Law No. 74 of May 23, 2025, converting Decree Law 36/2025, amended Article 17, paragraph 1, of Law No. 91/1992, allowing former Italian citizens, including those residing abroad, in certain cases and for a limited time period, to reacquire Italian citizenship by submitting a declaration.
The new Article 17, paragraph 1, of Law No. 91/1992 applies when the following requirements are met:
- The applicant must have been born in Italy or have been resident in Italy for at least two consecutive years;
- The applicant must have lost Italian citizenship no later than August 15, 1992, in one of the following cases:
- Voluntarily acquired a foreign citizenship no later than August 15, 1992, and established residence abroad (articolo 8, numero 1°, della legge n. 555/1912);
- Having automatically acquired a foreign citizenship (not by their own choice), they renounced Italian citizenship and established residence abroad (articolo 8, numero 2°, della legge n. 555/1912);
- Was a minor child (not emancipated) of someone who lost citizenship, shared residence with the parent, and acquired the citizenship of a foreign state (articolo 12 della legge n. 555/1912).
The new Article 17, paragraph 1, of Law No. 91/1992 does NOT apply to:
- Former citizens born abroad who have not resided in Italy for at least two consecutive years;
- Those who lost citizenship after August 15, 1992 (for any reason);
- Those who lost citizenship under articolo 8, numero 3° (i.e., anyone who, “having accepted employment with a foreign government or entered military service for a foreign power, persisted in such service despite the Italian government’s order to leave such employment or service within a specified time”);
- Those who did not exercise the option provided by articolo 5, secondo comma, della legge n. 123/1983 (a minor child, including adopted, of an Italian father or mother who, in case of dual citizenship, could choose one citizenship within one year of reaching the age of majority).
Italian women married to British citizens before January 1, 1948, who acquired British citizenship and consequently lost Italian citizenship under art. 10 comma 3 della legge 555/1912, can only reacquire Italian citizenship through judicial recognition, and not through consular offices.