Italian Citizenship: “New” Rules and 1948 Cases

I often see people claiming that they have a “1948 case” and therefore believe that the new rules — introduced in March 2025 and confirmed in May 2025 — which essentially limit the possibility of going back in the lineage to grandparents only for the purpose of obtaining Italian citizenship, do not apply to them.

This article aims to be very brief, simple, and clarifying on this point.

I will be blunt: the generational limit applies to 1948 cases as well. This may come as a surprise to some, but unfortunately, this is the current legal reality.
The constitutionality of the law introducing this limit is being challenged before the Corte Costituzionale, and a decision is expected shortly. However, as things stand today, the limit applies.

If you have a genuine and straightforward 1948 case in which your line goes back only to your grandparents, our advice is to file your claim as soon as possible, before the situation potentially changes again to your disadvantage. We can assist you and represent you in court—please contact us for more information.

If, in your 1948 case, your line goes back beyond your grandparents, you have a few options:
• Wait for the decision on the constitutionality of the law.
• File your claim anyway as soon as possible, before that decision is issued. In this scenario, your judge will most likely suspend the proceedings pending the decision of the Corte Costituzionale.
Needless to say, if the unconstitutionality of the rule is not recognised, your case will be rejected, your citizenship will not be recognised, and you will also have incurred legal costs.
If, on the other hand, the Corte Costituzionale rules in your favour, your citizenship will likely be recognised.

If your lineage is interrupted, there may be other ways to obtain Italian citizenship.

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is not exhaustive and is intended as general guidance only.

If you need an assessment to verify whether you qualify to claim Italian citizenship, please do get in touch.

In collaboration with avv. Andrea Balducelli, citizenship specialist.

Barbara De Benedittis Relocation and Legal in Italy