The Italian Chamber of Deputies approved a series of amendments to the Tyani decree on 20 May 2025, introducing new pathways for reacquiring citizenship, registering minors, and applying for citizenship by descent. The changes affect deadlines, residency requirements, and the procedural options available to applicants.
Reinstatement of citizenship lost before 1992
- Individuals who renounced Italian citizenship through naturalisation in another country before 1992 may now restore their citizenship by submitting a self‑declaration to the Italian consulate in their country of residence.
- The previous requirement to reside in Italy for one year has been removed.
- The self‑declaration must be filed no later than 31 December 2027.
- Restored citizens enjoy the same rights as any dual‑national Italian citizen.
Registration of minors
- For minors under 18 as of the law’s entry into force, parents can register the child through a simple consular procedure until 31 May 2026.
- After that date, a minor can still be registered if the birth is recorded within one year of the child’s birth.
- If the child is not registered within the first year, citizenship can still be obtained when an Italian parent has resided in Italy for two consecutive years (before or after the child’s birth).
- Only one parent needs to be an Italian citizen for the child to qualify.
- Adopted children are eligible under the same rules, provided the birth‑certificate registration occurs within one year of the adoption date.
Citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis)
- Eligibility requires an Italian parent or grandparent who was exclusively an Italian citizen at the time of death.
- The decree removes the generational limit as long as each generation registers the child within one year of birth.
- Applicants who had already secured an appointment with a consulate or municipality before 28 March 2025 may continue to use the pre‑decree rules, even if the appointment occurs later.
- Those who filed applications (through a consulate, municipality, or court) before that date are also covered by the old regime.
Residency route for those excluded from descent
- If an applicant does not meet the descent criteria because the Italian ancestor naturalised abroad, citizenship can still be obtained by residing in Italy for two consecutive years.
- The previous residency requirement of three years has been reduced to two years.
- Several visa categories can be used to establish the required residence, including:
- Elective residency (retirement) visa
- Digital nomad visa
- Student visa
- Investor visa
- Work visa – the decree waives the annual quota for applicants pursuing citizenship through an Italian parent or grandparent, allowing them to obtain a work permit regardless of the standard limit.
Transitional provisions and court remedies
- Applicants who could not obtain a consular appointment because none were available can argue in Italian courts that the lack of appointments prevented timely filing.
- Successful litigation may allow such applicants to invoke the pre‑decree rules, despite not having formally requested an appointment before 28 March 2025.
- Courts are expected to consider the unavailability of appointments as a valid reason for applying the old regulations.
Practical checklist for prospective applicants
| Issue | Requirement | Deadline / Note |
|---|---|---|
| Re‑acquisition (pre‑1992 loss) | Self‑declaration at local consulate | ≤ 31 Dec 2027 |
| Minor registration (simple process) | Consular registration by parent | ≤ 31 May 2026 |
| Minor registration (birth‑within‑1‑year) | Register birth within 12 months of birth | No fixed deadline |
| Minor registration (2‑year residency) | Italian parent resident in Italy 2 years (pre‑ or post‑birth) | No fixed deadline |
| Descent eligibility | Italian parent/grandparent exclusively Italian at death | Ongoing |
| Residency route | 2 years continuous residence in Italy | Ongoing |
| Visa options | Elective, digital nomad, student, investor, work (quota waived for descent applicants) | Choose based on personal circumstances |
| Use of old rules | Appointment/request before 28 Mar 2025 or application filed before that date | Applies even if appointment occurs later |
| Court petition | Demonstrate inability to secure consular appointment | Applicable where appointments were unavailable |
These amendments streamline certain pathways—particularly for former citizens and minors—while preserving a route for those who cannot claim citizenship by descent. Applicants should assess which category fits their situation, respect the outlined deadlines, and consider legal recourse if consular access has been obstructed.
