Italy Tightens Citizenship: Merit-Based Rules and Residency Paths

(ITALY (FLORENCE)) Italy has approved sweeping changes to how people can claim Italian citizenship and, at the city level, imposed a strict new rule on tourist vehicles in Florence’s historic center. The national reform, finalized in April–May 2025, narrows eligibility for citizenship by descent, known as ius sanguinis, to only those with an Italian parent or grandparent. In Florence, a ban effective October 15, 2025 targets tuk tuks, rickshaws, and similar vehicles across the UNESCO-listed core to ease crowding and improve safety.

Citizenship Reform: From Bloodline to Merit

Under the 2025 reform, citizenship by descent is now limited to a parent or grandparent. Claims based on a great-grandparent or older ancestor are no longer accepted. This change rewrites the path used by many in the Italian diaspora who relied on long family lines to claim a passport. The government argues the old route was stretched by applicants with minimal ties to Italy, which they say undermined the meaning of citizenship.

Processing has also moved entirely inside the country. All new cases must be filed and handled in Italy, and applicants are required to attend in-person interviews on Italian soil. Consulates abroad no longer process these cases. That shift creates new costs and planning challenges for families who had expected to file from their home countries.

Officials say about 60,000 pending applications will not be automatically rejected, but they will face heightened scrutiny. The Interior Ministry’s message is clear: the state is focusing on genuine connection to the country now, not just far-off ancestry. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the reform reflects a broader drive to center citizenship on integration steps such as residence, language, and tax compliance rather than distant bloodlines.

Residency path remains, with clear requirements

For those who no longer qualify through ius sanguinis, the residency path remains open. The rules stay the same:

• 10 years of legal residence for non‑EU citizens
• 4 years for EU citizens
• Proof of income
• Continuous lawful stay
• B1-level Italian

These standards reinforce the government’s emphasis on real presence and social ties. The policy steers people toward life in Italy—work, study, taxes, and participation—rather than a paper trail through great-grandparents.

Post-citizenship obligations and maternal-line issues

The reform also addresses behavior after citizenship is granted. Dual nationals are expected to stay engaged—renew passports on time, pay taxes, and vote—if they want to retain their status. This is part of the MERIT and integration theme running through the 2025 package.

One sensitive point involves the maternal line. For years, applicants relied on court actions to work around older rules that limited claims through women (especially for lineages before 1948). In 2025, some courts eased those restrictions in certain jurisdictions, but the main law now limits all ancestry claims to a parent or grandparent, regardless of gender. That means a favorable court decision in one place will not overcome the national generational cap.

Practical implications and actions for applicants

What does this mean in practice? Consider these examples and steps:

• Example: A person in Argentina with an Italian great-grandparent would no longer be eligible under the new law. The old document-based path is closed for them.
• Example: A French citizen living in Milan for four years with steady income and B1 Italian remains on a clear path to naturalization by residence.

Applicants should prepare for the new practical steps:

1. Plan travel for the in-person interview in Italy.
2. Gather full civil records proving a parent or grandparent connection.
3. If using the residency route, collect proof of continuous legal residence, income, and B1 language certification.

Official guidance on citizenship procedures is available from the Interior Ministry’s citizenship portal at the Italian Ministry of the Interior. While the government has framed the change as a move toward merit and integration, lawyers expect litigation around edge cases—especially where pending files cross over the reform timeline or where maternal-line precedents create conflicts with the parent/grandparent cap.

The emotional impact is real: families who saw ius sanguinis as a bridge back to Italy now face a closed door if the Italian ancestor sits beyond the grandparent level.

For those who still qualify, centralized processing and required travel may increase time and expense, at least in the short term.

Florence Tourist Vehicle Crackdown

While the national law reshapes citizenship rules, Florence has taken a different kind of step to protect its city center. Starting October 15, 2025, the city enforces the so‑called Florence tuk tuk ban across the UNESCO-listed historic area. The measure bans rickshaws, tuk tuks, golf carts, and similar “atypical” tourist vehicles. City leaders cite crowding, noise, and safety issues on streets not designed for today’s tourist traffic.

Authorized exception: limited electric shuttles

The city created a narrow exception: only 24 authorized electric shuttles will operate under strict conditions. To qualify, vehicles must:

• Be white, M1‑certified, and fully equipped with safety devices
• Be operated by licensed travel agencies or tour operators
• Carry a maximum of 8 passengers
• Run only on two fixed routes approved by the city
• Be registered and authorized by the Mobility Directorate

Enforcement is intended to be strict. Police can seize unauthorized vehicles. Violations carry a €500 fine, with possible license suspension or permanent revocation. The city uses powers under Article 91 of Tuscany’s regional tourism law, which allows municipalities to regulate tourist transport.

Reactions and practical advice for visitors and operators

Operators have protested, arguing the ban cuts off income and hurts small businesses. The city says it weighed those concerns but had to act to protect the livability of the center, guard pedestrian safety, and reduce pressure on historic lanes and squares. Residents complained about risky driving and noise, especially during peak season. For visitors, the city is steering people toward the limited, controlled shuttle services and public transport.

Key takeaways:

• Don’t expect to hire a tuk tuk or rickshaw inside the UNESCO area after October 15, 2025.
• Outside the banned zone, rules may differ, but operators will face close checks near the center.
• Travel agencies operating the authorized shuttles must meet vehicle, route, and safety standards—riders should see more uniform, clearly marked services.

Who is affected and how

Policy watchers see a common thread between the Florence ban and the national citizenship shift: tighter rules aimed at preserving core public interests—heritage and safety in the city’s case, and stronger social ties in the citizenship case.

Groups affected include:

• Diaspora families relying on long ius sanguinis chains now face a legal wall at the grandparent level.
• Applicants with a parent or grandparent link retain a path, but must budget for travel and in-person processing in Italy.
• Long-term residents who invest in language and lawful residence remain on track via the residency route.
• Tourist vehicle operators in Florence must either meet the strict shuttle requirements through a licensed agency or pivot to other work.
• Visitors should plan for walking, public transit, or the limited white electric shuttles in the center.

Expect a period of adjustment: lawyers will test boundaries on pending files and maternal-line claims, and municipal enforcement teams in Florence will set early examples with fines and seizures.

The message from Rome: citizenship now rewards close ties to the country—living in Italy, speaking the language, paying taxes, and participating in civic life. The message from Florence: shared spaces in a heritage city need careful control to stay safe and welcoming.

For those seeking an Italian passport, the ius sanguinis era built on distant ancestry has largely closed. For those hoping to ride a tuk tuk past the Duomo, that window has closed as well.