If you’re pursuing dual Italian citizenship by descent or already have it, your minor children may lose their opportunity to become Italian citizens forever unless you officially register them as Italian citizens by May 31st, 2026.
Italy’s new Italian citizenship law (Law 74/2025) has created an urgent situation for all (future) Italian dual citizens living outside Italy. The changes, effective March 28th, 2025, have essentially cut off automatic Italian citizenship transmission to children born abroad—but there’s a narrow window to secure your children’s Italian citizenship before it’s too late.
Why the Old Rules No Longer Apply
Before Italy’s new citizenship law voted in by Italy’s parliament in May 2025, Italian citizenship flowed automatically from parent to child (jure sanguinis) with minimal or no exceptions, including where the birth occurred. Not anymore. Now, the children of Italian citizens born outside of Italy only receive automatic Italian citizenship if very specific conditions are met—conditions that many dual citizens by descent do not satisfy.
The Four Narrow Exceptions
Moving forward, the minor children of Italian citizens can only acquire the citizenship if
- The Italian citizen parent lived in Italy for 2+ consecutive years before the child’s birth
- The Italian citizen parent holds ONLY Italian citizenship (no dual citizenship permitted)
- The child’s grandparent held ONLY Italian citizenship when they were born
- The child acquires no other citizenship at birth whatsoever (nearly impossible for children born in jus soli birthright citizenship countries like the US)
Reality check: If you’re American pursuing Italian citizenship through your Italian ancestors, or you’re a dual Italian-American citizen who’s lived your whole life in the US, your children almost certainly don’t qualify for automatic citizenship.
The Lifeline: Declaration of Intent (But Time is Running Out)
There IS a solution, but it requires immediate action. Your children can acquire Italian citizenship through a “declaration of intent”—but both parents must act before the May 31, 2026 deadline.
Who This Applies To
- Your children were minors (under 18) as of May 24, 2025
- You are or will become an Italian citizen by ancestry (jure sanguinis)
- You did NOT acquire Italian citizenship through naturalization, marriage, or other non-ancestry methods
The Catch: Both Parents Must Participate
This is where it gets complicated. Both parents—including non-Italian spouses—must make the declaration together. You cannot do this alone, even if you’re the Italian citizen. This applies equally if you are married to an Italian citizen or if only one parent is of Italian descent.
What You Must Do Before May 31, 2026
Step 1: Secure Your Own Italian Citizenship First
If you haven’t already obtained your Italian citizenship through ancestry, do this immediately. You cannot make the declaration for your children until one parent is officially an Italian citizen.
Step 2: Get Your Spouse on Board
Your non-Italian spouse must be willing to participate in this process. Both parents must:
- Appear in person at an Italian consulate
- Sign the declaration of intent
- Pay €250 to the Italian Ministry of Interior
Step 3: Gather Required Documents
Start collecting these documents now (the process can take months):
For Your Child:
- Long-form birth certificate with apostille and certified Italian translation
- Passport copy
- If parents unmarried: Acknowledgment of Paternity with apostille and Italian translation
For Italian Parent:
- Historical certificate of citizenship from Italian municipality
- Marriage certificate issued by Italian municipality (if applicable)
- Passport copy
Payment:
- €250 wire transfer to Italian Ministry of Interior
- Payee: “Ministero dell’Interno D.L.C.I. Cittadinanza”
- IBAN: IT54D0760103200000000809020
- Reference: “Acquisto cittadinanza a seguito di dichiarazione ex art. 4 L.91/1992 [child’s name]”
Step 4: Contact Your Italian Consulate Immediately
- Mail preliminary documents for review
- Schedule in-person appointment for declaration
- Confirm all requirements for your specific consular district
The Brutal Truth About Timing
Why 2026 is a Hard Deadline
This isn’t like other Italian bureaucratic processes that can be delayed indefinitely. The transitional provision expires on May 31, 2026. After that date, children who missed this opportunity will have no pathway to Italian citizenship through their Italian parent’s ancestry.
Processing Time Reality
Italian consulates are notoriously slow and overwhelmed. Starting the process in 2026 is likely too late because:
- Document apostille and translation: 2-3 months minimum
- Consulate review and appointment scheduling: 3-6 months
- Final processing: Additional months
You need to start this process in 2025 to have any reasonable chance of meeting the deadline.
Special Situations and Complications
Multiple Children
You must make a separate declaration for each minor child. Budget accordingly (€250 per child plus administrative costs).
Divorced or Separated Parents
Both parents must still participate, regardless of custody arrangements. This may require legal coordination.
Children Who Turn 18 Before May 2026
Once your child turns 18, they’re no longer eligible for this process. They would need to pursue their own Italian citizenship application as adults.
Future Children
Children born after you make this declaration will likely face the same restrictive rules. Moving forward, if you are a dual citizen, your future children will only obtain Italian citizenship is you live in Italy for two continuous years before their future birth and you have proof of that residence in Italy (if you are no longer living there when the child is born)
What Happens After the Declaration
Once you successfully make the declaration:
- Your child acquires Italian citizenship the day after all legal conditions are met
- You can then register their birth in Italy
- They can apply for an Italian passport
- They have all rights of Italian (and EU) citizenship
The Stakes: What Your Children Lose Forever
If you miss this deadline, your children lose:
- EU citizenship and freedom of movement across 27 countries
- Right to live, work, and study anywhere in the EU without visas or permits
- Access to European healthcare and social benefits
- Potential tax advantages depending on future residence
- Cultural and familial connections to their Italian heritage
- The ability to pass Italian citizenship to their own children
Take Action Now
This is not a drill. The Italian government has created a narrow window that closes forever in May 2026.
The bureaucratic machine moves slowly, but this deadline is absolute. Your children’s future as EU citizens depends on action you take right now.
Don’t let your family’s Italian heritage end with you. The window is closing—act today.