News has been circulating online and across social media regarding a ruling dated March 12 and published on March 23, 2026, in which the Court of Venice granted citizenship by descent to two Brazilian citizens.
What is the case about?
The case involves two Brazilian applicants descended from an Italian ancestor born in the Veneto region in 1861. Their case appears to have been filed in November 2025, which means the new law should apply. Under the new legal framework, however, they would not qualify, because their Italian ancestor possibly falls outside the new generational limit (first or second-degree ascendant).
Why is there uncertainty?
However, it is important to avoid jumping to conclusions and remain cautious.
The court’s decision makes no mention of Law No. 74/2025. This raises two possible explanations: either the judge chose to apply the previous rules, on the basis that citizenship is a right acquired at birth and therefore the new law cannot be applied retroactively, or it may simply have been an oversight.
What happens next?
Further court decisions will be issued in the coming months to clarify how the new law should be interpreted and applied. For now, this ruling cannot be considered a key and definitive precedent.
This article was written by Giuditta De Ricco, Francesca Falchi and Ginevra Gaggelli.
