How does Citizenship by Descent (Jure Sanguinis) work in Italy, and who qualifies?

Italy has long allowed people to claim citizenship through an unbroken line of Italian descent (jure sanguinis). However, Law 74/2025 significantly tightened the rules, introducing generational limits and new conditions on how citizenship is transmitted across generations and on residence. The practical effect is that claims based on a great-grandparent or more distant ancestor may no longer succeed as they once did, and documentary proof has become stricter.

To qualify under the current framework you generally need documented direct descent from an Italian-citizen ancestor within the new generational limits, compliance with the Law 74/2025 conditions, and civil-status documents — birth, marriage and naturalisation records — for each generation in the line. Applications are made via the competent Italian consulate or, if you are resident in Italy, the local comune.

Because the reform is recent and still settling in practice at consulates, it is essential to verify your specific lineage against the current rules before assuming eligibility. ACME can help you assess your line under the post-reform framework and trace and assemble the documents needed.