The Italian Budget Law for 2026 introduced important changes to the recognition of Italian citizenship by descent for minor children of Italian citizens, especially in cases where these children were born outside Italy, such as in the U.S.A.
The new rules directly affect the deadlines for parents to submit the so‑called declaration of intent (dichiarazione di volontà) and also bring a significant change regarding the fees previously charged by the Italian government.
Who is affected by the new rules?
The changes apply to minors born abroad who are children of at least one parent whose Italian citizenship has been recognized by descent (jus sanguinis). The law establishes different criteria depending on the child’s date of birth.
New deadlines for the declaration of intent
The 2026 Budget Law created two different scenarios:
Minors born after May 25, 2025
Parents now have up to three years from the child’s birth to submit the declaration of intent and request the child’s acquisition of Italian citizenship.
Minors born before May 25, 2025
In these cases, the law sets a strict final deadline: the declaration of intent must be submitted no later than May 31, 2026. After this date, the right may be compromised.
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End of the fee for minors
Another major change is the elimination of fees. Under the new rules:
- All declarations related to minors’ citizenship become free of charge.
- The €250 fee previously required by the Ministry of the Interior will no longer be charged.
However, it is important to note that there is no refund for applications already submitted with payment before the new law takes effect.
When do the changes take effect?
The new provisions come into force on January 1, 2026. This means that the fee exemption and new deadlines apply only to applications submitted from that date onward.
Comparison with the 2025 Budget Law
The 2025 Budget Law had already signaled a clear shift by the Italian government: reorganizing and making citizenship procedures more selective, especially given the sharp increase in applications in recent years.
While the 2025 law became known for raising fees—introducing a €300 charge per citizenship applicant—the 2026 law takes a different approach for minors: it simplifies the procedure and removes the fee, but imposes stricter deadlines, particularly for those born before May 2025.
In practice, the Italian government is balancing two objectives:
- reducing financial barriers for children;
- while also limiting open‑ended timelines for applications, pushing families to act within clear windows.
Attention to deadlines
Despite the fee exemption, the new time limits make planning even more essential. Missing the deadline may result in the loss of the possibility of having the minor’s Italian citizenship recognized, with direct consequences for the family’s future.