The Tajani decree introduced new administrative requirements for Italian citizenship by descent. For applicants who fully meet the post‑decree criteria, the process is now defined by the location of residence, the availability of consular appointments, and a pending shift toward a centralized office in Rome.
Who can apply
- Applicants must prove an uninterrupted line of Italian ancestry from the ancestor who was an Italian citizen at the time of emigration.
- The required documentation has not changed since the decree:
- Birth certificate of the Italian ancestor (issued in Italy).
- Naturalization records of that ancestor (or proof that they never acquired foreign citizenship).
- Marriage and death certificates of the ancestor.
- Corresponding birth, marriage, death, and, if applicable, divorce certificates for each intermediate ascendant (parents, grandparents, etc.).
- The applicant’s own birth certificate, marriage certificate (and divorce records if relevant), and, for minor children, their birth certificates.
- In some consulates, additional certificates for spouses of ancestors may be required; applicants should verify the specific consular website.
All documents must be:
- Apostilled (legalized) in the country of issue.
- Translated into Italian.
- Signed before a public notary where required.
Applying from abroad (consular route)
- Identify the correct consulate – Applicants must use the Italian consulate that serves the region of their official residence. Choice of consulate is not discretionary.
- Check appointment availability – Many consulates, especially in the United States, have limited or no in‑person slots. If appointments are available, secure one promptly and prepare the full dossier.
- Submission – At the appointment, submit the documents, completed application forms, and the applicable fee. Some consulates still accept mailed applications, a practice introduced during the 2020 health emergency; applicants should confirm current procedures on the consulate’s website.
- No appointments available – If a consulate has had no appointments for a continuous period of two years, or the applicant can demonstrate repeated attempts to book without success, Italian law permits filing a petition with the Italian courts. The courts can grant citizenship directly, bypassing the consular bottleneck.
Applying from within Italy (municipal route)
- Residents of Italy may apply through the comune (municipality) where they are registered. This route remains unchanged by the decree.
- The municipal process can be faster than the consular route because it involves a smaller administrative office.
- Applicants must first establish residency in the chosen municipality, then submit the same set of apostilled and translated documents to the local ufficio anagrafe.
Future centralization
- A new centralized office in Rome is slated to handle all citizenship‑by‑descent applications from abroad. Once operational, applicants will no longer submit files to local consulates but will mail their complete dossiers to this single entity.
- The shift is expected to increase processing times due to the volume of worldwide applications, and many applicants may continue to rely on court petitions where consular access remains limited.
Constitutional review
- The Tajani decree is subject to a constitutional court review scheduled for June. The court will assess whether the decree violates constitutional principles, including potential discrimination and the retroactive alteration of citizenship rights.
- Pending the outcome, the decree could be modified or struck down, which may affect future eligibility criteria and procedural pathways.
Practical considerations
- Eligibility verification – Before initiating the application, confirm that every ancestor in the line did not acquire foreign citizenship before the birth of the next descendant. Any naturalization before that point breaks the transmission of Italian citizenship.
- Document preparation – Start gathering required records early, as obtaining apostilles and official translations can take weeks or months, especially for foreign archives.
- Appointment strategy – Monitor consular appointment portals regularly; some consulates release slots sporadically.
- Court petition readiness – Keep records of all attempts to schedule consular appointments (emails, screenshots) to support a future court filing if needed.
- Residency planning – For those intending to relocate to Italy, establishing residency in a small municipality may expedite the municipal application and provide a quicker path to full citizenship rights.
By following the outlined steps and staying informed about consular availability, upcoming centralization, and the constitutional review, applicants who meet the post‑Tajani requirements can navigate the Italian citizenship‑by‑descent process more effectively.
