Salvini Proposes Stricter Citizenship Rules for Youth Born in Italy

The Lega, the party of Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, presented a bill that tightens the rules for so-called "conditional birth citizenship" in Italy, directly affecting children of immigrants born on Italian territory. According to Italianismo, the proposal provides that criminal convictions and ongoing criminal proceedings may block or suspend citizenship acquisition, in addition to requiring Italian language proficiency at the B1 level for interested young people.

What the Lega's proposal entails

The proposal, registered as C. 2124, was presented by Deputy Igor Iezzi of the Lega in October 2024. The text tightens both the rules for acquisition and the grounds for revocation of Italian citizenship for youth born in the country, children of foreigners.

According to Italianismo, the Chamber of Deputies approved the bill's expedited processing in July, which accelerates the legislative process. Public hearings on the topic were scheduled for September 9, but to date no date has been set for the final vote on the text.

The proposal adds to a broader movement to revise citizenship rules in Italy, which has already undergone significant changes in 2025 with the Decreto Tajani, aimed at restricting recognition by descent (jure sanguinis). The Lega proposal, however, has a different focus: it targets the so-called "new Italians," children and adolescents born on Italian soil to foreign parents.

Criminal convictions may block citizenship

One of the central points of the proposal is the creation of criminal barriers to citizenship acquisition. According to Italianismo, convictions for crimes against persons and property — such as homicide, theft, extortion, and larceny — would prevent the young person from obtaining Italian citizenship.

The proposal also includes infractions under Article 73 of the Italian anti-drug law, which addresses production, trafficking, and illegal commerce of narcotic substances, among the crimes that would bar the process.

In addition, the text provides that national security reasons may be used as justification for blocking a citizenship application, expanding the margin of discretion for Italian authorities in analyzing cases.

Ongoing criminal proceedings would suspend the application

Another significant change, according to Italianismo, is the creation of a suspension mechanism for the citizenship acquisition process for those facing criminal proceedings, even without a final conviction.

In these cases, the application would remain on hold until:

• the proceedings are dismissed; or
• there is a final acquittal sentence.

The proposal also provides that criminal rehabilitation — an institute of Italian law that extinguishes certain effects of a conviction already served — would end the impeditive effects of previous convictions, allowing, in that case, the resumption of the citizenship application.

B1 Italian language requirement

The Lega's proposal also imposes a new language requirement. Young people born in Italy and who have resided continuously in the country until adulthood — a group that currently has a streamlined path to citizenship — would now need to demonstrate knowledge of the Italian language at B1 level, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Currently, those born and raised in Italy are exempt from this requirement, since language proficiency is presumed through schooling in the country. The new text eliminates this automatic exemption.

Another change planned is to make the citizenship oath in Italian mandatory, a formal act that today may include adaptations in certain contexts. Under the new rule, there would no longer be any exception: the oath would have to be taken exclusively in Italian.

Why this matters for Brazilians

Although the Lega's proposal specifically addresses citizenship by birth on Italian territory — and not recognition by descent that concerns most Brazilians — the proposal is relevant for Brazilian families living in Italy, including descendants who moved to the country as part of a residence strategy before seeking citizenship recognition.

Many of these families have children born on Italian territory and are waiting for the children to reach adulthood so they can regularize their citizenship status, taking advantage of the rules currently in force for those born and raised in the country. If approved, the Lega's proposal would make this path more restrictive, with criminal barriers and the requirement for proven language proficiency.

The proposal is also another sign of the trend toward stricter rules for Italian citizenship as a whole — an issue that has already directly affected those seeking recognition by descent (jure sanguinis) since the changes brought by Decreto Tajani. For those following the topic, it's worth reading the complete guide to Italian citizenship from Raízes Italianas, which brings together major updates on the subject, and the Italy News section, updated with the country's legislative developments.

Those already living or planning to live in Italy can also follow other practical aspects of moving to the country in the Life in Italy section of the portal.

The proposal still depends on proceedings in the Italian Chamber and Senate before possible approval, and may undergo changes throughout the legislative process. Raízes Italianas will continue to monitor the next steps of the proposal.

Do you want to know if you are entitled to Italian citizenship? Speak with a specialized advisor.

Source: Italianismo