Please note that by May 31, 2026, the declaration regarding the acquisition of Italian citizenship “by operation of law,” reserved for minor children of new Italian citizens, must be submitted. This requirement is necessary to allow for the automatic recognition of citizenship, as provided for by current legislation, without the need for further naturalization procedures.
The law provides that minor children automatically acquire citizenship when one of their parents becomes an Italian citizen. However, for the recognition to be valid and official, it is mandatory to submit the declaration within the prescribed deadline.
Deadline of May 31, 2026 for the Declaration of Acquisition of Italian Citizenship for Minor Children “by Operation of Law”
With reference to the recent legislative amendments concerning Italian citizenship, attention is drawn to the obligation to submit the declaration of acquisition of Italian citizenship by operation of law in favor of minor children of Italian citizens by birth, no later than the peremptory deadline of May 31, 2026.
Pursuant to Article 4, paragraph 1-bis of Law No. 91/1992, as supplemented by Article 1, paragraph 1-ter of Decree-Law No. 36/2025:
Parent who is an Italian citizen by birth:
The procedure applies only if at least one parent is an Italian citizen by birth (parents who acquired citizenship through naturalization, marriage, reacquisition, or by operation of law are not eligible for this purpose).
“Parent who is an Italian citizen by birth” means that, for a minor child to acquire Italian citizenship by operation of law, at least one parent must be an Italian citizen from birth, i.e., born Italian (not having acquired citizenship at a later stage).
In practical terms, a citizen by birth is:
- someone born Italian because one of their parents was Italian (iure sanguinis), or
- someone born in Italy in specific cases provided for by law.
Not eligible:
If the parent acquired citizenship at a later stage, for example through:
Naturalization: citizenship obtained after a period of legal residence;
Marriage: citizenship obtained through marriage to an Italian citizen.
How? By declaration of intent:
The declaration of acquisition must be expressly submitted by the parents or by the legal guardian, within the time limits and according to the procedures established by current legislation.
Filing deadline
The declaration must be submitted by May 31, 2026 to the competent authority (the Civil Status Office of the Municipality in Italy, or the Consular Office if residing abroad), under penalty of forfeiture of the right to acquire citizenship by operation of law within the transitional framework introduced by the legislation.
Legal effects
The acquisition of citizenship by minors under the above-mentioned provisions is perfected upon submission of the declaration and takes effect from the day following the filing of the declaration or from the fulfillment of the legal requirements, pursuant to Article 15 of Law No. 91/1992.
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