So, you found out your grandfather was born in Naples, rolled his own pasta, and shouted “Mamma mia!” without irony, and now you want to get an Italian passport. Cute. Adorable, even. But before you start daydreaming about espresso on the Amalfi Coast with your shiny new EU passport, here’s the plot twist: Italy just changed the rules.

And not in a “slight tweak” kind of way. More like they were playing political Uno and threw down a Reverse + Draw Four card that slammed the brakes on thousands of hopeful applicants. Whether you’ve been chasing down dusty birth certificates for two years, or you just got excited because Nona’s last name ends in a vowel, this update matters.

As of May 2025, Italy passed Decree Law 36, the legal equivalent of an espresso shot—strong, fast, and a little bitter. Let’s break it down: what actually changed, who’s still in the game, who just got punted from the passport party, and where the clever workarounds still live.

In May 2025, the Italian Senate and Chamber of Deputies approved Decree Law 36. More than 80 amendments were proposed. How many were accepted? Zero. Zilch. Nada. It was the legislative equivalent of Nona saying, “No, you will eat the ravioli I made, and you will like it.”

All that’s left is the president’s signature, which at this point is just ceremonial—like sprinkling parmesan on a dish that’s already plated. So yeah, it’s happening.

Here’s the headline: unless you submitted your paperwork or booked your consulate appointment before March 28, 2025, you’re stuck with the new rules.

If you got your application submitted or snagged an appointment confirmation before March 28th, you’re in. Doesn’t matter if your actual appointment is in 2026, 2030, or sometime after flying cars finally roll out—you’re covered under the old rules.

But for the rest of us mortals, the new rules say you need an Italian parent or grandparent who either:

Translation: if Grandpa Giuseppe became American, Canadian, or Australian before he passed—even if he was still making gnocchi by hand—you’re out. The new law doesn’t care when you were born, it only cares about what citizenship status your parent or grandparent had when they died.

Oh, and your adult kids? They don’t automatically ride your coattails anymore. Even if you get recognized, your grown children have to qualify separately. Brutal.

Here’s who’s officially locked out:

If your connection to Italy is more “we had pasta on Sundays” than “Mom was born in Milan,” this door just slammed shut harder than a cranky Nona during her afternoon nap.

Got kids? Italy’s got rules. If your child is under 18 when you’re recognized, you have until May 31, 2026 to register them. Miss the deadline, and your kiddo has to live in Italy for two full years before turning 18 to qualify.

If your child is born or adopted after the new law takes effect, you’ve got a one-year window to register them. Adopted kids are treated like biological kids, but the clock starts at adoption, not birth.

Bottom line: with kids, precision counts. Italy may move slowly with trains and bureaucracy, but their deadlines are lightning fast.

If you (or your ancestor) lost Italian citizenship by naturalizing in another country before August 15, 1992, you might be able to get it back. And the good news: you don’t even have to move to Italy anymore. Between July 1, 2025 and December 31, 2027, you can reacquire Italian citizenship at your local consulate.

Catches:

It’s a second chance—but only if you’re alive and willing to play by the new rules.

Here’s one of the biggest surprises: Italy is offering a 2-year residency path to citizenship. That’s shorter than the old 3-year path.

The rules:

It’s basically Italy saying: “Okay, maybe you’re not blood enough, but if you’re serious about moving in, let’s date long-term.”

Here’s the fun part—Italy’s lawyers are already sharpening their pencils.

So yeah—this isn’t over. It’s halftime.

Italian citizenship just went from “collect documents, get passport” to “complete side quests, survive a boss battle, and maybe sue the government.” But it’s not hopeless.

Italy may have made things harder, but the game isn’t over. And if Italy has taught us anything, it’s that some of the best rewards come after a delay.

👉Want the full breakdown of Italy’s new citizenship law, your eligibility options, and the strategies real expats are using right now? Download our complete Italian Citizenship Survival Guide and take the guesswork out of your next move. Grab your copy here.