Italy Closes Citizenship Loophole, Ending Rights for Millions with Italian Roots
Italy’s Constitutional Court has indicated it will uphold a new law restricting citizenship for those born abroad, a decision that reverses the country’s long-standing principle of citizenship by descent, or *ius sanguinis*. This controversial 2025 law limits citizenship to individuals with an Italian-born parent or grandparent, and requires that parent or grandparent to have held sole Italian citizenship at the time of the descendant’s birth. The ruling is seen as a blow to the vast Italian diaspora who have historically relied on the principle of *ius sanguinis* to claim citizenship, and may hinder efforts to repopulate aging Italian towns. While some lawyers believe legal battles may continue at the EU level or through Italy’s highest court, this decision marks a significant shift in Italian citizenship policy.
John Q. Hosedrinker