New Rules Effective from 2026 for minors born abroad
The Budget Law for 2026, effective January 1, 2026, introduces some changes to the process of acquiring Italian citizenship for minors born abroad to Italian citizens by descent.
What changes for those born abroad after May 25, 2025?
These changes affect the acquisition of Italian citizenship for children born abroad starting May 25, 2025, to at least one parent with Italian citizenship by descent:
- Parents may submit a declaration of intent to acquire citizenship within three years of the child’s birth (instead of the previous one-year period).
- Declarations submitted within three years of the child’s birth will be free of charge (the €250 fee to the Ministry of the Interior is no longer required).
Are these changes retroactive?
No, these changes are not retroactive.
The changes established by the Budget Law are not retroactive and are effective as of January 1, 2026. Therefore, the free application process will apply only to applications submitted on or after this date, and no refunds will be provided for applications submitted prior to January 1, 2026.
Minors Born Abroad Before May 25, 2025
Declarations of intent to acquire Italian citizenship made by parents on behalf of minors born before May 25, 2025, must be submitted by May 31, 2026.
The €250 fee will continue to be required for these applications.
Article written by Giuditta De Ricco
