Jimmy Kimmel Obtains Italian Citizenship Amid Celebrity Exodus Talk

Jimmy Kimmel has confirmed he obtained dual Italian citizenship in 2025, telling the Sarah Silverman Podcast, “I did get Italian citizenship,” with Italy’s state news agency ANSA cited by multiple outlets as confirming his recognition this year through ancestry. Coverage published August 11–12, 2025 notes he referenced a June appearance at an Italian Republic Day event in Los Angeles, where he said he qualified “thanks to my beloved grandmother Edith, whose family came from Candida, in the province of Avellino.” While some reports frame this as a “backup plan” amid public clashes with President Trump, Kimmel has not announced any move from the United States 🇺🇸 or a timeline, and his ABC contract reportedly runs through 2026.

His personal news lands at a sensitive moment for people seeking Italian citizenship by descent. In spring 2025, Italy overhauled its rules for recognition of citizenship jure sanguinis (by blood). The reform, widely called a generational cap, means that many Americans who previously qualified through an Italian‑born great‑grandparent can no longer apply on that basis if their recognition was not completed before the new law took effect.

Law 74/2025 reshapes descent claims

Decree‑Law No. 36/2025, known as the “Tajani Decree,” was issued on March 28, 2025. It introduced a hard limit for recognition by descent: applicants must now show at least one Italian‑born parent or grandparent.

Parliament converted that decree into ordinary law as Law No. 74 of May 23, 2025, with the new rules in force from May 24, 2025. Before this change, there was no set generational limit, so applicants could often claim through great‑grandparents or earlier, provided no one in the line had renounced Italian citizenship and the records were complete.

The law also begins shifting recognition applications away from consulates to a centralized office at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI). Authorities have signaled a staged rollout, with a transitional period of roughly a year to set up the new office and procedures. During this time, applicants should follow their consulate’s instructions and watch for MAECI updates.

The reform adds special measures for minors, including acquisition “by benefit of law” in certain cases tied to Italian‑born parents, with key deadlines running through May 31, 2026.

For those wondering how this affects Kimmel’s case: timing matters. Media citing ANSA report he documented family roots in Campania, with references to maternal great‑grandparents. That route was available under the old rules. Because his recognition occurred in 2025 around the changeover, it stands. But for new applicants after May 24, 2025, the same great‑grandparent pathway is generally closed unless they have an Italian‑born parent or grandparent or fit a narrow minor exception.

What Kimmel’s recognition means for others

Kimmel’s on‑the‑record statement — “I did get Italian citizenship” — highlights two truths at once:

• Recognition by descent remains possible for many people, but now under stricter rules.
• The most common American pathway via great‑grandparents is, for most adults, no longer available.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the immediate effect is felt across large diaspora communities in the Americas, where families often trace their Italian lines back three or four generations. Those who had lined up appointments for recognition after May 24, 2025 are generally subject to the new cap, with analyses emphasizing that decisions or appointments after the effective date must follow Law 74/2025.

The political backdrop has drawn attention. President Trump has targeted several late‑night hosts, including Kimmel, in public comments; industry chatter links Kimmel’s step to a broader trend of celebrities seeking second passports. Yet in Kimmel’s case, the only confirmed action is the dual citizenship itself. He has not announced he will leave the U.S., and the rest remains speculation.

For potential applicants now weighing options, the current framework is clearer than the early spring rollout but still in transition. Below is a concise summary of rules and pathways as of August 12, 2025.

Recognition by descent after Law 74/2025

• Eligibility:
  • At least one Italian‑born parent or grandparent.
  • Proof of uninterrupted citizenship through certified vital records, apostilles/legalization, and translations as required.
• Where to file:
  • Expect a move from consulates to a centralized MAECI office. A transitional period of about a year is planned; follow consulate notices and MAECI guidance for interim steps.
• Minors:
  • Special declaration‑ and residence‑based routes for children of Italian‑born citizens, with certain declarations due by May 31, 2026.

Alternatives if you lack an Italian‑born parent or grandparent

• Naturalization by residency:
  • 10 years of legal residence in Italy under current law. (Public debate about shorter terms occurred mid‑2025, but the 10‑year rule remains unless Parliament changes it.)
• Marriage to an Italian citizen:
  • 2 years if living in Italy, 3 years if abroad; reduced if the couple has a child.
  • Proof of B1 Italian language competency is required.
• Investor residence:
  • An investor permit can support long‑term residence and, in time, eligibility for standard naturalization.

Practical effects and advice for families

• Adults who hoped to apply through a great‑grandparent will need to reassess.
• If an Italian‑born grandparent exists and documents are in order, recognition may still be possible.
• If not, families can consider:
  • Residency routes (naturalization),
  • Marriage, or
  • For children, the new minor provisions within strict deadlines.
• Practitioners expect procedural changes to relieve consulate backlogs once the centralized office is live, though expect a learning curve during transition.

Practical steps during the transition

1. Track official guidance:
   • MAECI’s citizenship page posts institutional information and will host updates on the centralized office and procedures. See the Ministry’s site: https://www.esteri.it/en/servizi-consolari-e-visti/italiani-all-estero/cittadinanza/
2. Check your basis of claim now:
   • Identify whether your qualifying ancestor is a parent or grandparent. If it’s a great‑grandparent, the new cap generally blocks recognition for adults.
3. Organize records early:
   • Gather birth, marriage, and death certificates for each person in the line; obtain apostilles/legalization; and secure required translations.
4. Confirm appointment status:
   • If you booked a consular appointment after May 24, 2025, expect the new rules to apply. Ask your consulate how it is handling pending bookings during the centralization.
5. Families with minors:
   • Review the May 31, 2026 deadlines for declarations tied to Italian‑born parents and any residence conditions. These timelines are strict.

Important: Deadlines and the centralization timeline are real — prepare early and follow official MAECI and consular guidance closely.

As for Kimmel, the difference between a personal contingency plan and an actual move matters. The late‑night host has kept his options open, but there is no announced relocation to Italy. Multiple outlets, including Consequence (Aug. 11, 2025), The Daily Beast (Aug. 11, 2025), Euronews (Aug. 12, 2025), TMZ (Aug. 11, 2025), and Hindustan Times (Aug. 12, 2025), reported his comments on the Sarah Silverman Podcast and cited ANSA’s confirmation that recognition occurred in 2025. That timing places him inside the window when great‑grandparent claims were still being approved—an opening that closed for most new applicants after May 24, 2025.

For thousands across the Italian diaspora, the path to a red passport has narrowed but not vanished. The rules are tighter, the venue is changing, and deadlines are real. The Kimmel story shows what was possible under the old framework—and why anyone starting today must plan around the new parent/grandparent line.