Italy’s New Immigration Policies: Bring Skills, Not Family Trees 🇮🇹

A New Era for Legal Migration in Italy

Starting in 2026, Italy will begin issuing nearly half a million work visas to non-EU nationals as part of a multi-year plan to combat labor shortages and boost key sectors like agriculture, hospitality, and construction. The new quotas will be rolled out gradually, beginning with over 164,000 spots in the first year alone. By 2028, the total is expected to reach close to 500,000, marking one of the most ambitious legal migration efforts in recent Italian history.

Why the Sudden Generosity?

It’s not entirely altruistic. Italy’s population is shrinking. Fast. In 2024, the country saw 281,000 more deaths than births. The national population dipped to under 59 million, continuing a decade-long decline. If trends continue, Italy may need to welcome at least 10 million immigrants by 2050 just to maintain its current population size.

Unions and business groups applauded the move, especially in sectors like farming, where workers are in short supply. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi emphasized that the new strategy is about “realistic migration, built around what the economy actually needs.”

Say Goodbye to Great-Grandparent Citizenship

But while one door opens, another slams shut.

In late March 2025, Italy introduced a surprise decree tightening rules for citizenship-by-descent—also known as jus sanguinis. For decades, anyone with an Italian great-grandparent (alive after 1861) could apply for an Italian passport without ever setting foot in the country. The new law changes that overnight.

Under the revised regulations:

• You’ll now need an Italian parent or grandparent, not a more distant ancestor.
  

• Applicants must prove language proficiency with a state exam.
  

• Those applying through marriage must now live in Italy for at least two years.
  

• Dual nationals risk losing their Italian citizenship if they don’t vote, pay taxes, or keep ID documents up to date.

The law is already wreaking havoc for thousands mid-application. Some families have spent years collecting documents, translating certificates, and even buying property in Italy—only to find out they no longer qualify.

So What Now?

If you’re hoping to move to Italy to work, the path is clearer than ever. The upcoming work visa quotas could be your best shot.

If you’re hoping to reclaim your Italian heritage, the window has narrowed—fast. While the new rules aren’t finalized until Parliament votes, many fear the damage is already done. Legal challenges are expected, but the road ahead is uncertain.emain vibrant, welcoming, and well preserved for future generations.

Bottom Line: Italy is saying yes to new workers, but not to new citizens. For anyone with Italian roots, it's a moment of reckoning. And for those just looking for a new place to call home? Keep an eye on those work visa deadlines. Italy may still have room for you—just not through the bloodline anymore.