Italian citizenship to minor children: do not miss May 31st, 2026 deadline

Jun 05, 2025

Law No, 74 introduces a “Grace Period” to register Minor Children of Italian citizens by descent

Law No. 74/2025 sets a key deadline for parents seeking to have their minor children recognized as Italian citizens. According to the provisions of the new law, if the child was under the age of 18 on May 24th, 2025, the Italian parent may submit a declaration (which must be subscribed by both parents) at the competent Italian Consulate by no later than May 31st, 2026.

In the event that, between May 24th, 2025 and May 31st, 2026, the minor reaches 18 years of age, the declaration must be submitted direclty by him/her within the same deadline.

It is important to note that the parent must have already been recognized as an Italian citizen by descent (iure sanguinis) in order to submit this declaration.

In the light of potential delays in processing by the Italian authorities, it is advisable for eligible parents to act promptly. Declaring the intent to recognize the minor child’s citizenship status well in advance of the deadline could help ensure timely registration and avoid complications as the cut-off date approaches.

What happens after May 31st, 2026?

After May 31st, 2026 a minor child may still acquire Italian citizenship, but different conditions will apply depending on the child’s age.

• If the declaration of intent to acquire citizenship is submitted by the Italian parent within one year from the child’s birth, the child may still obtain citizenship without additional requirements.
• However, if the minor is older than one year, the parent must first submit the declaration of intent and the child will be required to reside in Italy for two years following the submission of the declaration.

For this reason, families may consider to act within the current window – before May 31st, 2026 – to benefit from the simplified procedure.

Feel free to contact us and we will be happy to assist you with Minor Children’s Registration Service.

This article was written by Giuditta De Ricco and Ginevra Gaggelli.

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This article is posted by Mazzeschi Web Content Manager. Should you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@mazzeschi.it. Follow us on social media @StudioMazzeschi to receive the latest updates.

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