New work visa for descendants of Italians: where do we stand?

In recent years, the issue of immigration connected to communities of Italian origin around the world and to Italian citizenship has returned to the center of political and legal debate. Within this context comes the recent introduction of a new pathway for entering Italy dedicated to foreign citizens who are descendants of Italians, allowing them to move to the country for work purposes, whether as employees or self-employed workers.

The measure was introduced as part of legislative reforms that have modified the rules governing Italian citizenship by descent. With Decree-Law No. 36, stricter criteria were introduced for the recognition of citizenship jure sanguinis. At the same time, lawmakers created a new opportunity for entry into Italy for those who, despite having Italian origins, can no longer automatically obtain citizenship but wish to live and work in the country.

A new entry pathway for descendants of Italians

The legislation introduced a specific provision into the Consolidated Immigration Act that allows non-EU citizens who can prove descent from an Italian ancestor to enter Italy for work purposes. The goal is to encourage forms of “return migration,” strengthening the historical and cultural connection with Italian communities abroad while also providing new opportunities for the Italian labor market.

This mechanism represents a significant innovation compared to traditional work-immigration channels, which are generally subject to the annual numerical limits established by the so-called decreto flussi.

Countries covered by the measure

A subsequent interministerial decree identified the countries where large communities of Italian origin reside and whose citizens may benefit from this new pathway. In the first phase, the following countries were included:

• Argentina

• Brazil

• United States of America

• Australia

• Canada

• Venezuela

• Uruguay

The selection was made based on the number of Italian citizens registered in the Registry of Italians Residing Abroad (AIRE), including countries with particularly large Italian communities.

It is not excluded that in the future the list could be expanded to include other countries with a strong presence of descendants of Italian emigrants (such as Chile or Paraguay).

Employment: entry outside quota limits

One of the most innovative aspects of the new rules concerns the possibility of accessing salaried employment without being subject to the numerical limits established by the decreto flussi.

In practice, a foreign citizen who is a descendant of Italians may enter Italy if they have a job offer from an Italian employer and can demonstrate their Italian ancestry through genealogical documentation (for example, birth certificates of their ancestors).

A response to labor market needs

The creation of this new visa also takes place within an economic context characterized by increasing difficulty in finding workers in several sectors. Many Italian companies report shortages of both skilled and unskilled labor, particularly in technical and manual occupations.

In this scenario, facilitating the entry of people with Italian origins is seen as a way to strengthen ties with communities abroad while also helping to meet labor shortages in certain productive sectors.

A measure still in the implementation phase

Despite the legal introduction of this new type of visa, the procedure is not yet operational. In order for applications to actually be submitted, further implementing measures from the Italian government will be required.

In particular, a decree is expected that will define in detail how the measure will be applied, the documentation required, and the administrative procedures for obtaining the visa. Only after the adoption of this measure will it be possible to start submitting applications through Italian consulates.

As a result, the new visa currently represents an important prospect for many descendants of Italians around the world, but its effective implementation will depend on the next regulatory steps taken by the Italian authorities.

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The content of this article is intended to provide general information on the topic. For doubts or specific cases, it is advisable to seek specialized legal advice tailored to your particular situation.

Article written by Alessia Ajelli, Managing Associate of LCA Studio Legale, Italian lawyer specialized on Italian immigration and citizenship law.