Descendants of Italian Emigrants Get New Chance at Citizenship After Discriminatory 1912 Law Overturned

Italian Supreme Court Overturns Discriminatory 1912 Citizenship Law

The Italian Supreme Court has revised a provision of the 1912 law that automatically stripped Italian citizenship from women who married foreign nationals before January 1, 1948. The court declared this provision discriminatory, as reported by The Local Italy.

Based on this ruling, new guidelines have been issued, allowing descendants of these women to have their previously rejected citizenship applications reviewed. Historically, if an Italian great-grandmother married a foreigner before 1948, she would lose her citizenship, thereby preventing her descendants from claiming citizenship through the maternal line. This specific provision led to thousands of rejections worldwide.

This argument is no longer valid as a basis for rejection. While this decision opens new avenues, the review process is not automatic. Applicants will still need to provide documentation proving kinship and meeting other relevant criteria. Those who were previously denied citizenship based on this law should consider gathering their documents to file an appeal or a new application. The specific procedures and timelines may vary depending on where and at which consulate the original application was submitted.