction.
The hypotheses envisaged in the draft law on new Citizenship Requirements for applicants, Descendants Iure sanguinis
The third point is the fundamental one. New requirements are being proposed for descendants of Italians who wish to obtain Italian citizenship through genealogical reconstruction. The three main requirements are:
- Being of Italian descent up to the third generation and no further;
- Having a B1 level Italian language diploma;
- Residing in Italy for at least one year before applying for citizenship.
According to statements made by the government, the new reform aims at implementing rules that recognise and enhance the identity and awareness of Italian-ness.
The need to regulate the citizenship process. The difficulties of Italian consulates faced with citizenship applications
The main problem with the recognition of Italian citizenship for the descendants of Italians who have emigrated abroad, especially to the United States, Argentina, Peru, Venezuela, Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia and Mexico, relates to the overcrowding of pending applications at Italian consulates in countries with the highest density of emigration from Italy. At these consulates, citizenship applications from Italian descendants are very numerous. The reform proposal, therefore, aims to restore the principle of legality in relation to the recognition of citizenship, which the high number of citizenship applications threatens to disregard.
The Impact of the New Proposal on the Procedures for the Recognition of Italian Citizenship by Descent
A B1-level Italian certificate and residence in Italy for at least one year are the new requirements contained in the proposal, without which Italian citizenship can no longer be obtained. Knowledge of the Italian language and residence in Italy for a minimum of one year are intended to strengthen the link with Italy on the part of the descendants of former emigrants, thanks to which they can be naturalised as Italians.
The approval of the reform with its new requirements for applying for citizenship iure sanguinis could have several implications for those seeking Italian naturalisation:
- Reduction in the number of applications: the requirement to reside in Italy for one year and to have a B1 level of Italian could lead to a significant reduction in the number of applications.
- Exclusion of 4th and 5th generation descendants: by limiting eligibility to the third generation, those with Italian great-grandparents or great-great-grandparents would be excluded from the process, affecting a large number of potential applicants.
- Trial congestion: if the law is approved with the new procedures, there will probably be an increase in court cases for the recognition of citizenship iure sanguinis.
We recall, in fact, that thanks to a recent ruling by the Court of Cassation in relation to a case of naturalisation of an Italian immigrant in Brazil, all emigrants were also recognised as citizens of the South American country, and obtaining Italian citizenship through a court case is much faster than applying for recognition at the consulate.
