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European University Institute - Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies

Granting Italian citizenship to migrants’ children on a conditional basis?

Director of the Global Citizenship programme Maarten Vink and Max Weber Fellow Victoria Donnaloja have recently published an article on La Repubblica, commenting on what Italians think about granting birthright citizenship for immigrants’ children.

19 July 2022 | Opinion

Citizenship for childrens of migrants in italy article globalcit

The ius soli reform, that is the right of anyone born in the territory of a state to citizenship, has been stalled in Italy.

In 2020, around 1 million children, either born in Italy or who arrived there as children, do not have Italian citizenship and in order to get it, they will have to wait until they turn 18 and actively register within a year.  This entails some detriment because the acquisition of citizenship during childhood benefits both the trajectory of children and the parents' integration. 

Research by Maarten Vink and Victoria Donnaloja on a sample of 1500 Italian citizens shows public attitudes regarding this issue:

"The public is mostly in favour of granting citizenship to migrants’ children born in Italy, albeit under certain conditions. Italians are more supportive of ius soli for children whose immigrant parents are in employment, have a residence permit and have lived in Italy for more than five years."

Read the full piece on La Repubblica. 

Last update: 20 July 2022

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