Italian Citizenship Reform 2025: EU Court Case C-816/26 (Picuso)

Official sources checked: 9 November 2026.

Italy's 2025 citizenship reform changed the rules affecting recognition of citizenship by descent, commonly called iure sanguinis or jure sanguinis. The relationship between these restrictions and European Union law is the subject of Case C-816/26, Picuso, before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).

The official case information consulted for this update lists a preliminary reference and pending proceedings. It does not list a final judgment. A request for a ruling is a stage in a judicial process; it should not be presented as a decision restoring citizenship to all descendants.

If your immediate need is to locate family records, see Italian citizenship documents and genealogy research. Confirm your legal position and required evidence before ordering documents for an application.

What did the 2025 citizenship reform change?

Decree-Law No. 36 of 28 March 2025, converted with amendments by Law No. 74 of 23 May 2025, introduced Article 3-bis into Law No. 91/1992. The rules impose conditions affecting people born outside Italy who hold another citizenship, including people born before the reform, subject to statutory exceptions.

An Italian ancestor and a documented family line do not, on their own, establish that an applicant meets all current requirements. The relevant family circumstances, citizenship history and procedural route must be considered. Consult the Ministry of Foreign Affairs citizenship guidance and your competent authority's current instructions.

Constitutional Court Order No. 147/2026

The Italian Constitutional Court's official record distinguishes three dates: the decision was taken on 9 June 2026, the order was deposited on 23 July 2026, and it was published in the Italian Official Gazette on 29 July 2026.

Following questions raised by the courts of Mantua and Campobasso, the Constitutional Court referred a question to the CJEU under Article 267 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. It suspended the constitutional proceedings concerned while awaiting the answer.

The question concerns whether Articles 9 TEU and 20 TFEU are compatible with the Article 3-bis restriction on acquisition of Italian nationality by people born abroad who hold another nationality, including those born before the provision entered into force, subject to its exceptions.

Read Order No. 147/2026 on the Constitutional Court's website for the precise question and procedural context.

What is Case C-816/26, Picuso?

The CJEU record identifies the referring court as the Italian Constitutional Court and the date the reference was lodged as 23 July 2026. “Picuso” is a fictitious case name used by the Court; it is not the actual surname of a party.

The EU case concerns interpretation of EU law. Its outcome and any consequences for individual applications must be assessed from the actual ruling and its application. This page does not predict a result, a hearing date or a date for judgment.

For updates, use the official CJEU record for C-816/26, Picuso.

What should descendants abroad do with this information?

Separate the question you want a researcher to answer from the legal question you need the competent authority or your adviser to assess. For example, establishing that two differently named records refer to the same ancestor is a research task; deciding whether the documented line qualifies for recognition is a legal assessment.

If you are considering an application, ask which route and document checklist apply to your circumstances. If you already have a pending case, discuss procedural decisions and deadlines with the professional handling it. Do not infer a particular outcome for your application from a news headline about the reference.

How Italian records can help document a family line

A Palermo birth extract, a Rome marriage certificate or a Naples death record can provide evidence about names, dates and family relationships. Which record is useful depends on the person and event you need to establish.

If you do not know the exact Comune, begin with research into your ancestor's Italian town of origin. For local examples, see Palermo certificates, Lazio and Rome records and Campania and Naples records.

Parish sources and baptism certificates may support historical family research. Their acceptance for a particular citizenship purpose must be confirmed before ordering. An archival image, a transcription and an official certificate are different deliverables: specify what the receiving authority has requested.

Genealogy research with Alfredo Nocera

I am Alfredo Nocera, a professional Italian genealogist based in Palermo, Sicily, and a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG). I help identify ancestors, investigate conflicting names or dates and locate available official and historical records.

My personal on-site work is concentrated in Palermo and its province. Requests elsewhere in Italy are evaluated according to the location, sources, access conditions and proposed scope. My service is genealogical and documentary research; I do not provide legal representation or determine citizenship eligibility.

For a research quote, send names, approximate dates, Italian places, parents or spouse, copies of existing records and any document instructions already received. Describe the unresolved question and any previous searches. I assess feasibility and costs before agreeing on the work.

Contact me about Italian family records or email alfredonocera1@gmail.com. You can also read about genealogy research in Italy and costs, payment and shipping.

Official references

This page provides general information and describes research services. Check subsequent developments and individual requirements with the competent authority or a qualified legal professional.