Blog/April 17, 2026
How to Get Italian Citizenship by Descent (Jure Sanguinis) in 2026
By Relova Team
Italian citizenship jure sanguinis 2026 guide with visa routes, cost bands, neighborhood picks, timelines, and practical setup steps for expats planning a confi
Italian citizenship jure sanguinis 2026 is no longer the open-ended great-grandparent hunt many diaspora families planned for a decade. Decree-Law No. 36/2025 (the “Tajani Decree,” 28 March 2025), enacted as Law No. 74/2025 (23 May 2025) with new Article 3-bis of Law 91/1992, capped descent claims at two generations. On 12 March 2026, Italy’s Constitutional Court (Judgment No. 63/2026) upheld the reform—so treat the new limits as settled law, not a rumor.
Table of Contents
- What the 2025–2026 reform changed
- Who still qualifies
- Grandfathered filings and minor children
- Fallback: fast-track naturalization
- Key numbers at a glance
- Frequently Asked Questions
What the 2025–2026 reform changed
Before the reform, many applicants chased unbroken chains back to Italian unification (1861). Now, jure sanguinis is limited to an Italian-born parent or Italian-born grandparent. Great-grandparents and more distant lines generally do not create a new adult claim. An additional hard stop: the Italian ancestor must have held only Italian citizenship at the relevant moment (death, or the birth of the next person in the chain). If they naturalized elsewhere first, the bloodline breaks.
Who still qualifies
- Parent born in Italy — usually yes, if they had not naturalized abroad before your birth.
- Grandparent born in Italy — usually yes, on the same sole-citizenship logic.
- Great-grandparent or further — no under the new rules, unless your file is protected by the transitional window below.
Adult applications are also shifting: from 2026 (Law No. 11/2026) processing gradually centralizes at MAECI, with a full transition targeted by 2029.
Grandfathered filings and minor children
Transitional carve-out: applications filed—or consular appointments booked—before 27 March 2025, 23:59 Rome time are still assessed under the old unlimited-generation rules.
Minors: for children born on or before 25 May 2025, parents can lodge a declaration by 31 May 2026 to preserve citizenship rights. Children born after 25 May 2025 generally need a declaration within three years of birth. From 1 January 2026, the former €250 fee for minor declarations was abolished.
Fallback: fast-track naturalization
If the reform cuts your jure sanguinis path, Italy still offers a shorter naturalization track for people with an Italian parent or grandparent: two years of residence in Italy instead of the ordinary ten. That is a residency project, not a paperwork-only claim—plan housing, codice fiscale, and stay lawful from day one. For broader EU options, see EU citizenship and Move to Italy.
Key numbers at a glance
| Situation | Citizenship right after the 2025–2026 reform |
|---|---|
| Parent born in Italy | Yes, if they had not naturalized abroad before your birth |
| Grandparent born in Italy | Yes, on the same logic |
| Great-grandparent or further | No (except filings before 27 Mar 2025) |
| Application filed before 27 Mar 2025 | Assessed under old unlimited-generation rules |
| Minor born on/before 25 May 2025 | Parental declaration by 31 May 2026 |
| Lost jure sanguinis eligibility | Naturalization after 2 years’ residence (not 10) |
Related guides on this blog: EU citizenship guide, Second passport guide, Move to Italy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still claim Italian citizenship through a great-grandparent?
Generally no. Law 74/2025 limits new adult claims to an Italian-born parent or grandparent, and Judgment 63/2026 confirmed the reform. Only files lodged or appointed before 27 March 2025, 23:59 Rome time keep the old unlimited chain.
What is the “sole Italian citizenship” trap?
If the Italian ancestor naturalized in another country before the next person in the line was born (or at the legally relevant moment), the jure sanguinis chain is treated as broken under the reformed rules.
What deadline matters for minor children?
For children born on or before 25 May 2025, parents should file the declaration by 31 May 2026. Later births generally have a three-year declaration window. The old €250 minor-declaration fee was dropped from 1 January 2026.
I no longer qualify—what is the alternative?
With an Italian parent or grandparent, naturalization after two years of Italian residence (instead of ten) is the main statutory alternative.
Where will adult applications be processed going forward?
From 2026, adult files gradually move to centralized MAECI handling under Law No. 11/2026, with completion targeted by 2029.
If you want a step-by-step plan for your passport and income profile, start with Relova.