MG Law is an international Italian citizenship lawyer and immigration team with offices in Rome, Milan, Palermo, Noto and New York, assisting foreign clients with citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis), 1948 cases, citizenship by marriage and naturalization, the Permesso di Soggiorno, and Italian visas. Since the 2025 reform (Law 74/2025) tightened descent eligibility to a parent or grandparent, the essential first step is confirming whether you still qualify.
The 2025 Rules Change: Do You Still Qualify by Descent?
taly’s 2025 citizenship reform (Decree-Law 36/2025, converted into Law 74/2025) introduced a generational limit: citizenship by descent now generally requires an Italian-born parent or grandparent who held Italian citizenship — great-grandparents no longer qualify on the standard route. On 12 March 2026 the Constitutional Court upheld these restrictions. Applications filed or appointments booked before 27 March 2025 are still assessed under the previous, unlimited-generation rules.
Risks List:
Eligibility is narrower post‑2025: automatic descent now limited to an Italian‑born parent or grandparent (plus narrow “effective link” conditions). Many prior profiles no longer qualify—verify before planning.yahoo+3
Pre‑1948 maternal lines require court action: jurisdiction at the ancestor’s comune of origin; the 2‑generation cap now applies.mbersanilaw+2
Document gaps are the main driver of denials and delays: missing/inconsistent civil records block both administrative and judicial paths.boccadutri+1
Permit filing is time‑critical: non‑EU long‑stay entrants must file the Permesso di Soggiorno within 8 working days of arrival.
Visa/permit routes can be faster than descent: given the 2‑generation cap, investor, elective, work, family or remote‑work pathways are often more predictabl
The descent route is now limited to a parent or grandparent (Law 74/2025, upheld by the Constitutional Court on 12 March 2026). Whether you still qualify — or whether a court case, residence permit, or visa fits better — should be assessed on a case-by-case basis before you spend on documents.
Italian Residency & Citizenship Pathways — Which One Fits You?
oreign nationals can reach Italian status through several legal routes — citizenship (by descent, marriage, or naturalization) or residency (elective residence, investor/golden visa, digital nomad, self-employment). Each has different requirements, timelines, and eligibility, and the 2025 citizenship reform changed the descent route. Identifying the fastest legal path for your profile is the purpose of the initial assessment.
Citizenship by Descent (Jure Sanguinis)
Foreign nationals with Italian ancestry: Italian-born parent/grandparent + unbroken lineage (Law 74/2025)
Citizenship by Marriage (Jure Matrimonii)
Spouses of Italian citizens: Married to Italian citizen; 2 yrs residence in Italy or 3 yrs abroad
Citizenship by Naturalization
Long-term residents: 10 yrs legal residence (5 non-EU long-term · 4 EU)
Elective Residence Visa
Retirees, HNWI, passive-income earners: Passive income ≥ €31,000/yr (individual)
Golden / Investor Visa
High-net-worth investors: Visa Investment €250k–€2M (see routes)
Digital Nomad Visa
Remote workers & freelancers: Non-Italian employer/clients; income ≥ €28,000/yr
Our Citizenship, Residency & Immigration Services
One team, every route — we confirm eligibility, choose the fastest legal path, and manage it end to end, remotely.
| Service | What we handle |
|---|---|
| Citizenship by Descent (Jure Sanguinis) | We assess whether you still qualify under the 2025 rules and manage the full jure sanguinis claim — consulate or Italian court. |
| 1948 Cases | Maternal-line claims pursued through the courts in Rome by dedicated litigation counsel, managed remotely. |
| Citizenship by Marriage & Naturalization | Eligibility, the CELI B1 language requirement and filing managed for spouses and long-term residents. |
| Residence Permit (Permesso di Soggiorno) | Filed within the strict 8-day deadline, with renewals and conversion to the long-term Permesso CE. |
| Visas: Elective Residence & Digital Nomad | The right visa matched to your profile — passive income from €31,000 or remote work from €28,000 per year. |
| Golden / Investor Visa | Guidance across the €250,000–€2,000,000 investment routes and the two-year renewable residency that follows. |
Italy’s Special Tax Regimes — Which One Actually Fits You?
Italian citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis) is now available where you have an Italian-born parent or grandparent who held Italian citizenship (Law 74/2025). Two routes exist: the consular application in your country (longest backlogs in the US, Argentina, Brazil) and the Italian court route, which MG Law manages entirely remotely via power of attorney — document collection, apostilles, certified translations and court filing — without you travelling to Italy. For US clients, including in New York, we coordinate US vital-records retrieval with the Italian authorities. Which route fits — standard descent, a 1948 case, or residence — is assessed case by case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I obtain Italian citizenship through my grandparents or great-grandparents?
Yes. Italy applies Jure Sanguinis without a generational limit, provided no ancestor in the line naturalised in another country before the birth of the next child in the descent chain. The claim must be supported with official birth, marriage, and death records for each generation. MG Law conducts a full ancestry eligibility assessment before any application is filed.
What is a '1948 case' in Italian citizenship law?
Under the original Italian citizenship law, women could not transmit citizenship to children born before 1 January 1948. If your line of descent passes through a female ancestor whose children were born before that date, the claim must be brought before Italian civil courts rather than through consular channels. MG Law regularly handles these proceedings, which can be initiated entirely remotely.
Can I keep my current passport if I obtain Italian citizenship?
Italy permits dual and multiple citizenship. Whether you can retain your original nationality depends on the laws of your country of origin, not Italian law. Some countries require citizens to renounce foreign nationality upon acquiring another. MG Law advises clients on the nationality laws of their home country before initiating any proceedings
What is the minimum income required for the Elective Residency Visa in Italy?
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs requires stable passive income of at least €31,000 per year for a single applicant, or approximately €38,000 for a couple. Income from employment in Italy does not qualify. Eligible sources include pensions, dividends, rental income, and capital returns.
How long does Italian citizenship by descent take?
Via consular application: 2–7 years depending on the consulate’s backlog. In some countries (notably the United States, Argentina, Brazil) consular appointments are booked years in advance. Via Italian court under D.L. 3/2024 fast-track route: typically 12–24 months from filing. MG Law advises on the most efficient route based on your specific consular jurisdiction.
What happens if my Italian citizenship or residency application is rejected?
Rejections typically stem from missing or incorrect documentation, failure to meet income thresholds, unresolved criminal record issues, or procedural errors. MG Law provides legal appeals before Italian administrative or civil courts, as well as re-submission with corrected documentation.
Do I need to speak Italian to obtain Italian citizenship?
For citizenship by descent: no Italian language test is required. For citizenship by marriage or naturalisation: a B1-level Italian language certification (CELI or equivalent) is required. MG Law can direct clients to accredited language programmes and examination centres.
Can I manage the entire process remotely without travelling to Italy?
For most pathways — including citizenship by descent via Italian courts and investor visa applications — yes. MG Law provides full remote management of documentation, apostilles, certified translations, and legal filings via power of attorney. Whether a physical presence in Italy is required at any stage depends on the chosen pathway; our team advises clients on this at the outset.
What documents are required for citizenship by descent in Italy?
For each generation in the line of descent: birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates (where applicable), and naturalisation or absence-of-naturalisation records from the country of emigration. All documents originating outside Italy must be apostilled and certified translated into Italian. MG Law coordinates the entire document collection process internationally.
What is Italy's Golden Visa minimum investment?
Italy’s Investor Visa requires a minimum investment of €250,000 in an Italian innovative startup, €500,000 in an Italian company, €2,000,000 in Italian government bonds, or €1,000,000 as a philanthropic donation to a qualifying Italian institution.
