The conversion of Decree-Law 36/2025 into Law No. 74/2025 on May 24, 2025 opened a new “grace period” for those who lost their Italian citizenship prior to August 16, 1992 to reacquire it through a simple declaration process. This article will break down the new regulations, who is eligible, and the process to complete the reacquisition.
Law 74/2025 amended Article 17, paragraph 1, of Law No. 91/1992, stating that former Italian citizens who lost their citizenship can reacquire it during a newly established window.
Article 17 of Law No. 91/1992 was originally written to establish a declaration window for those to reacquire Italian citizenship during the years following the signing of Law No. 91/1992, with that window expiring in 1997. With the newly amended Article 17 according to Law 74/2025, a new window has been created for this simple declaration process, from July 1, 2025, to December 31, 2027.
Eligibility
To qualify, the individual must have been born in Italy or, if born abroad, resided in Italy for at least two consecutive years. Also, they must have lost their citizenship before August 16, 1992 under the provisions of Article 8 (No. 1 and 2) or Article 12 of Law No. 555 of 1912, which include:
- naturalization in a foreign country
- renunciation of Italian citizenship through the involuntary acquisition of foreign citizenship
- naturalization as an unemancipated minor child living with a parent who lost his/her citizenship
This reacquisition option does not apply to:
- those who lost or renounced Italian citizenship after August 16, 1992
- former citizens born abroad who have not been a resident in Italy for at least two consecutive years
- those who lost Italian citizenship due to accepting employment from a foreign government or entering into foreign military service and who continued in this employment despite being instructed by the Italian government to leave within a set time (Article 8, No. 3 of Law No. 555 of 1912)
- those who did not exercise their option provided by Article 5, No. 2 of Law No. 123 of 1983, which stated that a minor child of an Italian father or mother who held dual nationality could choose only one nationality within a year of reaching legal age
Reacquisition Process Pursuant to Article 13 of Law 91/1992
Before the passing of Law No. 74/2025, the applicable law governing the reacquisition of Italian citizenship was Article 13 of Law No. 91/1992. This article states that those who lost their Italian citizenship through the acquisition of a foreign citizenship prior to August 16, 1992, could reacquire it through either of the following methods:
- submitting a statement of intent to reacquire Italian citizenship to their local Italian consulate, followed by establishing residence in Italy within one year of submitting the statement
- establishing their permanent residence in Italy for a minimum of one year, after which the reacquisition would come into effect the day after the one-year residency was completed. In this case, submitting a statement of intent to the consulate is not necessary.
New Declaration Process Pursuant to Article 17
According to the new provisions outlined in the amended Article 17 of Law. 74/2025, a declaration must be submitted in person to the competent consular official, without requiring a period of residence in Italy.
First, you would need to determine the local Italian consulate that covers the jurisdiction of your legal residence. Then, depending on the consulate’s specific instructions, either the declaration and required documents must be mailed to the consulate, after which they will contact you to schedule an in-person appointment to finalize the process. In other cases, the instructions are to email the consulate first to schedule an appointment and then you would submit the declaration and supporting documents at the appointment. As the process can vary slightly, it’s important to check the website for your local consulate to verify any specific application instructions.
In all cases, there will be a required fee of €250 to be paid in US dollars at the current exchange rate.
It’s important to note that the effective date for reacquiring Italian citizenship in this manner is the day after the declaration is made to the consular authority. It does not have a retroactive effect.
Additionally, the individual reacquiring Italian citizenship through this declaration process does not automatically transfer citizenship to their children, even if they are minors and residing with the parent.
Required Documentation
The documentation required to complete the declaration for reacquisition of Italian citizenship includes the following:
- Completed reacquisition application form
- If born in Italy: Certified extract of the birth record (not a simple birth certificate), issued by the Italian municipality
- If born abroad: Certified extract of the birth record, apostilled and translated into Italian AND historical residency certificate from the last Italian municipality of residence
- Historical certificate of citizenship issued by the Italian municipality of last residence
- Foreign naturalization certificate, apostilled and translated into Italian. If the applicant was a minor (until March 9, 1975, the age of majority in Italy was 21), they must also submit the naturalization certificates and birth certificates of their Italian-born parents, apostilled and translated.
- Valid passport
- Driver’s license (or other document proving residential address e.g., utility bill), as well as any Italian ID, even if expired
Additionally, for women who have their married surname on their naturalization certificate, instead of their maiden surname, it may be necessary to also submit a certified copy of the marriage certificate (apostilled and translated).
Should you have any questions or need assistance with the reacquisition process for Italian citizenship, don’t hesitate to contact us directly, visit our website at italiancitizenshipassistance.com.
