Italy curbs citizenship rules to end tenuous descendant claims

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1. ROME, March 28 (Reuters) – Italy’s government tightened its citizenship laws on Friday, preventing people from delving deep back into their family history to try to claim a much sought-after Italian passport.

   Under existing rules, anyone who can prove they had an Italian ancestor who was alive after March 17, 1861, when the Kingdom of Italy was created, can seek citizenship.

   However, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the system was being abused, with would-be Italians swamping consulates abroad for requests for passports, which provide visa-free entry to more countries than almost any other nationality.

   As a result, in future only individuals with at least one parent or grandparent born in Italy, a European Union member state, will automatically qualify for citizenship by descent.
   “Being an Italian citizen is a serious thing. It’s not a game to get a passport that allows you to go shopping in Miami,” Tajani told a press conference.

   The foreign ministry said there had been a surge in people abroad being granted citizenship, particularly in South America, where millions of Italians emigrated in the 19th and 20th centuries, often to escape grinding poverty back home.

2. Italy make rules more strict to stop unsure people claim citizenship. Italy say no more confusion!

3. I understand why they did it.

   I was elegible to apply for Italian citizenship before, which was ridiculous. I was born and raised in Chile, to Chilean parents and Chilean grandparents. I’m just an average Chilean who’s never been to Italy, who doesn’t speak Italian at all

   And I find it funny that I could have gotten the citizenship, travelled to Rome and walked around saying “how do you do, fellow Italians?”.

4. Considering that most of the foreigners asking for it never arrive in here but use the citizenship to move in better EU countries…they did right

5. Not necessarily a bad move, if not abused. However, let’s see how many rich footballers who can play here as Italians will be hit by the rule. My guess is some number between zero and zero.

   Worth noting that in Argentina, which produces exceptional football players, over 50% of the population is of Italian ancestry; that means tens of millions.

6. Exceptions made for elite rugby players huh? Lol

7. Spain needs to do the same – awarding citizenships to people with, at best, one Spanish grandparent is truly bizarre.

8. “Italian”-Americans on suicide watch lol

9. It was about time. And it is still way too generous in my opinion

10. Oh No! What will the americans now do?!? Which Identity will they steal next?

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