The text of Budget Law 2026The bill, already approved by parliamentary committees, confirmed the limitation of the new 36-month deadline for registering for Italian citizenship exclusively to minors born after the new law came into effect.
The proposal now goes to a vote in the plenary session of the Italian Parliament, where it could be definitively approved by the end of the year.
The measure is part of the new legislation on citizenship by descent and has already provoked critical reactions for excluding a large number of families who were hoping for an extension of the deadline as a way to facilitate the recognition of their children's rights.
Change with restriction
The new rule, included in Law 36 / 2025The law extends the deadline for registering minors for citizenship to up to three years after birth. However, the benefit will only apply to children born after the enactment of the new rule, excluding those born previously.
The exclusion sparked protests from parliamentarians elected abroad and organizations linked to the Italian community outside of Italy.
Amendment rejected by the government.
The Democratic Party (PD) presented an amendment to the Budget Law to ensure that the new 36-month deadline would apply to all minors, without distinction.
The proposal was rejected during the committee stage. with the government preferring to maintain the original text, defended by MAIE. (Associative Movement Italiani all'Estero).
For the senator Francesco GiacobbeThe decision represents an unacceptable exclusion.
"The new law extends the deadline to three years, but excludes minors who might already be eligible. There is no consistency, nor simplification. Just more exclusion," he stated.
On his Instagram profile, the senator Mario Borghese, from MAIE, confirmed the information:
"The deadline for submitting applications for children born after March 28, 2025, will be extended to 36 months."
What is the Budget Law and why does it matter?
The Budget Law (Billing Law) It defines Italy's budget for the following year, including revenues, expenses, and new rules with financial impact.
The text is drafted by the government and needs to be voted on and approved by December 31st in order to take effect at the beginning of the new year.
It is in this process that amendments such as the one proposing the inclusion of all minors in the new citizenship deadline are debated and voted on.
Impact on families abroad
The new deadline restriction primarily affects families of Italian origin who live outside of Italy and face difficulties accessing consulates.
With the exclusion, many of these families will remain subject to the old deadlines and risk seeing their children lose their right to citizenship due to bureaucratic issues.
Although the government has set the deadline for May 31, 2026, the number of available positions is limited.
Hope in the Constitutional Court
Many families are now placing their hopes on the Italian Constitutional Court, which will analyze the validity of the Tajani Law. The hearing is scheduled for March 11, 2026..
If the Court declares the new legislation unconstitutional, the previous rules will be reinstated, with no generational limit for the recognition of citizenship by descent.
Next Steps
The Budget Law text will now go to a vote in the Senate plenary, scheduled for this coming Tuesday (23). It will then be considered by the Chamber of Deputies. Final approval must occur by December 31st.
