Key Takeaways
• Italy’s 2025 referendum may reduce the citizenship residency requirement for non-EU foreigners from ten to five years.
• Applicants must meet language, legal residency, tax, and background check requirements; only the waiting period would change.
• Over 637,000 signatures secured the referendum; at least half of eligible voters must participate for results to be valid.
Italy’s citizenship laws will soon be at the center of a major national vote, as the country prepares for a historic citizenship referendum on June 8–9, 2025. This public decision will ask whether non-EU foreigners who want to become Italian citizens should be allowed to apply after living in Italy for just five years instead of the current ten. The proposal has set off passionate arguments across the political spectrum, raised questions about what it means to “be Italian,” and touched the lives and hopes of more than two million foreign residents. Here’s everything you need to know to understand what’s at stake, what the current rules are, and what the changes could mean for Italy and non-EU foreigners alike.
Lead-Up to the Citizenship Referendum: What Is Being Proposed?
The upcoming citizenship referendum is one of five referendums scheduled for June 8–9, 2025. Among these, the one about citizenship stands out because it directly affects how thousands of non-EU foreigners become part of Italian society. As reported by VisaVerge.com, the main question on the ballot will be whether to make it easier and quicker for non-EU foreigners who have been living in Italy to receive citizenship. If passed, the change will cut the required period of legal residency from ten years to five.
Currently, non-EU foreigners must legally and continuously live in Italy for a full decade before being able to apply for Italian citizenship as adults. Children born in Italy to foreign parents can’t apply until they turn eighteen. This long waiting period has often been criticized as one of the strictest in Europe, with some saying it slows down the integration of foreign-born residents and does not reflect the reality of modern life in Italy.
Supporters point out that the rest of the rules for citizenship will not change with this referendum. Applicants still have to meet language requirements (B1 level in Italian), have legal residency, pay taxes, and avoid any criminal record or security problems. So, the proposed change is only about the time someone needs to wait; all other checks to make sure a person is a good fit for Italian society stay in place.
Political Arguments and Public Voices: Why Is This So Controversial?
The debate about Italy’s citizenship referendum is sharp and at times heated. On one side are those who believe this change is long overdue. They argue that making it easier and faster for non-EU foreigners who live, work, and pay taxes in Italy will help these residents feel truly part of the country. Riccardo Magi, the leader of the political party +Europa, is one of the main supporters. He says candidates who would benefit from the change are honest, hardworking people who contribute to Italian society and have earned the right to call Italy home.
Supporters also believe that this measure could help immigrants integrate better, join in more community activities, and become more involved in Italian life. In their eyes, a shorter waiting time for citizenship matches the practices seen in other European countries and helps create a more open, fair society. Several artists, athletes, writers, and public groups have shown support for the reform, helping to gather over 637,000 signatures to get the referendum on the ballot.
But on the other side, the current right-wing government and its supporters have deep doubts. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government is firmly against the proposal. They claim that the ten-year rule is already working well, filtering out those who are not fully committed to becoming Italian citizens. Some politicians, like Senate President La Russa, have even suggested that people should stay home and not vote at all, a suggestion that labor unions have criticized as going against democracy.
Opponents fear that reducing the waiting time could lead to “mass naturalizations.” They worry that too many people becoming citizens too quickly could put pressure on Italian services or lead to less control over who becomes a citizen. Some also raise concerns, though not backed by evidence, about possible links between relaxing citizenship rules and increased crime or insecurity. Supporters challenge these points, noting that applicants still go through strict background checks anyway.
A Long Road to Reform: The Background to This Vote
The referendum on citizenship did not come out of nowhere. For years, many have called for changing Italy’s nationality laws. Attempts to reform them through Parliament have always failed, usually stopped by one political side or another. The issue received a boost after sports heroes with immigrant backgrounds won big events for Italy, leading the public to ask why some of these stars had waited so long or faced such barriers to gain citizenship.
This new attention led to a strong digital signature campaign, with support from non-governmental groups, writers, artists, migrant associations, and even top athletes. In only a few months, over 637,000 signatures were gathered—far more than needed to bring the question to a national referendum. This show of public action helped make the citizenship referendum a reality after years of debates with no changes.
How Will the Vote Work? Key Rules and Deadlines
For the referendum’s result to count, a majority of all eligible Italian voters (that means more than 50% plus one) must take part in the voting. This is called the quorum. If the turnout is too low, even a win for the “yes” side won’t change anything.
If the “yes” side gets a majority of actual votes and the turnout is high enough, the new five-year rule for non-EU foreigners applying for Italian citizenship will become law right away. This could benefit as many as 2.5 million foreign residents living in Italy today. For many families and workers, this would mean a much shorter, more hopeful wait to become truly Italian.
