Citizenship
Analysis, comments, and reflections on the issue of granting citizenship to people with a migratory background
focus
Towards overcoming familism in the Italian citizenship framework?
By Ennio Codini
post referendum
Citizenship: Post referendum reflections
By Marta Regalia
referendum of Italian citizenship
Towards the referendum: when citizens express their opinion on citizenship
By Marta Regalia
the project
This page is made possible thanks to the contribution of the project
RISE: Responsible Involvement in Society and Elections
The project’s aim is to counter misinformation and strengthen the resilience of civil society on a central issue: the acquisition of Italian citizenship by foreign citizens.
It aims to provide civil society, new citizens, young citizens (18-29 years old), journalists, and researchers with adequate information and tools to counter misinformation and polarization.
It promotes a collective debate and reflection among researchers, experts, journalists, and citizens with voting rights regarding the proposal for a referendum to reform the law on acquiring citizenship in Italy, which will be held on June 8-9. RISE aims to strengthen the capacity of Italian citizens, including new citizens, young people aged 18 to 29, journalists, researchers, and civil society as a whole, so that they can consciously exercise their right to vote in the “Citizenship Referendum,” providing complete and accurate information through an awareness campaign and an online debate.
The project also aims to bring the debate to the European level, involving experts and key stakeholders from other EU countries to discuss citizenship and acquisition methods comparatively. Additionally, the information campaign will be an important opportunity to raise awareness among citizens on the issue of citizenship, informing 1,000 interested citizens and promoting an informed debate.
To promote debate on the referendum, ISMU ETS organized a webinar, that will be in Italian
If you want to register for the webinar
Realized under the project Rise – Responsable Involvement in Society and Elections
press release
Italian Citizenship: Reflections and Data Ahead of the Referendum on June 8–9
Milan, May 26, 2025
Over 217,000 individuals with a migrant background acquired Italian citizenship in 2024. This is highlighted by ISMU Foundation, which also notes that, according to the latest Istat data, for the third consecutive year, acquisitions of Italian citizenship have exceeded 200,000.
But how much do we really know about citizenship? What data truly matters? What biases influence the debate on this issue in Italy? And what are the positions of political parties in our country? These questions were discussed on May 26, from 12:30 to 2:00 pm, during the webinar Towards the Citizenship Referendum: Not How Many, but When and Why?, organized by ISMU ETS Foundation in preparation for the June 8–9 referendum, when voters will decide on possible changes to the acquisition of Italian citizenship by individuals with a migrant background.
The webinar, organized as part of the “RISE: Responsible Involvement in Society and Elections” project – which aims to counter false narratives and provide accurate information and tools to fight disinformation – featured the participation of: Nicola Pasini, Secretary General of ISMU Foundation; Sara Morlotti, Researcher in the Legislation Department of ISMU Foundation; Giorgia Papavero, Researcher in the Statistics Department of ISMU Foundation; Sumaya Abdel Qader, writer and sociologist. The discussion was introduced and moderated by Ennio Codini, Head of the Legislation Department at ISMU Foundation.
In preparation for the referendum, the ISMU ETS Foundation has also dedicated a section of its website to analyses, commentary, and reflections on the topic of granting citizenship to people with a migrant background (italian page https://test.ismu.org/referendum-acquisizione-cittadinanza). The section also includes an anonymous quiz to test your knowledge.
Below are some key data points shared and analyzed during the webinar.
An increase in Italian Citizenship Acquisitions
Based on Istat data from 2002 to 2024 (with the most recent figures being provisional), there has been a new increase in the number of Italian citizenship acquisitions by individuals with a migrant background: in 2024, there were 217,117 such acquisitions. For the third consecutive year, the number has exceeded 200,000. The past three years have recorded the highest figures ever.
How Italian Citizenship was acquired. Istat data for 2023 shows that just under half of new Italians acquired citizenship through means other than residency, including: transmission of citizenship to minors by parents who became Italian, the choice made by newly turned 18-year-olds born and residing in Italy who become citizens upon reaching adulthood and ius sanguinis (citizenship by descent from Italian ancestors).
Meanwhile, 40% acquired citizenship through residency or naturalization – after 10 years of continuous legal residence (5 years for refugees and stateless persons, 4 for EU citizens). The remaining 12% acquired citizenship through marriage to an Italian citizen.
Over the past 10 years, the number of people acquiring citizenship through transmission, choice at age 18, and descent has nearly tripled: from 39,000 in 2013 to over 103,000 in 2023. Naturalization involved 85,000 people in 2023, marking a 127% increase since 2013. The number of new citizens through marriage has remained relatively stable (around 24,000 annually), but its share of total acquisitions has dropped from 24% to 12% in 2023.
A Young Population of New Italian Citizens. 48% of new Italian citizens are under 30. Those aged 20 or younger represent the largest group, with over 78,000 citizenships granted in 2023 – accounting for 37% of all acquisitions. Among those under 20, the most common paths to citizenship are transmission from parents and the choice at age 18. For older age groups, residency is the main channel – around 70% of those over 40 were naturalised according to this procedure. Among those over 60, 15% acquired citizenship through Italian descent (ius sanguinis).
The Webinar. These are some of the key data points that were analyzed during the webinar organized by ISMU Foundation. The main issues were explored in depth, and answers were provided to some frequently asked questions, helping participants approach the upcoming vote well-informed.
Program
TOWARDS THE CITIZENSHIP REFERENDUM
Not How Many, but When and Why?
May 26, 12:30–2:00 PM
Moderator and Introduction: Ennio Codini
· How much do we really know about citizenship? Sara Morlotti
· What are the key facts? Giorgia Papavero
· What biases influence the debate? Sumaya Abdel Qader
· What are the political parties’ positions? Nicola Pasini
Discussion and Debate
Charts
Why it is important to vote
On June 8 and 9, Italians are called to vote in the referendum on the acquisition of Italian citizenship by people with a migratory background.
The referendum is a tool through which citizens can directly express their will on relevant issues, personally contributing to the decisions that shape the future of the country. It is therefore a very important tool for the exercise of democracy. For this reason, we invite all citizens to go to the polls.
But what are the questions that citizens, professionals, journalists, and young people ask themselves about this topic? Are we sure we know exactly what we are called to vote on? And what do we know about this topic? Do we have correct information, or do we only have a superficial knowledge of it?
ISMU, through its experts from various disciplines, intends to offer answers that are as precise and scientifically based as possible to some of the main questions to consider for an informed vote.
In other words
What it is about
This abrogative referendum, which will be held on June 8 and 9, aims to halve the legal residence period in Italy from 10 to 5 years for the request for the granting of Italian citizenship, restoring a requirement introduced in 1912 and unchanged until 1992.
Specifically, it aims to modify Article 9 of Law No. 91/1992, which raised the period of uninterrupted legal residence in Italy for the submission of the citizenship application by adults.
This project receives funding by European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) in the framework of the EURECA 2025 project, which is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or ECAS. Neither the European Union nor ECAS can be held responsible for them..