consular citizenship services eliminated.
It’s official! The bill that was introduced in October of 2025 to limit citizenship services through the consulate has been approved.
Beginning January of 2029, all Italian consulates in the world will halt their citizenship operations for those applying through jure sanguinis means.
What are the details?
As part of the reform, all Italian citizenship services will be consolidated into a single, centralized office based in Rome, Italy.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Jure sanguinis applications will no longer be handled by individual consulates. Instead, all cases will eventually be processed through this centralized office in Italy, with the change officially taking effect in January 2029.
So what happens between now and then?
From 2026 through 2028, consular appointments will be drastically limited. Each consulate will be capped at accepting no more citizenship applications per year than the number it fully processed in 2025. For example, if a consulate completed 500 citizenship applications in 2025, it will be permitted to accept only 500 applications per year in the following years—until consular processing is halted entirely in 2029.
Once the new system is fully in place, all applications and documentation will need to be submitted directly to the centralized office in Rome. How long will it take for an application to even be reviewed? That remains unclear. However, with tens of thousands of applicants expected each year, it’s reasonable to anticipate waiting times of 10 years or more before a file is reviewed.
After review, the authorities will then have up to three additional years to approve or deny the citizenship application.
What should you do?
Consider going through the Italian court system.
We may be biased here at Italy360Pro since we specialize in bypassing the consulate, but the facts support it. For years, the court route has been a reliable and often faster alternative to applying through a consulate. With typical timelines ranging from 8 to 24 months, many applicants have found this path to be the clearest way forward and the closest thing to certainty in an otherwise slow process.
HOWEVER, the recent changes may soon affect these timelines. As consular options become more limited or unavailable, a growing number of applicants are expected to turn to the courts, which could significantly increase demand and extend processing times.
If you’ve been waiting for the right moment, this is it. Submitting your case now, before the inevitable surge, will be your best opportunity to stay ahead and move forward while timelines are still manageable.
We’re happy you read this far to stay informed and protect your journey toward Italian citizenship. With the right guidance and a trusted professional by your side, your path to reclaiming your heritage can be smooth and genuinely rewarding. As always, here at Italy360Pro, we’re here to help you make confident, well-informed decisions every step of the way.
