Italy has recently published legislation introducing a significant restructuring of the administrative procedures used to recognize Italian citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis). The reform represents one of the most substantial procedural changes to the system in decades and will ultimately centralize the processing of most citizenship applications submitted from abroad into a single office located in Rome.
The changes are part of a broader reform of consular services and administrative procedures affecting Italians abroad and descendants seeking recognition of citizenship.
A New Authority for Citizenship Recognition: Centralized Processing in Rome Planned by 2029
Under the new legislation, Italy will establish a specialized office within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale – MAECI) dedicated to handling citizenship-by-descent applications submitted by adults residing outside of Italy.
This office—referred to as the Service for the Reconstruction of Italian Citizenship—will eventually become responsible for reviewing applications that are currently processed by Italian consulates abroad.
Once fully implemented, applicants living abroad will no longer initiate their citizenship recognition process through their local Italian consulate. Instead, applications will be submitted directly to the centralized office in Rome.
According to the legislative framework, the reform aims to standardize procedures and strengthen document verification across the system.
What the New Procedure Will Look Like
The reform introduces a fundamentally different administrative model for citizenship recognition.
Under the new framework:
- Adult applicants residing outside Italy will submit their applications directly to the Rome office.
- Applications will require the submission of original documentation, typically sent by mail.
- Italian consulates will no longer process citizenship-by-descent applications for adults.
Instead, consulates will primarily maintain responsibilities such as:
- services for individuals who are already recognized as Italian citizens, and
- procedures involving minor children of Italian citizens.
The shift effectively removes the role of consulates as the primary entry point for citizenship-by-descent applications.
Timeline and Transition Period
Although the reform has now been approved and published, the new centralized system will not take effect immediately.
The legislation provides for a multi-year transition period, allowing the current system to continue operating while the new administrative structure is developed.
During this phase:
- Consulates will continue processing existing cases.
- Limitations may be placed on the number of new applications that consulates can accept each year.
- The centralized office in Rome will gradually assume responsibility for citizenship recognition procedures.
The reform is expected to be fully implemented by 2029, when the Rome office will become the primary authority responsible for reviewing citizenship-by-descent applications submitted from abroad.
New Processing Timeline
Another key change introduced by the reform is the extension of the official processing window.
Under the new framework, the administrative review period may extend up to 36 months, compared with the shorter timelines previously applied to consular procedures.
This adjustment reflects the government’s intention to manage citizenship recognition within a centralized administrative structure.
What This Means for Applicants
For individuals seeking recognition of Italian citizenship by descent, the reform signals a significant shift in how applications will be processed in the coming years.
However, it is important to note that:
- The eligibility rules for citizenship by descent have not been replaced by this reform alone.
- The changes primarily concern administrative procedures and where applications are processed.
- The current system will remain in place during the transition period leading up to 2029.
*Applicants who already have pending cases or consular appointments should continue to follow the procedures currently in place unless otherwise instructed by the relevant authorities.
Closing Thoughts
Italy’s decision to centralize citizenship recognition represents a structural change in the relationship between the Italian state and the millions of descendants of Italian emigrants living abroad.
Whether the reform will ultimately streamline procedures or create additional challenges remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the centralization of applications—combined with potential caps on the number of cases processed administratively—could encourage a growing number of applicants to pursue recognition through the court system.
