Studio Settebello - Articles #RelocationStudio Settebello - Articles #Relocationhttps://www.studiosettebello.com/articles/tag/relocationThu, 20 Aug 2026 17:24:26 +0200http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[Jure Sanguinis]]>https://www.studiosettebello.com/articles/post/jure-sanguinis-the-laws-explainedAre you navigating the complexities of Italian citizenship by descent (Jure Sanguinis)? Recent legislative changes—including new rules regarding “The Minor Issue” and the impact of Decreto Legge 36/2025—have significantly altered eligibility requirements.]]>

The Laws Explained

There are a few things you need to know about Italian citizenship by descent (also known as Jure Sanguinis or Jus Sanguinis) before you can determine if you are still eligible under the new laws.


Previously, those with Italian heritage who could trace their ancestry back and collect the vital documents to prove it, could claim citizenship. In recent years, the number of people applying for recognition has boomed. Consulate appointments have become increasingly impossible to book leading to many applicants choosing to pursue their case in court. 

        The first blow to those seeking recognition of their Italian citizenship came on the 3rd of October 2024 when the Gazzetta Ufficiale posted a circolare that reinterpreted the laws thus anyone with “The Minor Issue” was rendered ineligible. 

“The Minor Issue” is a way to describe anyone whose last Italian born ancestor naturalized abroad before the next in line became an adult. Prior to 1975 the age of adulthood was 21 years old, after 1975 the age was lowered to 18. 

After the circolare, many applicants shifted to an alternative line of Italian descent in order to keep the dream alive. While many Italian men naturalized in order to work legally after moving abroad, oftentimes their wives did not. In cases where the female ancestor was also born in Italy, but did NOT naturalize, the application could be processed through her. If the female ancestor gave birth to the next in line before 1948, the applicant has to take their case to Italian court. 1948 cases cannot be processed at a consulate or via residency in Italy. Although 1948 cases are still considered valid, your line must still be eligible under the Decreto Legge (Decree Law) 74/2025.

On March 28th, 2025 the Gazzetta Ufficiale posted the Decreto Legge 36/2025 which was converted into law as Decreto Legge 74/2025, and primarily made the following changes to the rules governing Italian citizenship by descent:

  1. Only those whose parent or grandparent were the last Italian born ancestor have a viable line. (Anyone whose last Italian born ancestor is their great grandparent or further is no longer eligible).

  2. Only those whose last Italian born ancestor never naturalized abroad, remaining solely Italian for the duration of their life OR was solely Italian at the time of birth of the next in line if they are still living, are considered to be eligible for citizenship by descent. (Meaning, your last Italian born ancestor could not have naturalized at all!)

  3. Opened a "reacquisition window": Any persons who were previously Italian, but naturalized abroad before dual citizenship became legal in 1992 are now able to reclaim Italian citizenship via declaration at their local consulate with a deadline of December 2027.

  4. Minor Children: An extended deadline has been issued to parents, who now have until May 31, 2029 to file a declaration of intent for children who were under 18 on May 24, 2025 (when the law was passed). For births occurring after the new law was passed, parents must register or submit the declaration within three years of birth or adoption.


Other notable changes from the Decreto Legge include:

  • Two year expedited naturalization: for those whose last Italian born ancestor is a parent or grandparent, but that person naturalized. The applicant must be approved for a visa in order to relocate to Italy to become a permanent resident. After two years and successfully passing a B1 level Italian language exam, the applicant can gain Italian citizenship through naturalization after completing just two years of residency.


Updates:

         

  • In April and June of 2026, the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court of Cassation convened to deliberate the legality of the Decreto Legge and the October 3rd circolare. Unfortunately, the new laws have been upheld. 
  • On July 23rd 2026, the Constitutional Court officially suspended their proceedings and referred the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in order no. 147/2026. 
  • On July 26th 2026, the Minor Issue was overturned, but still contradicts the Decreto Legge 74/2025 in terms of whether or not your last Italian born ancestor's naturalization cut the line. The Constitutional Court recently delayed making an official decision on the Decreto Legge by referring the case to the CJEU (Court of Justice of the European Union) through order number 147/2026. 
  • August 10th 2026, upholding the decision made by the Supreme Court of Cassation's landmark Joint Sections Ruling No. 24045 of July 26, 2026, a new circolare was issued effectively reversing circolare 43347/2024, known for introducing the Minor Issue. There is no precedent for successfully applying this rule change to new applications, but you can now request an official re-evaluation if your case was denied specifically due to the October 3rd 2024 circolare.

   There’s a lot of misinformation online right now, and unfortunately, the more you read the easier it is to become confused. This new ruling on the Minor Issue is an important win, but there’s still a lot up in the air. For now, what’s certain is, if you have a parent or grandparent who never naturalized, you’re likely still eligible. 


We know just how heartbreaking these changes have been to the global Italian diaspora who were midway through the process of having their Italian citizenship recognized. Please know that if your goal was to relocate to Italy, or achieve Italian citizenship, there are still other pathways for you. Book a free introductory call to discover your options and how Studio Settebello can help you get started.


Book a Free Intro Call

Glossary


Ciroclare - an official notice, announcement, or advertisement sent to many people at the same time.

