The Municipality of Florence has announced the introduction of the “Ius Scholae“, an important initiative that allows foreign minors residing in Florence to obtain honorary citizenship. This symbolic measure recognizes the integration of young people who have completed at least a five-year cycle of studies in the Italian school system.
Florence Introduces the Ius Scholae for Foreign Minors: A Step Forward in Integration
The initiative has no legal effects on Italian citizenship, but represents an institutional recognition of the link between young foreigners and Italian society, promoting their social inclusion. To be eligible for the Ius Scholae in Florence, minors must meet the following requirements:
- be resident in the Municipality of Florence and be foreign citizens;
- have attended schools in Italy for at least five years;
- have completed, before the age of 18, at least one school cycle (or more) in the Italian education and training system and have obtained at least one (or more) of the following qualifications:
- final diploma of the first cycle of education (lower secondary diploma)
- final secondary school diploma (upper secondary diploma), certificate of third-level professional qualification EQF (professional qualification, at the end of a three-year IeFP course at accredited educational institutions or training agencies)
- fourth-level EQF professional diploma (professional diploma, at the end of a further fourth year of an IeFP course at accredited educational institutions or training agencies).
This measure is part of a broader framework of initiatives to promote the integration of foreign minors, laying the foundations for an official recognition of their belonging to the local community.
How to apply for Honorary Citizenship in Florence
Applications to obtain honorary citizenship in Florence can be submitted from March 25, 2025 through the Municipality’s online portal.
The application can be submitted:
- By a parent or legal guardian of the child.
- Via SPID, CIE or CNS, by accessing the website of the Municipality of Florence.
After approval, a public ceremony will be organized every year for the conferral of honorary citizenship, an event that strengthens the sense of belonging to the Florentine community.
Here are the differences between Ius Scholae in Florence and Italian Citizenship
It is important to clarify that honorary citizenship conferred with the Ius Scholae of Florence has no legal effect on the status of Italian citizen.
- Honorary Citizenship: Symbolic recognition of the integration of foreign minors who have completed a school cycle.
- Italian Citizenship for Foreign Minors: Regulated by Law 91/1992, it can be obtained if the minor was born in Italy and has lived continuously in the country until the age of 18, or through naturalization for prolonged residence.
If you are a foreign parent with children studying in Italy and you want to know how to obtain Italian citizenship for your child, our firm Damiani & Damiani offers specialized advice on residence permits, citizenship and immigration law.
A step towards the recognition of the Ius Scholae in Italy
The introduction of the Ius Scholae in Florence reopens the debate on the possibility of reforming the current laws on Italian citizenship. For years there has been discussion about the need for new legislation that recognizes the right to citizenship for foreign minors raised and trained in Italy. The proposal of the Ius Scholae at the national level, currently being discussed in Parliament, provides that Italian citizenship is granted to foreign minors after a school course of at least five years, without having to wait until they turn eighteen. The decision of the City of Florence is therefore an important signal, which could encourage a broader reform of the rules on citizenship in Italy. If you want to stay up to date on the latest legal news on Italian citizenship for foreigners, follow the blog of Damiani&Damiani, experts in immigration law. With the introduction of the Ius Scholae, Florence takes a step forward in the recognition of the integration of young foreigners. Although it has no legal value, this measure strengthens the debate on the reform of Italian citizenship.
If you want to learn more about the procedures for obtaining Italian citizenship, trust our experts in immigration and citizenship law.
