Residence and work permits for descendants of Italian citizens of foreign origin (“oriundi”).

Recent changes to Italian immigration and citizenship laws have opened up a new and complex scenario for descendants of Italian citizens residing abroad, particularly for those who, following the changes introduced in 2025, can no longer automatically obtain citizenship by right of blood. With the conversion of Decree Law No. 36/2025 into Law No. 74/2025, the legislator has in fact redrawn the balance between the traditional principle of descent and the need for an effective link with the Italian state, introducing significant restrictions on the automatic recognition of citizenship. At the same time, however, the same legislative intervention has created a new and significant opportunity for entry and integration into Italy through work.

Introduction of a special category of entry for work purposes

The core of this innovation is represented by the introduction, in the Consolidated Law on Immigration (Legislative Decree 286/1998), of Article 27, paragraph 1-octies, which established a special category of entry for work purposes reserved for descendants of Italian citizens. This is an ‘out-of-quota’ channel, therefore not subject to the numerical limits set annually by the immigration decree, which allows entry into Italy for subordinate employment – and, in the future, also self-employment – without having to compete for the quota places normally reserved for foreign citizens.

Subjective and territorial scope of application

A decisive step forward was taken with the publication, on November 24, 2025, of the decree of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of November 17, 2025, which identified the countries characterized by historical and significant Italian emigration. Citizens of Argentina, Brazil, the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Venezuela, and Uruguay, if able to prove their descent from Italian citizens, can now access this simplified procedure. While not ruling out possible future extensions, the government has for now limited the scope of application to these countries, where the presence of communities of Italian origin is particularly significant.

Administrative procedure for issuing the authorization, visa, and residence permit

From a practical point of view, the procedure first requires the availability of a job offer from an Italian employer. The latter must submit an application for authorization to the Single Immigration Desk, specifying that the worker falls within the category of descendants of Italian citizens benefiting from entry outside the quota. Once the clearance has been obtained, the candidate can apply for a work visa at the relevant Italian diplomatic mission, attaching the necessary documentation to prove descent, such as birth, marriage, and death certificates linking the applicant to their Italian ancestor. After entering Italy, the residence contract is signed and a residence permit is requested, which allows the applicant to start working legally.

Legal status of residence permits and absence of generational limits

One of the most significant aspects of this measure is the absence of explicit generational limits: even descendants beyond the second generation can benefit from this privileged channel. In this sense, the out-of-quota work visa is not only a tool for immediate access to the labor market, but also the first step in a broader path to integration. Law No. 74/2025 has reduced the period of legal residence required for citizenship by residence from three to two years for descendants of Italian citizens, offering a concrete prospect of stabilization and full membership in the national community.

Relocation assistance and complementary services

Dealing with an international transfer of this kind requires legal, organizational, and logistical expertise. Qualified assistance allows you to manage each stage correctly, from preliminary verification of requirements to preparation of documentation, right through to coordination with Italian consular and administrative authorities. This is often accompanied by relocation services that are essential for effective integration, such as support with moving, obtaining a tax code, registering with the local authorities, finding accommodation, opening bank accounts, and school guidance for children.

Systematic framework and purpose of the discipline

In a regulatory context that has restricted some possibilities but created new ones, the residence and work permit outside the quota for descendants of Italian citizens is now one of the most concrete opportunities for building a life and career in Italy. It is a path that values the historical and cultural ties with the country, transforming them into a real path to integration, work, and, over time, citizenship, allowing many Italian descendants to return to live in the land of their origins with a solid legal basis and stable prospects.

SmartLivingItaly makes your move to Italy simple and secure, so you can focus on your most important project: enjoying your new life in the country of your origins.