March 14, 2026

Since Italy became a country in 1861, there has been a surefire way to know who is and isn’t an Italian citizen: look at their parents.

 

Since Italy's unification in 1861, citizenship has been determined by parentage, with the 1865 civil code affirming that children born to Italian citizens are themselves Italian, but this long-standing principle of ius sanguinis now faces a major challenge as the Constitutional Court signals it supports the government’s move to alter these rules, potentially cutting off citizenship rights for descendants of Italians abroad and dashing hopes for diasporic return, with a detailed verdict expected soon, much to the dismay of those hoping to preserve Italy’s 160-year tradition.

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