On March 11, Italy’s Constitutional Court held a highly anticipated hearing regarding the new restrictions on Italian citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis) introduced by Law No. 74 of May 2025.

The case was referred by the Tribunal of Turin, which raised constitutional concerns about whether certain provisions of the law could violate the Italian Constitution. In particular, the court questioned whether the legislation could retroactively affect citizenship rights of individuals who were born under the previous legal framework.

The Constitutional Court’s Initial Statement

At the moment, the Constitutional Court has not yet published its full written judgment. However, shortly after the hearing, the Court released a brief press statement indicating that the constitutional arguments raised by the Tribunal of Turin were considered unfounded or inadmissible.

In simple terms, this means that the Court did not find the 2025 citizenship law unconstitutional.

As a result, Law No. 74/2025 currently remains in force.

However, this does not represent the Court’s full legal reasoning. The detailed written decision, which will explain the judges’ analysis and conclusions, is expected to be published within approximately 30 to 40 days.

What Issues Were Being Challenged?

The Tribunal of Turin had asked the Constitutional Court to evaluate whether parts of the new law violated key constitutional principles, particularly:

• The right to citizenship
• The prohibition of retroactive legislation
• The potential removal of citizenship rights from individuals born under the previous rules

This issue is especially relevant for people applying for Italian citizenship through their ancestry, since the law introduced new limitations on the recognition of citizenship by descent.

Important: This Decision Is Limited to One Case

A crucial point to understand is that the Court’s press statement refers only to the constitutional questions raised by the Tribunal of Turin.

The case itself involved Venezuelan citizens claiming Italian citizenship by descent, and the Court evaluated only the legal arguments presented in that particular proceeding.

This means the ruling does not automatically resolve all possible constitutional challenges to the new citizenship law.

More Legal Challenges Are Still Pending

In fact, additional constitutional challenges are already scheduled.

On June 9, the Constitutional Court will review new questions referred by the courts of Mantova and Campobasso, which have also raised concerns about whether the law is compatible with constitutional principles.

These upcoming hearings could provide another opportunity for judicial review of the legislation.

Another Key Hearing: April 14 Before the Court of Cassation

Separately, another important case will be heard on April 14 before the United Sections (Sezioni Unite) of the Italian Court of Cassation.

This hearing concerns issues related to: recognition of citizenship during minor age and other legal aspects affecting citizenship by descent claims

Historically, the United Sections of the Court of Cassation have consistently ruled that descendants of Italian citizens acquire Italian citizenship at birth, and that citizenship can only be lost through a voluntary renunciation by the individual.

For this reason, the upcoming hearing may also play an important role in shaping the interpretation of citizenship laws.

What This Means for Italian Citizenship Applicants

For now, the key takeaway is that:

• The 2025 citizenship law remains in force
• The Constitutional Court has not yet issued its full written decision
• Additional legal challenges are still pending

Because of these ongoing proceedings, the legal landscape surrounding Italian citizenship by descent (jus sanguinis) may continue to evolve in the coming months.

We Will Continue Monitoring the Situation

The full written decision of the Constitutional Court will likely provide a clearer picture of the legal reasoning behind the Court’s preliminary statement.

At the same time, the upcoming hearings before both the Constitutional Court and the Court of Cassation may further clarify how the new law will be interpreted and applied.

We will continue to monitor all developments and share updates as soon as new information becomes available.

Need Help Understanding How the New Law Affects You?

If you are considering applying for Italian citizenship by descent, it is important to understand how the new legal developments may affect your specific situation.

The team at Fast Track Italian Citizenship (FTIC) closely monitors changes in Italian citizenship law and provides professional guidance to individuals seeking recognition of their Italian citizenship.

If you would like personalized assistance or an evaluation of your eligibility, feel free to reach out to us. Our Italian Citizenship Experts can review your case and help you understand the best pathway forward.

👉 Contact FTIC – Italian Citizenship Experts to stay updated and to assess your eligibility for Italian citizenship.