History of Italian nationality law in Timeline

Italian nationality law is primarily governed by Law 91/1992. It's based on the principle of jus sanguinis (right of blood), meaning citizenship is generally acquired through parentage, regardless of birth location. Jus soli (right of soil) only applies in limited circumstances, such as when a child is born in Italy to unknown or stateless parents. Foreigners can acquire citizenship through marriage to an Italian citizen (after a certain period of residency) or through naturalization, which requires a period of legal residency in Italy (typically 10 years, but shorter for EU citizens or those with Italian ancestry). As an EU member, Italian citizens enjoy freedom of movement within the EU and EFTA countries.

June 1912: Repeal of Incompatible Rules

As of June 1912, "Every rule of the law 555 of 13 June 1912 which is incompatible with the provisions of this present law stands repealed."

June 1912: Law 555 of 1912 in effect

In June 1912, Law 555 was in effect, and it, together with opinion number 105 of 15 April 1983, children of an Italian citizen mother and an alien father born before 1 January 1948 remained subject to it.

June 1912: Law 555 of 1912 on Italian Citizenship

In June 1912, Law number 555 "On Italian Citizenship" established the primacy of the husband in marriage and the subordination of the wife and children to his citizenship.

June 1912: Law number 555 Passed

In June 1912, Law number 555 concerning citizenship was passed, establishing new regulations regarding Italian citizenship.

June 1912: Unconstitutionality of Article 1 of Law 555 of 1912

In June 1912, The decision determined that the first clause of article 1 of this law was in clear contrast with the constitution's articles 3 and 29. The Constitutional Court not only declared article 1 of law 555 of 13 unconstitutional where it did not foresee the Italian citizenship of the child of an Italian citizen mother; but also article 2 of the same law where it sanctions a child's acquisition of a mother's citizenship only in limited cases.

July 1912: Law number 555 Took Effect

In July 1912, Law number 555, which had been passed in June, took effect, implementing the new citizenship regulations.

1912: Article 10 of law 555 of 1912

In 1912, Article 10 of law 555 stipulated that a married woman could not assume a citizenship different from that of her husband. If an Italian woman acquired a new citizenship while her husband remained Italian, she became a dual citizen unrecognized by the law regarding her new status.

1912: Law 555 of 1912

In 1912, Article 7 of Law 555 was still in effect, exempting dual citizens born in jus soli states from certain requirements. This law was relevant to those who acquired foreign nationality at birth.

1912: Law 555 of 1912 and Loss of Citizenship

In 1912, Law 555 established that the loss of Italian citizenship resulted in the inability to automatically pass citizenship to children born during the period of non-citizenship. The law underwent revision to meet the constitution's requirement of gender equality, impacting citizenship determination for children based on both parents' events.

1912: Article 10 Inspired by Legal Inferiority of Women

In 1912, article 10 was inspired by the concept that women were legally inferior to men and did not have full legal capacity.

July 1920: Territories Annexed

In July 1920, Law 379/2000 applied to persons who were born and residing in Italy's annexed territories from the Austro-Hungarian Empire prior to this date.

July 16, 1920: Ancestor Left Italy After July 16, 1920

If your Italian ancestor was born in the following regions, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, or Trentino Alto-Adige, in order to apply for the Italian citizenship, you must prove that the ancestor left Italy after July 16, 1920

1939: Civil Code of 1939

In 1939, Article 144 of the Civil Code exemplified the precept of the wife's subordination to the husband, reflecting the legal system's prevailing view.

July 1943: Collapse of Fascist Regime

On July 25, 1943, the laws limiting the 1848 constitution of the Kingdom of Italy were partly abolished, coinciding with the collapse of the fascist regime.

April 1944: Salerno Pact Postpones Referendum

In April 1944, the Salerno Pact, agreed upon between the National Liberation Committee and the Monarchy, led to the postponement of the referendum on whether Italy should be governed by a monarchy or a republic until the end of the war.

June 1946: Referendum Held

In June 2, 1946, a referendum was held where all Italian men and women 21 years of age and older voted on two ballots. One being the Institutional Referendum on the choice between a monarchy and a republic, the other being for the delegation of 556 deputies to the Constituent Assembly.