The referendum will happen alongside local city council run-offs. Voting will be open in person on June 8 from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm and on June 9 from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. Italians living overseas and registered with AIRE (the official registry of Italians abroad) will get their ballots by mail and can vote from abroad under certain conditions. Temporary absentees can also ask for special ballots if they qualify. All voting procedures are described on the official government referendum page.
What Does This Mean for Non-EU Foreigners?
The lives of many non-EU foreigners could be deeply impacted by this vote. A successful referendum would allow people who have already shown they are law-abiding, stable, and settled in Italy to get citizenship sooner. This has both direct and indirect effects:
- Faster Path to Belonging: For immigrants, five years of legal residence instead of ten before applying means they can become Italian sooner. This could help them feel more rooted, take part in elections, and be seen as full members of society.
- Greater Stability: Citizenship makes daily life more secure. Many rights, including easier travel, freedom to work, and access to social programs, depend on having citizenship.
- Opportunities for Children: Although the rule for children born in Italy will not change right now, more parents could become citizens earlier, possibly making it easier for the whole family to feel established in Italy.
Italy’s citizenship referendum could also send a message to the rest of Europe about how rapidly changing societies can handle migration and diversity.
Why Does the Debate Matter for Italy’s Future?
Besides the direct rules on non-EU foreigners, the citizenship referendum has a wider impact. Italy, like many European countries, faces an aging population and lower birth rates. Immigrant workers have helped keep the economy running in many fields, from healthcare to food production. By helping long-term foreign residents become citizens sooner, supporters argue that Italy stands to gain more motivated workers, engaged voters, and creative thinkers.
Critics say the country must be cautious. They believe rules should not change too quickly or without careful controls. For them, citizenship is not just a formality, but a deep tie that should only be given after many years and careful checking.
Supporters counter that the referendum isn’t about removing standards, but about updating old rules that no longer fit the needs of a modern, globalized Italy. The push for reform found new momentum with the recent successes of athletes with roots outside Italy who have brought home medals and represented the country proudly. These moments make the public ask if the rules for becoming Italian should match the real stories of life and belonging people see every day.
Potential Changes to Other Laws and Future Debates
If the referendum passes, it will be one of the biggest updates to citizenship laws since Law No.91/1992, which currently sets the main rules. The vote could start new debates about other important topics, such as:
- Birthright citizenship (jus soli)—rules about whether being born in Italy should automatically make someone a citizen. Right now, only children born to Italian parents get citizenship at birth.
- Dual nationality—whether it will become easier for citizens of other countries to keep their old nationality when gaining an Italian passport.
- System for the integration of immigrants—how Italy helps new citizens take part in society, work, and politics.
Many watch this referendum as a test case for broader changes to come. The outcome could influence debates in other European countries facing similar questions about migration and national identity.
What Should You Watch for Next?
For now, the main thing to watch is whether enough voters turn out for the referendum to count. Public campaigns from both sides are likely to become even more active as June 2025 draws near. Supporters and opponents alike want to convince Italians that this is either an overdue step for progress or a risky leap into the unknown.
One thing is clear: The result will affect not only the lives of non-EU foreigners in Italy, but also how the country defines itself in the 21st century.
If you want to stay informed about further updates, rules, and news leading up to the vote, keep an eye on resources like the official government referendum page and trusted immigration news sources.
Summary of Key Points
- Italy will hold a citizenship referendum on June 8-9, 2025, set to halve the waiting time for non-EU foreigners from ten to five years.
- Applicants must still meet language, residency, tax, and criminal record requirements.
- The proposal has split public opinion and politics, with supporters arguing it boosts integration and critics warning about quick mass naturalization.
- For the change to pass, over half of eligible voters must take part; if approved, the rule change will be immediate.
- The outcome could bring Italy’s laws more in line with other European countries and affect the lives of millions.
Italy’s citizenship referendum marks a unique moment in the country’s history, especially for non-EU foreigners hoping for a new, quicker path to belonging. All eyes will turn to the polls in June to see what kind of future Italians choose—for themselves, and for the many who have made Italy their home.
Learn Today
Residency Requirement → The minimum period a non-EU foreigner must legally live in Italy before applying for citizenship; currently ten years.
Referendum → A public vote on a specific law or policy change; Italy’s 2025 vote addresses citizenship rules for non-EU foreigners.
AIRE → The registry of Italians living abroad, allowing them to vote by mail in Italian elections—including referendums.
Naturalization → The legal process by which a foreign national becomes a citizen of another country after meeting specific requirements.
B1 Language Level → An intermediate proficiency standard in Italian, needed to demonstrate speaking and understanding skills for citizenship application.
This Article in a Nutshell
Italy’s June 2025 citizenship referendum could halve the wait for non-EU foreigners to apply for citizenship. The change only shortens residency from ten to five years but keeps other requirements. The outcome will reshape integration, identity, and the lives of over two million residents if enough voters participate.
— By VisaVerge.com
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