Italian Citizenship & Migration policies
Mia Delafano
Jus Sanguinis vs Jus Soli
What is the difference
- Jus Sanguinis ("right of blood") -> Citizenship passes from an Italian parent. Italy's main rule (Law 91/1992)
- Jus Soli ("right of soil") -> Citizenship from birthplace. Very rare Italy will use this logic.
- Italy's system is ancestry-led; being born in Italy does not man you are garunteed citizenship.
How to become an Italian Citizen today
- Decent (Jure Sanguinis) -> Prove you have a long line of Italians
- Ancestor alive after Mar 17 1861
- No naturalizartion before child's birth
- Court route for women pre-1948
- Be born in Italy -> Born to foreign parents + legally resident since birth -> may apply at 18 (within 1 year).
- Residency (Naturalization) -> 10 yrs (non-EU) of legal residence + proof of income + clean record
- By Marriage
PROJECTS
2002 - Bossi-Fini Law 189/2002
- Stricter entry rules + annual Decreto Flussi worker quotas.
2018 - Security Decree DL 113/2018
- Cut humanitarian permits; added B1 language and 48-month processing.
2020 - DL 130/2020
- Rebalanced protections; cut processing to 24-36 months
2023 - Cutro Decree
- Reduced special protection; expanded border detention + fast-track asylum
2023-25 - new decreto flussi plan
- Admits around 452,000 non-EU workers over 3 years
2024 - EU migration & Asylum pact
- Adopted EU-wide rules (apply from 2026).
What Italy thinks of Ius Soli vs Ius Sanguinis
- Italy still sides more with jus sanguinis
- There have been reform attemps fo 'tempered jus soli" around 2017-2024
- There is also a growing focus on school-based integration (A.K.A. Ius Culturae & Ius scholae bills)
- Ius Culturae ("right of culture") = proposes citizenship for minors who complete education in Italy - Ius Schole ("right of school") specific bill -> citizenship after at least 5 years of schooling in Italy (for children born there or arrived before 12). This is still not a law.
Reflection
The citizen system in Italy puts a focus on heritage over physical location, even years later. From the podcast, it is clear how many people will grow up as Italian, even if it is not defined as that on paper. Economic needs (Bossi-Fini -> Flussi plans) as well as European migration does demand some sort of change, but Italy still puts priority on blood. Ius culturae/scholae reforms do try to help make a change for that demand by conecting school with citizenship. This whole system shows the very delicate balance between tradition and the change going on in Europe.
Discussion 8a
Mia Delafano
Created on October 30, 2025
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Transcript
Italian Citizenship & Migration policies
Mia Delafano
Jus Sanguinis vs Jus Soli
What is the difference
How to become an Italian Citizen today
PROJECTS
2002 - Bossi-Fini Law 189/2002
2018 - Security Decree DL 113/2018
2020 - DL 130/2020
2023 - Cutro Decree
2023-25 - new decreto flussi plan
2024 - EU migration & Asylum pact
What Italy thinks of Ius Soli vs Ius Sanguinis
- Italy still sides more with jus sanguinis
- There have been reform attemps fo 'tempered jus soli" around 2017-2024
- There is also a growing focus on school-based integration (A.K.A. Ius Culturae & Ius scholae bills)
- Ius Culturae ("right of culture") = proposes citizenship for minors who complete education in Italy - Ius Schole ("right of school") specific bill -> citizenship after at least 5 years of schooling in Italy (for children born there or arrived before 12). This is still not a law.Reflection
The citizen system in Italy puts a focus on heritage over physical location, even years later. From the podcast, it is clear how many people will grow up as Italian, even if it is not defined as that on paper. Economic needs (Bossi-Fini -> Flussi plans) as well as European migration does demand some sort of change, but Italy still puts priority on blood. Ius culturae/scholae reforms do try to help make a change for that demand by conecting school with citizenship. This whole system shows the very delicate balance between tradition and the change going on in Europe.