Italy’s 2026 Budget Law quietly rewrites a key procedural rule for children born abroad to at least one Italian-citizen parent. From 1 January 2026, parents now have three full years—rather than 12 months—to lodge the so-called “dichiarazione di volontà” that allows the child to obtain Italian nationality by legal benefit (art. 4 §1-bis b, Law 91/1992). The same article abolishes the €250 consular fee that previously applied to every filing.
Background: Italian nationality law distinguishes between citizenship automatically acquired jure sanguinis and citizenship that must be actively claimed when a minor is born abroad. Until now, many families missed the one-year deadline, triggering costly court actions. Extending the window to 36 months aligns Italy with more flexible practices in France and Spain and removes a bureaucratic trap that had affected an estimated 4,000 cases a year.
Practical implications: Consulates can expect a surge in walk-in requests because parents who gave birth during 2025 suddenly qualify for a free, on-time filing. Multinational employers should alert internationally-mobile staff, as the change eases long-term residence and work-authorisation planning for children who accompany assignees abroad. HR teams should update relocation checklists to remove the €250 budget line and schedule appointments well before the three-year mark, because the fee waiver does not apply retroactively.
![Italy Extends Citizenship Declaration Window and Scraps €250 Fee for Children Born Abroad]()
VisaHQ’s global visa-processing platform can smooth this transition. Through its Italy section (https://www.visahq.com/italy/), the service books consular appointments, pre-checks supporting documents and monitors policy updates, giving parents and HR teams an extra layer of assurance as they navigate the new three-year window.
Legal nuance: The Budget Law expressly denies refunds for applications lodged (and paid) before 1 January 2026, so families that rushed to file in December cannot reclaim the fee. Moreover, the waiver does not cover other citizenship pathways—such as art. 1 §1-ter declarations for descendants of ancestors who lost citizenship—which remain subject to the levy.
Looking ahead: Consular sections must update their websites and forms; the Manchester consulate has already confirmed an imminent overhaul of its “Citizenship” pages. Companies should monitor for further implementing decrees that could standardise digital filing or introduce appointment-booking quotas to manage demand.
Background: Italian nationality law distinguishes between citizenship automatically acquired jure sanguinis and citizenship that must be actively claimed when a minor is born abroad. Until now, many families missed the one-year deadline, triggering costly court actions. Extending the window to 36 months aligns Italy with more flexible practices in France and Spain and removes a bureaucratic trap that had affected an estimated 4,000 cases a year.
Practical implications: Consulates can expect a surge in walk-in requests because parents who gave birth during 2025 suddenly qualify for a free, on-time filing. Multinational employers should alert internationally-mobile staff, as the change eases long-term residence and work-authorisation planning for children who accompany assignees abroad. HR teams should update relocation checklists to remove the €250 budget line and schedule appointments well before the three-year mark, because the fee waiver does not apply retroactively.
VisaHQ’s global visa-processing platform can smooth this transition. Through its Italy section (https://www.visahq.com/italy/), the service books consular appointments, pre-checks supporting documents and monitors policy updates, giving parents and HR teams an extra layer of assurance as they navigate the new three-year window.
Legal nuance: The Budget Law expressly denies refunds for applications lodged (and paid) before 1 January 2026, so families that rushed to file in December cannot reclaim the fee. Moreover, the waiver does not cover other citizenship pathways—such as art. 1 §1-ter declarations for descendants of ancestors who lost citizenship—which remain subject to the levy.
Looking ahead: Consular sections must update their websites and forms; the Manchester consulate has already confirmed an imminent overhaul of its “Citizenship” pages. Companies should monitor for further implementing decrees that could standardise digital filing or introduce appointment-booking quotas to manage demand.
