Law No. 74 of May 23, 2025 (published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale on May 23, 2025, No. 118) converted into Law Decree-Law No. 36 of March 28, 2025 which amended Italian Citizenship Law n. 91/1992. Despite the reform the transmission of Italian citizenship is still based on the principle of ius sanguinis, according to which the child of a citizen is a citizen by birth (Article 1). On this regard, it is important to underline that the new decree, as converted, does not change this fundamental principle but provides for significant limitations on the transmission of citizenship from one generation to the next, basing it on the effective connection with Italy and the possession of another citizenship. While there are no changes for children of citizens born in Italy (even if they hold another citizenship), and for children born anywhere abroad provided they do not or cannot hold another citizenship, the new regime provides for limitations for those born in a foreign country and holding another citizenship.
Based on the above, if registration of the minor is not possible due to the limitations introduced by Article 3-bis of Law No. 91/1992, parents holding Italian citizenship by birth have the option of making a declaration within one year of the birth of the minor child in order to have such child acquire Italian citizenship. In this case, the minor child will be considered holding Italian citizenship from the day after the declaration, not from birth.
ATTENTION: Minors as of May 24, 2025, children of Italian parents by birth, may benefit from a transitional provision (paragraph 1-ter of Article 1 of Legislative Decree No. 36/2025) if the following cumulative conditions are met:
- they are minors of age on the date the decree came into force (i.e., those who had not turned 18 on May 24, 2025); and who are
- they are children of citizens by birth whose Italian citizenship was recognized based on an administrative or judicial application submitted by March 27, 2025, or based on an application submitted following an appointment communicated by the Consulate by March 27, 2025.
In these cases, a declaration may be submitted in person by the minor’s parents or guardian at the Consular Office by May 31, 2026. This declaration is subject to a fee of €250 to be paid to the Italian Ministry of the Interior. If the minors have since reached adulthood, they may submit the declaration themselves.
Due to the new regulations, please note that it is no longer possible to send birth certificates for minors by mail. Please contact us to schedule an appointment at consolato.telaviv@esteri.it. Further information and the list of documents to be submitted are available here