December 1947: Current Italian Constitution Approved and Published

In December 1947, the current Italian constitution was approved by the Constituent Assembly on December 22 and published in the Official Gazette on December 27.

January 1948: Date 1 January 1948

According to the principle of unconstitutionality, the pronouncement of unconstitutionality of the pre-constitutional rules produces effects only upon the relations and situations not yet concluded as of the date 1 January 1948, not being capable of retroacting earlier than the constitution's entry into force.

January 1948: Italian Citizenship by Birth

In January 1948, Decision number 30 of 1983 retroacts for births beginning as early as January 1. The mother must have been holding Italian citizenship when the child was born for the transmission to occur as a consequence of this rule.

January 1948: Retroactive Extension to Marriages

In January 1948, Italy officially expressed that the benefit of this decision extends retroactively to marriages as early as January 1, deeming it unconstitutional for women to be deprived of Italian citizenship if they acquired a new citizenship automatically by marriage.

January 1948: Retroactivity of Decision 30 of 1983

In January 1948, Opinion number 105 of 15 April 1983 determined that the effectiveness of the decision could not retroact further than the moment when the contradiction between the old law and the new constitution emerged, which was January 1, the date of the constitution's entry into effect.

January 1948: Marriage and Naturalization

In January 1948, children born to Italian mothers who were foreign naturalized due to marriages on or after this date were exempt from certain citizenship requirements.

January 1948: Retroactive Application of Decision 87/1975

In January 1948, the decision's accepted retroactive application extends back to January 1, being on the merit of the constitution.

January 1948: Constitution's Entry into Force

January 1948 marks the date of the republican constitution's entry into force, which impacted citizenship laws related to children of Italian mothers and alien fathers born before this date.

January 1948: Italian Republic Constitution in Effect

On January 1, 1948, the constitution of the Italian Republic officially came into effect, marking a significant shift in the legal framework.

January 1948: Current Italian Constitution Took Effect

On January 1, 1948, the current Italian constitution, which had been approved and published in December 1947, officially took effect, shaping the country's legal framework.

January 1948: Maternal Line Citizenship

On or after January 1948, Italian citizenship is granted through the maternal line. An Italian citizen may be born in a country whose citizenship is acquired at birth by all persons born there, resulting in dual citizenship.

January 1948: Qualifying Italian Parent

Prior to January 1948, citizenship could typically only be derived from the child's father, with some exceptions. This date is significant for determining how citizenship is inherited through parental lineage.

1948: Discrimination against woman

After a 2009 decision, Italian courts awarded citizenship in cases where the ascendant emigrated in 1860 (before Italy formed a state). However, the descendants of an Italian woman who had married a non-Italian citizen before 1948, still find themselves precluded from reacquiring Italian citizenship, and their only possible remedy is to appear before an Italian judge.

1948: Citizenship Limitations for Women

Before 1948, a minor Italian girl could retain her citizenship after her father's naturalization, but she may not have been able to pass her citizenship to her children.

1948: Italian woman married a foreign husband

Before 1948, the descendants of an Italian woman who had married a foreign husband and lost Italian citizenship on account of her marriage often found themselves precluded from reacquiring Italian citizenship, and their only possible remedy was to appear before an Italian judge.

1951: Founding Member of European Communities

In 1951, Italy became a founding member of the European Communities (EC), which later developed into the European Union (EU).

1957: Treaty of Rome

In 1957, the Treaty of Rome established the freedom of movement for workers within the European Communities, allowing Italian citizens to work in other EC/EU countries.

April 1965: Requirement Applied

Beginning in April 1965, certain requirements were applicable to people born between April 27, 1965, and May 17, 1967.

May 1967: Requirement Applied

Until May 1967, certain requirements were applicable to people born between April 27, 1965, and May 17, 1967.

March 1975: Legal Adulthood Age Change

Prior to March 10, 1975, legal Italian adulthood was age 21; afterward, it became age 18. This change impacts citizenship retention and transmission through ancestors who naturalized in another country before reaching legal adulthood.

April 1975: Constitutional Court Decision Number 87

On April 9, 1975, the Constitutional Court's decision number 87 declared the unconstitutionality of article 10, third paragraph, which foresaw a woman's loss of citizenship independently from her free will.

