Italy’s Constitutional Court this morning wrapped up oral arguments on the legality of Law 74/2025—nicknamed the “Tajani Decree”—which introduced strict generational limits on claiming Italian citizenship jure sanguinis. Petitioners argued that the law retroactively strips a right acquired at birth, violating equality principles and EU jurisprudence. Government counsel countered that curbs are necessary to stem ‘passport shopping’ and lighten over-burdened consulates. The case has huge stakes for Italy’s eight-million-strong diaspora and the mobility industry that supports them. Since 2022, demand for citizenship-recognition appointments has exploded, driven by remote-work trends and tax-incentive regimes. The 2025 decree capped eligibility at the third generation, imposed new documentary time bars, and effectively froze applications while courts weighed its constitutionality—creating a backlog estimated at 360,000 files. During the four-hour hearing, judges pressed the State on why less-intrusive measures—such as higher application fees or digital workflows—were not chosen.
![Constitutional Court Concludes Hearing on Controversial ‘Tajani’ Citizenship Law]()
For individuals and corporates preparing contingency plans—be it alternative work visas, investment permits, or short-stay options—VisaHQ can serve as a practical launchpad. Its dedicated Italy hub (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) consolidates the latest entry requirements, offers intuitive document-upload tools, and provides concierge support that can accelerate filings if citizenship pathways remain constrained.
Amicus briefs from Brazil, Argentina and the United States highlighted potential discrimination against communities whose Italian ancestors emigrated before World War II. Observers noted the Court’s interest in whether the decree constitutes an unlawful “implicit revocation” of citizenship already possessed but unrecognised. A ruling is expected in April. If the decree is struck down, consulates will have to reopen dormant appointment calendars and may face a surge that outstrips biometric-capture capacity. Corporations using citizenship-by-descent as a talent-mobility tool—especially to deploy Latin-American staff into EU projects—should monitor developments and prepare documentation now. Conversely, if the law is upheld, thousands of would-be applicants will need to pivot to work or investment visas, reshaping demand for Italian residence-permits and tax-resident schemes. Either way, the decision will redefine Italy’s citizenship landscape and could ripple across EU debates on ancestry-based naturalisation.
For individuals and corporates preparing contingency plans—be it alternative work visas, investment permits, or short-stay options—VisaHQ can serve as a practical launchpad. Its dedicated Italy hub (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) consolidates the latest entry requirements, offers intuitive document-upload tools, and provides concierge support that can accelerate filings if citizenship pathways remain constrained.
Amicus briefs from Brazil, Argentina and the United States highlighted potential discrimination against communities whose Italian ancestors emigrated before World War II. Observers noted the Court’s interest in whether the decree constitutes an unlawful “implicit revocation” of citizenship already possessed but unrecognised. A ruling is expected in April. If the decree is struck down, consulates will have to reopen dormant appointment calendars and may face a surge that outstrips biometric-capture capacity. Corporations using citizenship-by-descent as a talent-mobility tool—especially to deploy Latin-American staff into EU projects—should monitor developments and prepare documentation now. Conversely, if the law is upheld, thousands of would-be applicants will need to pivot to work or investment visas, reshaping demand for Italian residence-permits and tax-resident schemes. Either way, the decision will redefine Italy’s citizenship landscape and could ripple across EU debates on ancestry-based naturalisation.
