A referendum in Italy could soon open doors for 2.5 mn foreigners to become citizens; here's how

Pro-migrant groups and opposition parties in Italy have collected enough signatures to trigger a referendum aimed at easing the country’s strict citizenship laws, according to government data released Tuesday (September 24).

The proposal seeks to reduce the required residency period for naturalisation from 10 years to five, and would allow new citizens to immediately pass on their nationality to their children.

An online register managed by the Justice Ministry confirmed that more than 500,000 signatures had been gathered, surpassing the threshold needed to initiate a public vote and bypass parliamentary gridlock on the issue.

What happens if the referendum passes?

Italy’s Supreme Court and Constitutional Court must now review the referendum request. If approved, a nationwide vote is expected to be held in 2025.

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Should the referendum pass, around 2.5 million foreigners could become eligible for Italian citizenship, according to the organisers, which include Oxfam Italia, ActionAid, the +Europa party, and the Italian Socialist Party.

Italy’s right-wing ruling coalition, led by the Brothers of Italy and the League, has historically opposed efforts to soften citizenship laws. However, Forza Italia, another coalition partner, signalled a shift this summer, indicating it may support changes.

The debate has intensified following Italy’s success at the Paris Olympics, where the achievements of multi-cultural athletes cast renewed attention on the country’s restrictive laws, which make it difficult for children of foreign residents to obtain Italian citizenship.

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A bid to beat ITaly’s tough citizenship laws

Italy’s citizenship laws are among the toughest in Europe. According to the European Commission, countries like France, Germany, and Belgium grant citizenship after five years of residence, while in Italy, foreigners must often wait more than 10 years due to bureaucratic delays.

With Italy facing a declining birth rate, economists have argued that increasing immigration could help stimulate the economy. However, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has dismissed migration as a solution to the demographic crisis.

Pro-migrant groups will now focus on mobilising support for the referendum, though they face the challenge of ensuring sufficient voter turnout. Recent referendums in Italy have struggled to meet the required 50 per cent participation rate to be considered valid.

With inputs from Reuters