-- PortaleItaly, a leading provider of Italian citizenship by descent services, is responding to Italy’s recent legal reform by clarifying eligibility rules and outlining strategies for individuals affected by the March 2025 citizenship decree.
On March 29, 2025, Italy’s Decree-Law No. 36/2025 entered into effect, fundamentally altering the rules around Jus Sanguinis, the principle by which Italian citizenship is transmitted by ancestry. The law was converted by Parliament in May and now restricts automatic citizenship transmission to no more than two generations from an Italian-born ancestor. In practice, many descendants whose closest Italian-born relative is a great-grandparent may now find themselves disqualified unless they take immediate legal steps.
“People are understandably alarmed,” said Gianni Dell-Aiuto, Senior Legal Counsel for PortaleItaly. “Many families feel blindsided. But the law still allows for multi-step solutions in specific cases. It’s essential to understand your exact lineage and act accordingly — there is no one-size-fits-all answer.”
PortaleItaly emphasizes that many candidates remain eligible under current rules, particularly where an Italian-born parent or grandparent exists. However, even in cases where a great-grandparent is the last known Italian citizen, a two-step process may still be possible.
For example, if a U.S.-born individual’s parent is alive and qualifies, the parent can apply first. Once recognized, the child becomes eligible through that newly re-established citizenship line.
This approach reflects a growing interest in legal “bridging” strategies, where younger generations reestablish continuity through qualifying family members.
As the law introduces more stringent documentation and residency requirements, PortaleItaly continues to support clients through legal eligibility assessments, archival record retrieval, application submission, and consular communication. The company works in coordination with legal experts across Italy, including attorneys engaged in constitutional review of the law’s provisions.
“Each case is fact-specific,” Dell-Aiuto said. “But no one should self-disqualify without a clear legal review. Many viable paths still exist.”
To help the Italian diaspora determine their status under the new law, PortaleItaly has launched an updated Pre-Qualification Questionnaire designed to flag disqualifying criteria and identify alternative routes.
Contact Info:
Name: Jim Esposito
Email: Send Email
Organization: PortaleItaly
Website: https://www.portaleitaly.com
Release ID: 89163330
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