The Constitutional Court - Corte Costituzionale is the highest independent legal body that checks if laws follow the Italian Constitution, resolves power disputes between state branches or regions, and judges the President for high treason.

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) - ensures EU law is applied the same way in all member countries.

Decreto Legge -  decree law; a temporary law made by the government in an urgent situation.

Gazzetta Ufficiale - the official gazzette or journal; where the Italian government publishes new laws, decrees, regulations, and public notices.

Italian Consulate - an official regional office representing Italy in a foreign city, providing public services like passport issuance, visa processing, and citizen support. It operates under an Italian Embassy.

Jure Sanguinis / Jus Sanguinis - the law of blood; Italian citizenship by descent.

The Minor Issue - outlined in the October 3rd 2024 Circolare, cut the line for applicants applying for Italian citizenship by descent if their last Italian born ancestor naturalized abroad while the next in line was still of minor age.

Naturalization - a way of obtaining citizenship, other than the citizenship you are born with, in a country where you hold legal permanent residence.

The Supreme Court of Cassation - Corte Suprema di Cassazione is Italy's highest court of last resort for civil and criminal matters, ensuring laws are applied correctly and interpreted in a unified manner across the entire country.

]]>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 16:31:26 +0200<![CDATA[A Seemingly Insurmountable Task]]>https://www.studiosettebello.com/articles/post/a-seemingly-insurmountable-task-how-I-made-the-move-from-the-US-to-ItalyMoving to Italy felt like an impossible dream that no one believed in. Discover the real story of how I left the rat race behind and chose to pursue dual citizenship.]]>

How I Made the Move From the US to Italy

When I decided to move to Italy, I knew I couldn’t tell anyone about my plans. The guilt of hiding such a momentous dream evaporated when I finally shared my secret- no one believed me. Not my colleagues, not my neighbors, not my family, or friends. It wasn’t my dream of moving abroad that they doubted- rather, they never thought that I’d actually do it. Some smiled politely, others laughed out loud. My boss flat out refused to hire my replacement even after I’d put in my notice. To them, my dream was a joke.

Outwardly, I continued going through the motions of my old life, as if it were just a movie playing in the background to appease my ADHD, meanwhile I worked tirelessly towards what felt like an insurmountable goal.

In retrospect, making the decision felt  like flipping a switch. I went to bed one night and when I woke up the next morning it was decided. In reality, I had been dreaming of living in Europe since I was in high school. As each year of my adulthood passed by, I witnessed the probability of my dream coming true grow smaller and smaller. It was in 2022, when everyone was trying to pretend that COVID was over, and I was the brokest I’d ever been in my adult life, that I heard about Italian citizenship by descent. 

Although I’d heard about jure sanguinis before, more than a decade earlier from a co-worker, I thought my Italian ancestry was too far back for me to qualify. At the time, I was too overwhelmed as a full time student and employee to do any research. Back then I still had hope that I’d find a great job that would sponsor my move to Europe, I never even contemplated dual citizenship. Maybe it was a Tik-Tok video or a Facebook post, I don’t remember now, but in August of 2022 I realized that my sister and I just might be eligible and I dove in. 

The timing was perfect, though in the moment it didn’t feel that way. After COVID my career was gone. I was an under-employed, jaded millennial, disillusioned with US politics and the mirage of the American Dream. I was burnt out from the perpetual rat race and I didn’t want to worry anymore about my lack of health insurance snowballing me into bankruptcy. Don’t get me wrong, Europe has its share of problems too- especially Italy. It wasn’t so much a “grass is greener” situation as it was a “I’ve got nothing left to lose, why not throw caution to the wind?” It never feels like the right time to go for your dreams. I had already spent too much time playing the game according to everyone else’s rules. I figured if I was going to continue to be miserable, it might as well be because I tried and failed to do things my own way.

            It was terrifying. It still is sometimes. Sometimes I’m awestruck by the beautiful wonder of the ancient buildings in my town and the view of the Mediterranean Sea from my balcony- I pinch myself in disbelief.

This is my real life and I feel so lucky! 

            Other times I lament the loss of being able to jump in my car, swing by the dispensary, and grab a pint of Haagen-Dazs chocolate peanut butter ice cream on my way back home. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Making this move wasn’t about transplanting my old life onto a new backdrop, and if that is your mindset you’ll certainly fail. It was about challenging what my life could be if I embraced the change, shifted my perspective, and tried something different.


Moving abroad is an enormous feat, but not impossible. It was a series of well organized, measurable tasks. The process demanded patience and flexibility. Things going wrong, or even just differently from my expectations was the norm- so much so that when things went according to plan it made me suspicious. People ask me all the time “how did you do it?” My answer is that I chose it. Not once, not twice, I chose it every day. Every time I was challenged, every time it felt too hard, every time I just wanted to give up or would rather just not exist- I chose it. And I still do. I think that’s true about every hard thing we can do: the real trick isn’t knowing the exact series of steps, or all the potential pitfalls and pain points, it helps, but nothing will make your dreams come true if you are not actively choosing them every single time.


