2025 was a year for radical changes to Italian citizenship jure sanguinis. Here at ICA, we have kept you updated with the latest developments via our blog, but the year did not close without one final change. There has been a positive update to the registration of birth certificates for minors born to at least one Italian parent. In this article, we will examine how the new laws have affected citizenship, and what Italian parents of minor children can expect going forward in 2026 and beyond.
How the Tajani Decree changed Italian citizenship by descent
On March 28, 2026, Decree-Law No. 36/2025 was passed, abruptly shifting the eligibility requirements for Italian citizenship by descent. Previously, virtually anyone with an Italian ancestor alive after March 17, 1861 could claim citizenship (barring certain exceptions, of course), but now only those with Italian parents or grandparents can lay claim. This decree was codified into law on May 23, 2025. Only applications submitted before March 27, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Rome time will be processed under the old rules.
Registering minors after the Tajani Decree (original rules)
The Tajani Decree also made changes to way that minors acquire Italian citizenship. Previously, the child’s birth could be registered in Italy at any time before they turned 18, and they would have been considered to be Italian since birth. Following the Tajani Decree, citizenship would only apply after the registration of the birth, which needed to be done within one year or birth or adoption. (Citizenship jure sanguinis could apply if the Italian parent was exclusively Italian or, if a dual citizen, resided in Italy for at least two consecutive years before the birth of the child).
If the child is older then, following registration of the birth certificate, he or she must then reside in Italy for at least two consecutive years. The exception to this was a grace period given in which the parents could register the birth certificate before May 31, 2026, or, if the child turns 18 before this date, they could submit the declaration themselves.
There was also a fee applied of €250.
The new changes made
Law No. 199 of December 30, 2025 has altered the above rules, according to the 2026 Annual Budget Law. It specifically concerns those who fall under Article 4, paragraph 1-bis, letter b of Law No. 91 of February 5, 1992: minor foreign-born children with an Italian parent. With these changes, parents now have three years instead of one after the birth or adoption of a child abroad to register his or her birth certificate and claim Italian citizenship. Furthermore, the €250 fee that had previously been required was dropped as well. This is due to the fact that the new budget allows for a certain amount to be applied to immigration services, permitting the registration process to be free for applicants.
It is important to note that these changes only apply to applications received after January 1, 2026. All applications received before this date will be processed under the previous rules. Similarly, for all children who were born before May 24, 2025, the Italian parent still has only until May 31, 2026 to register their births and pay the €250 fee. In other words, the changes outlined in the 2026 Budget Law only apply to children born after the Tajani Decree and who had not submitted an application prior to January 1, 2026.
How to register your child
To register your foreign-born or adopted minor child for Italian citizenship, you will need to file your documents with the Vital Statistics (Stato Civile) clerk at your local consulate, if living abroad. If you are living in Italy, you can do this at the comune where you reside. Be prepared to provide supporting documentation, including the child’s birth certificate and proof of Italian citizenship for the parent declaring the birth. Check local requirements as needed.
Conclusion
If you need assistance with registering your child’s birth, filing your own application for Italian citizenship, or have questions about any of the changes to citizenship laws in the past year, our experts at Italian Citizenship Assistance are ready to help. You can read more on our blog at italiancitizenshipassistance.com or reach out to us directly at [email protected].
