Reacquisition of Italian citizenship for those who lost it before 1992

The recent conversion of Decree-Law No. 36/2025 into Law No. 74 of May 24, 2025, has introduced a major development for all those who lost Italian citizenship before August 16, 1992. With this law, the Italian State opens a new time window that allows the reacquisition of citizenship through a simplified procedure based on a simple consular declaration. In essence, it is an act of historical reconciliation that enables many former citizens to reestablish both a legal and symbolic bond with their origins.

Law 74/2025 amends Article 17, paragraph 1, of Law No. 91/1992, reinstating the possibility of reacquiring citizenship within a specific period, from July 1, 2025, to December 31, 2027. Originally, this article provided for a similar window in the early years following the 1992 reform, but it closed in 1997. With the new measure, lawmakers intend to offer a second opportunity to those who, due to previous laws, lost Italian citizenship during the 20th century—often because they became naturalized citizens of a foreign country.

The reacquisition primarily concerns individuals who were born in Italy or, if born abroad, resided in Italy for at least two consecutive years, and who lost their citizenship before 1992 under the provisions of Law No. 555 of 1912. This includes, for example, those who acquired a foreign nationality through naturalization, those who obtained it involuntarily, or minors who automatically followed their parents who became citizens of another state. Excluded, however, are those who lost their citizenship after August 16, 1992, those who have never resided in Italy, and those who lost it by accepting government or military positions with foreign powers opposed to Italian interests.

Until the 2025 reform, the reacquisition of citizenship was regulated solely by Article 13 of Law 91/1992, which required a concrete connection to Italy: under that article, one had to establish residence in Italy for at least one year or declare the intention to reacquire citizenship and then move to the country within twelve months. Now, however, the amended Article 17 allows for a much simpler approach: it is sufficient to visit the competent Italian consulate for one’s place of residence and make a formal declaration of reacquisition. There is no need to reside in Italy or demonstrate an intention to move there.

The procedure is relatively straightforward. First, one must identify the competent consulate and follow the instructions on its official website, which may vary slightly from office to office. In some cases, applicants must send preliminary documents by mail; in others, they must book an appointment via email. In any case, the declaration must be made in person before a consular officer, and the payment of a €250 administrative fee completes the process. Citizenship is thus reacquired the day after the declaration, without retroactive effect but with full legal validity. It is important to note that reacquisition does not automatically extend to one’s children, even if they are minors and living with the applicant.

This new opportunity to reacquire citizenship represents far more than a mere administrative act. It is an occasion for those wishing to formally rejoin the Italian community, regaining not only the civil and political rights tied to citizenship but also the ability to apply for an Italian passport—one of the most highly regarded in the world for its freedom of movement and international recognition. For many, however, the deeper value of this process is not practical but emotional: becoming Italian citizens once again means restoring an affective and cultural connection to the land of their ancestors—the same bond that many have sought to preserve through citizenship by descent.

In an increasingly mobile and interconnected world, the reopening of this window between 2025 and 2027 carries deep symbolic meaning. It represents recognition of a shared history of emigration, sacrifice, and memory—but also of belonging and return. With Law 74/2025, Italy extends a hand to its distant sons and daughters, offering them the chance to embrace once again their original identity—a bridge between past and future, between law and sentiment, between roots and new horizons.

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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.