1975: Decision 87 of 1975

By effect of decision 87 of 1975, the right to Italian citizenship status should be recognised for the applicant who was born abroad to the son of an Italian woman married to an alien within the effective period of law 555 of 1912 who was in consequence of her marriage deprived of Italian citizenship.

1975: Law 151 of 1975 and Retroactive Application

In 1975, Law 151 confirmed decision 87/1975 for marriages after its entry and authorized women who lost citizenship by marriage to reacquire it with a petition. The retroactive application of decision 87/1975 extends back to January 1, 1948.

1975: Article 219 Introduced into Law 151 of 1975

In 1975, as a result of the finding of unconstitutionality in decision 87/1975, within the scope of Italy's reform of family law, article 219 was introduced into law 151, which sanctioned for women the "reacquisition" (more properly, recognition) of citizenship.

1979: First European Parliament Elections

In 1979, Italian citizens participated in their first European Parliament elections.

January 1983: Decision 30 of 1983 Pronounced

In January 28, 1983, Decision number 30 was pronounced by the Constitutional Court.

February 1983: Decision 30 of 1983 Deposited and Published

In February 1983, Decision number 30 was deposited in chancellery on February 9, and published in "Official Gazette" number 46 on February 16.

April 1983: Automatic Italian Citizenship Ended for Foreign Women Marrying Italian Men

Before April 27, 1983, foreign women marrying Italian men automatically became Italian citizens. Article 10 of Law 555 of 1912 also provided that a married woman could not assume a citizenship different from that of her husband.

April 1983: Opinion Number 105 of 1983

In April 1983, Opinion number 105, in combination with a provision, stipulated that children born before January 1948 to an Italian mother and an alien father were subject to the old Law 555 of June 1912.

April 1983: Law Granting Automatic Citizenship and Ending Marriage Citizenship

In April 1983, a law granted automatic Italian citizenship to minor children (under age 18) of at least one parent holding Italian citizenship on its entry date into effect (April 27, 1983). The law ended the practice of granting automatic citizenship to women by marriage and obligated dual citizens to opt for a single citizenship at 18 years of age.

April 1983: State Council Opinion 105

In April 1983, the State Council, Section V, gave opinion number 105 in a consultative session determining that individuals born to an Italian citizen mother only as far back as January 1, 1948, could be considered Italian citizens, given the effectiveness of Decision 30 of 1983 by the Constitutional Court.

April 1983: Law Number 123 Passed

On April 21, 1983, law number 123 was passed, which established that all minor children of an Italian citizen father or mother, including an adoptive parent, were Italian citizens by birth.

April 1983: Foreign Women and Marriage

Prior to April 27, 1983, foreign women who married Italian men automatically became Italian citizens, often retaining that citizenship even if their husbands later naturalized.

April 1983: Entry of Law 123 of 1983 Instituted Citizenship Requirement

With the entry of law 123 of 1983 into effect on April 27, 1983, Italy instituted a requirement of selecting a single citizenship among those Italians with multiple citizenship reaching the age of majority on or after April 27, 1983.

1983: Decision 30 of 1983

By effect of decision 30 of 1983, the right to Italian citizenship status should be recognised for the applicant who was born abroad to the son of an Italian woman married to an alien within the effective period of law 555 of 1912 who was in consequence of her marriage deprived of Italian citizenship.

1983: Constitution Unimplemented Until 1983

From the time of its enactment until 1983, the constitution of the Republic stayed unimplemented, in the matter of citizenship.

May 1986: Requirement Repealed

On May 18, 1986, the requirement for Italian citizenship selection was repealed, affecting individuals born between April 27, 1965, and May 17, 1967. From May 18, 1986, to August 14, 1994, those affected could belatedly select or amend their citizenship status.

1990: Council of State Opinion on Dual Citizenship

In 1990, a Council of State opinion clarified that the requirement to select a single citizenship within one year after reaching the age of majority (article 5) did not apply if the non-Italian citizenship was acquired through birth in a jus soli country.