For more details about my genealogy research, preparing my documents for jure sanguinis, and my application in Italy check out my other articles: The Truth in The Cashbox;In The Absence of Evidence; and Piano, Piano.

And for an in depth guide on how to prepare yourself to make a successful move abroad, check out our Pre-Arrival Workbook.


Book a Free Introductory Call
]]>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 12:28:57 +0200<![CDATA[Piano, Piano]]>https://www.studiosettebello.com/articles/post/piano-piano-my-jure-sanguinis-application-in-italyFrom residency in Italy to complex bureaucracy, learn how careful preparation and the right local support can turn an impossible task into a success story. Read my journey and learn why navigating the process requires patience, local support, and to take things piano, piano.]]>

My Jure Sanguinis Application in Italy

        If you’ve spent any amount of time at all in the online communities regarding Jure Sanguinis you’ll know that applying in Italy is risky business- or so some would have you believe.

It’s true that a full blown move to Italy is no small undertaking, even if you only plan to stay for a year or so to process your recognition. Additionally, it’s critical to select a comune (city or town) that will be receptive to processing your residency and jure sanguinis application. Choose a comune too big and you’ll be met with government officials unwilling to take the time out of their busy schedules to deal with your application. Too small and you risk facing a clerk who isn’t at all familiar with the process. It’s important to understand that Italy isn’t the US, the bureaucracy works differently here, and if you’re not accustomed to it, it can make an application in Italy an impossible task.

Applying in Italy wasn’t always my plan. Although my goal was always to move abroad, I much preferred the plan where I became a recognized citizen through the consulate first without having to risk it all and move across the world. I knew that an application through the consulate would take at least two years to process, and that getting an appointment was difficult, but I really had no idea just how impossible it was until I tried. Before I was even certain that I qualified, I created a Prenot@mi account for the Italian Boston Consulate (in the region where I lived at the time). In 2022 I couldn’t even get onto the calendar page. I tried a midnight Rome time (CET), once a month when the appointments were released, on Thursdays, from the high speed wifi, from a different computer, from my phone, from a laptop, from a landline- the result was always the same, for months!

The day my sister and I were recognized as Italian citizens.

Finally I got onto the calendar in 2023, the soonest appointment was for Christmas Eve in 2029! I knew there was no way that appointment would stick, certain it was a mistake, I kept flipping through the pages. Month after month, red, red, red. Finally, I saw black! But I had skipped so far ahead, we were now into 2031. No. There was no way I was waiting a decade to have my citizenship recognized. There were already whispers of ‘The Minor Issue’, which luckily wasn’t an issue for my line, but I felt that if they could restrict the rules for one reason, other, more restrictive rules would be sure to follow. So, I focused and got to work. 

Document collection, amendments, apostille- I had it all covered. I was practicing my Italian every day, I was mapping out the comune and building an address book of all the places I would need to know in my day to day life. The one thing I couldn’t DIY was getting someone to respond to me about renting an apartment. After a tremendous amount of research, I found a service provider located in Italy who was willing to assist us. As part of her service, she contacted the comune to ensure they were willing to accept our application. It was a good thing she did, because the comune wasn’t willing to even look at our application until we held residency there for at least one year! She recommended a different comune, one she was familiar with, one where she knew they would accept our application, and knew of a landlord willing to rent to us. It wasn’t perfect, and there were plenty of bumps in the road, some of which could have been easily avoided with better planning, but she did what she said she would do- something I was unable to do for myself. For that, I will always be grateful.

The comune workers were some of the kindest people I’ve ever met. They appreciated my imperfect attempts at communicating in Italian, and calmed my nerves with a waive of their hands and the promise of ‘piano, piano’.


Piano, piano. An Italian phrase literally meaning ‘slowly, slowly’. 


It turned out that all of the work I did trying to prove my father’s paternity (In The Absence of Evidence) was unnecessary, as the comune worker decided that my grandfather’s name on his birth certificate was more than enough. Honestly, I was still glad I had it, better safe than sorry. We arrived at the end of May 2024 (which I truly do not recommend, plan on arriving in the fall or winter, because nothing ever gets accomplished over the summer in Italy). We had to nudge the comune a bit to get them to stop by our house to complete the residency check. Immediately after our residency was confirmed, we were able to make an appointment to submit our application for jure sanguinis at the end of July 2024. Like I said, nothing typically gets done over the summer, especially not in August. The circolare establishing ‘The Minor Issue’ came out on October 3rd 2024, which did not affect our line. And finally my sister and I were recognized by the middle of October 2024.

If we had waited even just a few months, we may have hit the Decreto Legge (Decree Law) 36/2025 of March 28th 2025, restricting jure sanguinis applicants to only those whose parent or grandparent was born in Italy, and also only those who did not naturalize, remaining solely Italian. Both of these pieces would have made my sister and I ineligible. To learn more about the current laws governing jure sanguinis check out our article Jure Sanguinis: The Laws Explained or book a free introductory call with us to find out how we can help you.


For a detailed breakdown of how to determine your legal pathway abroad and what to expect in your first 90 days after the move, download our free guide: The Relocation Roadmap.

Book a Free Intro Call
]]>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 12:28:57 +0200