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Italian Citizenship by Descent: Law No. 11/2026 Changes the Procedure for Residents Abroad
Law No. 11 of 19 January 2026, published in the Official Gazette, introduces a significant revision of services for citizens and businesses abroad and directly addresses a particularly important issue: the management of applications for recognition of Italian citizenship by descent (iure sanguinis) submitted by adult residents abroad. The law comes into force on 19 February 2026.
The shift in approach is clear: the system moves away from a model in which applications were ordinarily handled by the territorially competent consular office, towards a centralised system in which applications are managed by the central administration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), with specific rules regarding submission, communications, and reception limits.
What changes: centralisation at MAECI for adult residents abroad
The core of the reform is the replacement of Article 10 of Legislative Decree 71/2011 (“Organisation and Functions of Consular Offices”) with a new provision defining consular responsibilities and assigning the handling of adult applicants’ requests to a general managerial office within MAECI.
Specifically, the law establishes that, without prejudice to the jurisdiction of the courts and mayors, applications for recognition of Italian citizenship submitted by adult residents abroad must be submitted to a general managerial office at the central administration of MAECI.
This change will have a practical impact on:
- Procedure organisation: where and by whom applications are handled;
- Flow management: annual limits;
- Operational procedures: submission and communications.
Submission of applications: originals and postal delivery only
The law requires a very specific submission process: applications must include the original requested documents, proof of payment of fees, and must be sent exclusively by postal service, overriding the Digital Administration Code.
This emphasises the importance of:
- Proper organisation and consistency of documentation;
- Tracking and management of copies;
- Prevention of formal errors that could block the process.
Shipping costs and related services remain the responsibility of the applicant. MAECI may, respecting privacy regulations, outsource services such as receipt, digitisation, and archiving, always at the applicant’s expense.
Communications with the applicant: electronic, even without PEC
Alongside postal submission, the law mandates a digital channel for communications: all correspondence between MAECI and applicants occurs electronically.
Notably, notifications are considered delivered upon sending to the email address provided in the application, even if it is not a certified (PEC) email.
Operational implications include:
- The provided email must be reliable and constantly monitored;
- Requests for additional documents or outcome notifications cannot be “lost” without risk.
Effective date of the new rules
The provisions on MAECI submission, postal delivery, and electronic communications (paragraphs 2, 3, and 4 of the new Article 10) will apply from 1 January of the third calendar year following the law’s entry into force.
Given that the law comes into force on 19 February 2026, this sets the effective date at 1 January 2029 (subject to any future implementing measures or amendments).
Transitional phase: before centralisation begins
The reform does not immediately eliminate consular channels: consular offices will continue to process applications received prior to the effective date.
Furthermore, until the same date, each consular office may accept a number of adult applications per year equal to the number of cases completed in the previous year, with a minimum threshold of 100 applications.
This mechanism affects:
- Actual availability of submission “slots”;
- Applicant scheduling;
- Strategic planning regarding documents and preparation time.
Processing times: 36 months
The law sets a maximum period of 36 months for processing adult applications, both at the central MAECI office and during the transitional consular phase. This underscores the importance of preparing a complete and correct dossier to minimise requests for additional documentation or rejections due to formal errors.
Remaining consular functions: recognised citizens and minors
Under the new Article 10 (Article 1 of the law), consular offices retain relevant responsibilities, including:
- Verifying the maintenance of citizen status for already recognised residents in the jurisdiction;
- Recognising citizenship for minors who are children of already recognised citizens;
- Issuing citizenship certificates for such individuals.
Practical impacts for preparing an ius sanguinis application
The reform encourages an even more “document-first” approach:
- Organised and verified dossier: originals and postal submission make accuracy essential;
- Strategy for legalisations, apostilles, and translations: consistency across documents is critical;
- Reliable email and communication management: notifications via email (even non-PEC) are effective on dispatch;
- Timing planning: consider annual limits, transitional phase, and the 36-month deadline.
How Giambrone & Partners can assist
We support clients with ius sanguinis applications through a structured approach:
- Preliminary analysis of lineage and eligibility;
- Document review for consistency and completeness;
- Coordination of translations, certifications, and other formalities;
- Strategy planning based on residence, timelines, and competent channel.
Want to understand how Law No. 11/2026 affects your case?
Contact our team for a preliminary evaluation and a personalised document checklist.