February 1992: Changes to law number 91

In February 1992, Law 124 of March 2006 introduced changes to law number 91 concerning the recognition of Italian citizenship for nationals of Istria, Fiume, and Dalmatia and their descendants.

August 1992: Multiple citizenship permitted

In August 1992, Italian law explicitly permitted multiple citizenship under certain conditions if acquired on or after 16 August 1992.

August 1992: Law 91/1992 in Force

In August 1992, Law 91/1992, the primary law governing nationality of Italy, came into force, defining the current regulations for Italian citizenship.

1992: Laws After 1992

After 1992, subsequent laws altered access to Italian citizenship, extending it to certain categories of citizens who had been excluded due to historical war events.

1992: Micheletti v. Cantabria

In 1992, the European Court of Justice case Micheletti v. Cantabria established that EU member states were not permitted to discriminate between traditional citizens and those with citizenship through descent from another EU state.

1992: Maastricht Treaty

In 1992, the Maastricht Treaty created European Union citizenship, extending free movement rights to all nationals of EU member states, regardless of their employment status.

August 1994: Belated Selections End

Until August 1994, individuals subject to the repealed requirement were entitled to make belated selections of Italian citizenship, or amend previously made selections of foreign citizenship.

1994: European Economic Area

In 1994, the establishment of the European Economic Area further expanded free movement rights to include nationals of EFTA member states, excluding Switzerland.

December 2000: Law No. 379 of 2000

In December 2000, Law No. 379 was enacted, providing for the recognition of Italian citizenship for individuals born and residing in territories formerly belonging to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and their descendants.

2000: Law 379/2000

In 2000, Law 379/2000 contained provisions to recognize Italian citizenship for those persons who were born and residing in Italy's annexed territories from the Austro-Hungarian Empire prior to 15 July 1920. The recognition was available also to their descendants.

January 2001: Auto-declaration permitted

From January 23, 2001, individuals acquiring another citizenship could send an auto-declaration of acquisition of foreign citizenship by post to the Italian consulate in their country of residence.

March 2001: Notification no longer necessary

From March 31, 2001, notification of any kind is no longer necessary when acquiring another citizenship.

2002: Free Movement Agreement with EU

In 2002, a separate free movement agreement between Switzerland and the EU came into force.

2004: Decision Number 3331 of 2004

In 2004, the United Sections reversed its position in decision number 3331.

March 2006: Law No. 124 of 2006

In March 2006, Law No. 124 was enacted, concerning the recognition of Italian citizenship for nationals of Istria, Fiume, and Dalmatia and their descendants.

2006: Law 124/2006

In 2006, Law 124/2006 allowed individuals who were Italian citizens residing in territories ceded from Italy to Yugoslavia at the time of their cession to reclaim Italian citizen status.

2009: Court of Rome Decision

In 2009, the Court of Rome (Tribunale di Roma) awarded Italian citizenship in over 500 cases to descendants of female Italian citizens born before 1948, and to descendants of Italian women who married non-Italian citizens before 1948.

December 2010: Law 379/2000 Provisions Expired

In December 2010, The provisions for recognition of Italian citizenship under law 379/2000 expired.

April 2014: €300 fee implemented

In April 2014, a €300 fee was implemented for citizenship applications. Specifically, Law n. 66 was enacted on April 24, 2014.

June 2014: Law n. 89 enacted

In June 2014, Law n. 89 was enacted on June 23, 2014. This law related to the €300 fee for citizenship applications and was passed by the Renzi Cabinet led by Matteo Renzi.

March 2025: Applications from 29 March 2025

Applications submitted from 29 March 2025 are subject to new rules regarding the transmission of Italian citizenship to descendants of Italian emigrants.

March 2025: Decree-Law No. 36 of 2025

With Law No. 74 of May 2025 and Decree-Law No. 36 of 28 March 2025, the transmission of Italian citizenship to descendants of Italian emigrants is no longer unrestricted.

March 28, 2025: Application Deadline

Applications submitted by March 28, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Rome time are subject to specific conditions.

May 2025: Law No. 74 of 2025

With Law No. 74 of May 2025 and Decree-Law No. 36 of 28 March 2025, the transmission of Italian citizenship to descendants of Italian emigrants is no longer unrestricted.