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For decades, people of Italian descent have traced their ancestry to claim Italian citizenship, securing one of the world’s most powerful passports. But after years of overwhelming demand that clogged Italy’s legal and bureaucratic system, the government has now imposed strict limitations.
A Drastic Shift in Citizenship Law
Effective immediately, Italy will only grant citizenship to individuals with Italian parents or grandparents, significantly narrowing the eligibility criteria. The previous system allowed applicants to qualify if they could prove an Italian ancestor had been alive after 1861, leading to a flood of requests that paralyzed Italian consulates, courts, and municipal offices.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani justified the new policy by citing years of abuses, particularly by people who had little to no connection to Italy but sought a passport for travel and economic benefits.
A Crackdown on ‘Passport Shopping’
Tajani specifically pointed to a surge of South American applicants, many of whom, he suggested, were using their newfound citizenship to gain easier entry into Europe or the United States rather than embracing Italian culture or society.
“Being an Italian citizen is a serious thing,” Tajani emphasized at a press conference. “It’s not a game to get a passport in your pocket to go shopping in Miami.”
What This Means for Italian Descendants
The change marks a major shift in Italy’s approach to citizenship, which had previously encouraged descendants worldwide to reconnect with their heritage. With this new decree, millions who once saw Italian citizenship as an attainable goal will now find the door firmly shut.
Experts believe this decision will significantly reduce the backlog in Italian institutions, allowing them to refocus on domestic priorities. However, critics argue that the move severs a historical link between Italy and its diaspora, especially in countries with large Italian communities like Argentina, Brazil, and the United States.
Reporter’s Take: A Controversial but Necessary Reform?
This decision is bound to be polarizing. While Italy needed to unclog its bureaucratic system, many feel the move unfairly cuts off genuine descendants from their ancestral homeland. With a significant number of Italian communities in South America and the U.S., the policy change could create resentment among those who have long viewed Italy as part of their identity.
Whether this reform will solve the backlog crisis or spark new debates over national identity and heritage, one thing is certain—getting an Italian passport just became a lot harder.
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