Weekly update on June 30, 2026: Italy Updates Descent Rules and Visas
PublishedBy Laura Ferreira · Editorial policy
The Italian Constitutional Court has upheld stricter citizenship by descent rules, while the Investor Visa program sees faster processing times alongside a flat tax increase to €300,000 for new residents.
Key takeaways
- Constitutional Court Judgment No. 63/2026 confirms stricter requirements for citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis).
- The 2026 Decreto Flussi allocates 164,850 work-related entries for non-EU citizens.
- Investor Visa processing times dropped to an average of 2.3 months in Q1 2026.
- The flat tax regime for new residents increased to €300,000 per year under the 2026 Budget Law.
Legal Updates: Constitutional Court Rules on Citizenship by Descent
On April 30, 2026, the Italian Constitutional Court issued Judgment No. 63/2026, declaring constitutional challenges against the 2025 reform of Italian citizenship law (Law No. 74/2025) as either unfounded or inadmissible. This ruling officially confirms the implementation of stricter conditions for individuals seeking citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis).
The updated framework aims to limit automatic recognition by requiring applicants to demonstrate a more substantial link with Italy. These changes specifically affect individuals born abroad who hold another nationality. Exceptions to these stricter rules apply only to those who filed their citizenship application by March 27, 2025, or individuals who have a parent or grandparent who held exclusively Italian citizenship.
Government Policy: 2026-2028 Decreto Flussi Quotas and Online Applications
The Italian government has established the Decreto Flussi quotas for the 2026-2028 period, allocating a total of 164,850 work-related entries for non-EU citizens specifically for 2026. The 2026 distribution includes 88,000 quotas for seasonal work, 76,200 for non-seasonal subordinate work, and 650 for self-employment, which covers entrepreneurs and startup creators.
Administratively, the government is moving Contract of Stay Applications to an online portal to streamline processing for incoming workers. The designated click days for submitting 2026 applications under these quotas have already concluded, having taken place in January and February.
Processing Times & Figures: Investor Visa Speeds Up as Flat Tax Rises
Italy's Investor Visa, also known as the Golden Visa, recorded a decrease in average processing times during the first quarter of 2026, dropping from 3.5 months to 2.3 months. The program maintains four investment routes, with the lowest entry threshold set at €250,000 for an innovative startup. Applicants typically receive their Nulla Osta (pre-approval certificate) within 30 days, and the required financial investment is only made after this pre-approval is secured.
Alongside the faster visa processing, the financial requirements for the country's special tax regime have changed. Effective January 1, 2026, under the 2026 Budget Law, the flat tax rate applied to all foreign-sourced income for new residents has increased from €200,000 to €300,000 per year.
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