In an interview with the program “Coffee with the Gazette” this Monday (19), the lawyer and former deputy of Italy, Renata Eitelwein Bueno, discussed the new limitations for Brazilians to obtain Italian citizenship. Faced with a scenario in which more than 400,000 people have left Brazil since 2022, the search for a European passport has become a priority for many descendants who wish to reside and work legally in Europe.
The central topic of the conversation, led by presenter Carla Lima and broadcast live on YouTube, focused on the restrictions imposed by a 2025 law. The law restricts the recognition of citizenship by descent (right of blood) to children and grandchildren of Italians born in the country. Previously, there was no generation limit for applying for recognition.
Renata Bueno also spoke about the expectation of a decision from the Italian Constitutional Court in 2026 – which could define the future of the recognition of these rights for thousands of applicants.
The new scenario of Italian citizenship
Currently, the process for Brazilians seeking Italian citizenship faces new eligibility criteria. According to Renata Bueno, who presides over the Instituto Cidadania Italiana, there were important limitations when applying for Italian citizenship. Under the current rule, Italy grants automatic citizenship only to children and grandchildren of citizens born in the country.
For other cases, new regulations are being implemented. “There are other conditions that they are starting to regulate now to register the children of these grandchildren or those who already have citizenship. So, minor children need to register with the consulates, or those who are already adults need to reside in Italy for at least two years to regain [a cidadania]anyway… To be able to prove your descent from Italian citizenship and, thus, knowing the culture, knowing the language, knowing the country, then apply for your citizenship”, said Renata.
Even with limitations, the search for Italian citizenship still continues
Despite these barriers, demand for citizenship recognition remains high. Renata highlights that interest is driven by the benefits of becoming a European citizenwhich guarantees free access and movement within the European Union, in addition to facilitating entry into other countries, such as the United States.
A decisive point for the future of these processes will occur in March this year, with a hearing at the Constitutional Court in Italy. The court is expected to rule on the constitutionality of the law that imposed the limitations last year.
“We will now have an important vote in March by the Constitutional Court in Italy that will decide on the constitutionality of this new law. Because this happened in March last year, the limitation, the law exists, but there is a lot of legal discussion about this law, whether it is constitutional or not, whether it is valid or not before the courts”, concludes Renata.
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Start your day with quality information and analysis. Broadcast from Curitiba and São Paulo, the Coffee with the Gazette airs from Monday to Friday, at 7am, under the command of Carla Lima and Lucas Saba, via Gazeta do Povo’s official YouTube channel.
The program features exclusive interviews, the most important news of the morning and the views of commentators such as Cristina Graeml, Paulo Briguet, Anne Dias, Fabiana Barroso, Flávio Morgenstern and Jorge Serrão.
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