Gaining Italian citizenship through descent (jure sanguinis) is more complicated than most people realize. It’s not as simple as saying, “I have an Italian grandmother, so I qualify.” If only it were that easy! Not only are the rules complex, but the Italian government keeps changing them—sometimes even mid-process.
Last October, a new rule appeared that has since been referred to as the “Minor Issue”. This rule affects people applying through consulates, stating that if the father or guardian of a minor born in the U.S. naturalized, then the child also lost their right to Italian citizenship. Before this, children born in the U.S. to Italian parents were considered dual citizens—automatically American by birth and Italian by descent.
Today, three related cases were heard before the Corte di Cassazione (Italy’s Supreme Court). One attendee, Dominic DiMarco, who was recognized as a citizen in 2023, attended the hearing and shared a hopeful update on Reddit. He was the only non-native-born Italian in the room.
According to Dominic:
“All indications are positive. The prosecution changed their stance and it’s all but certain: The minor issue will not stand. Expect a ruling in the next few months.”
Even though the Minor Issue isn’t directly related to the March 28 decree or 1948 cases, Dominic spoke with many of the top attorneys in this space—and they all had the same message:
“Fight for your Rights 💪.”
What the Experts Are Saying:
- The decree and new rules may violate both the Italian Constitution and EU law.
- Many consulates have shut down appointment availability, which opens the door to legal action: if you can’t book an appointment, you may have grounds to go through the courts instead.
- Political pressure is growing quickly.
📬 Take Action: Contact Italian Senator Francesca La Marca, who represents North America, at francesca.lamarca@senato.it. She has publicly opposed the decree and is fighting for the rights of Italians abroad.
Andiamo! (Let’s go!)
If you’re looking for help navigating this process, Dominic runs a company called Full Service Italian Citizenship. He can assist with researching and gathering documents or take over the whole process if needed. (This isn’t a paid plug—I just think it’s a good resource worth sharing.)
Helpful Links:
- 📰 La Marca’s press release (AISE)
- 🗞 CNN: Italy slams door on people hoping to claim citizenship through great-grandparents
- 🧳 VisaVerge: Italy Narrows Path to Citizenship Through Family Ties
- 📢 Italianismo: The decree could become a political mistake—Italians abroad must react at the polls
- 🧑⚖️ My Lawyer in Italy: Justice for Italian Descendants—Understanding the 2025 Citizenship Reform
Stay informed, stay engaged, and most of all—stay hopeful. We’re in this together.