{"id":3483,"date":"2025-05-20T06:16:31","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T06:16:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.italyvisainvestments.com\/?page_id=3483"},"modified":"2026-04-23T06:57:31","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T06:57:31","slug":"work-visa-in-italy-for-italian-descendants","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.italyvisainvestments.com\/en\/international-work\/work-visa-in-italy-for-italian-descendants\/","title":{"rendered":"Work visa in Italy for Italian descendants"},"content":{"rendered":"
International Work<\/div>\n

Work visa in Italy for Italian descendants<\/h1>\n
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The Italian legal tradition has always recognized a strong bond with its descendants around the world. Law of February 5, 1992, no. 91 crystallized this principle, regulating citizenship according to the ius sanguinis: a system that guarantees the automatic transmission of citizenship without generational limits and regardless of the place of birth.<\/p>\n

However, the legal framework has changed significantly with the introduction of Decree-Law no. 36\/2025, converted into Law no. 74\/2025. This measure marked a turning point, introducing the principle of the \u201cgenuine link\u201d as an essential requirement for the acquisition of citizenship, and providing for a clear cut-off at the second generation of descendants. In other words, only those whose parents or grandparents hold (or held, if deceased, at the time of death) \u201cexclusively\u201d Italian citizenship can be recognized as citizens.<\/p>\n

In addition, citizenship may be recognized if one of the parents or adoptive parents has been resident in Italy for at least two consecutive years after acquiring Italian citizenship and before the date of birth or adoption of the child.<\/p>\n

The most controversial novelty of the decree is undoubtedly its retroactive application, which also affects those born before the entry into force of the new law, creating an unprecedented situation of inequality in the history of Italian citizenship law.<\/p>\n

Although the Firm is at the forefront of the legal battle against the application of this new law, at the same time, as legal professionals, we have the duty to analyze the legislation in its entirety, identifying not only the limitations but also the new opportunities that may emerge from a legislative change.<\/p>\n

And it is precisely in this spirit that we wish to bring to the attention of our clients and all Italian descendants an extraordinary opportunity that Decree 36\/2025 has paradoxically opened.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The in-quota and extra-quota system for the work visa in Italy for Italian descendants<\/h2>\n
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The system of entry for work is divided into two main channels to obtain a work visa in Italy: the \u201cin-quota\u201d system and the \u201cextra-quota\u201d system. The first is regulated by the annual \u201cDecreto Flussi\u201d, which establishes the maximum number of foreign workers admissible in Italy, divided by type of work and country of origin. This channel is characterized by competitive procedures and limited availability of places.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Among other things, for several years governments have issued \u201cdecreti flussi\u201d under practically inaccessible conditions, in fact limited to the conversion of residence permits of those already regular in Italy, or to seasonal work permits.<\/p>\n

The \u201cextra-quota\u201d system, regulated by article 27 of the Consolidated Immigration Act, instead allows entry with a work visa for Italy regardless of numerical limits, for special categories of workers, such as artists, athletes, professional nurses, translators, etc. In addition, entry \u201coutside the quota\u201d is allowed for those eligible for an intra-company transfer visa (ICT).<\/p>\n

The provision introduced by Decree-Law No. 36\/2025 extends this privilege to the descendants of Italian citizens, without explicit generational limitations, for countries with strong Italian emigration, which include Argentina, Brazil, the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Venezuela and Uruguay<\/strong>. This measure offers significant advantages: guaranteed access to the Italian labor market, the possibility of entering with a visa for employed or self-employed work, flexibility in submitting the application, faster procedures and the ability to work in any sector.<\/p>\n

Combined with the reduction of the residence period to apply for citizenship (from three to two years for descendants of Italians), this opportunity represents a privileged path towards full integration into Italian society, offsetting the restrictions introduced in the recognition of citizenship jure sanguinis.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A new privileged path to Italy: the extra-quota work visa<\/h2>\n
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While much of the media attention has focused on the restrictions introduced by the decree, an innovative provision has gone almost unnoticed, despite representing an unprecedented opportunity for Italian descendants wishing to build a future in Italy. Article 1-bis, paragraph 1 of the decree has in fact inserted paragraph 1-octies into article 27 of the Consolidated Immigration Act (Legislative Decree 286\/1998), creating a special category of entry for work reserved for descendants of Italian citizens.<\/p>\n

The implementing decree of this new provision was awaited, and it arrived on 17 November 2025: the decree of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs published in the Official Gazette No. 273 of 24 November 2025, which identified the States towards which significant Italian migratory flows were directed.<\/p>\n

Well, citizens of those States \u2013 Argentina, Brazil, the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Venezuela <\/strong>and Uruguay<\/strong> \u2013 if descended from Italians, will be able to enter and stay in Italy for employed work outside the quotas provided for by Legislative Decree No. 286\/1998.<\/p>\n

This provision allows entry and residence in Italy for employment outside the maximum quotas of foreigners normally admitted to the national territory through the annual \u201cdecreti flussi\u201d. In practical terms, this means that Italian descendants residing abroad will be able to access the Italian labor market without having to compete with other foreign citizens for the limited places available within the immigration quotas. It is a preferential channel that recognizes the special bond these individuals have with Italy, significantly facilitating their transfer to the country of their ancestors.<\/p>\n

What makes this opportunity particularly relevant for the communities of descendants of Italians residing abroad is that, unlike the restrictions introduced for the automatic acquisition of citizenship, this provision does not include any generational limitation. This means that even descendants of Italians beyond the second degree, for whom the acquisition of citizenship iure sanguinis may be prevented by the new rules, can benefit from this privileged route of entry into Italy. It is an implicit acknowledgment of the value of the family and cultural ties that unite Italy and Brazil, regardless of the generational distance that separates the Italian descendant from their Italian ancestor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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How to obtain the work visa for Italian descendants and move to Italy<\/h2>\n
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The process for Italian descendants from countries with high emigration rates who wish to move to Italy through the extra-quota work visa consists of clear and defined steps. The first necessary element is a concrete job offer from an Italian employer, which forms the basis of the entire procedure. Once the offer is received, the process unfolds through the following phases:<\/p>\n

First, the Italian employer must submit an application for a work nulla osta at the \u201cSportello Unico per l\u2019Immigrazione\u201d of the competent Prefecture, specifying that the worker is a descendant of Italian citizens and therefore a beneficiary of the preferential \u201cextra-quota\u201d channel under article 27, paragraph 1-octies of the Consolidated Immigration Act.<\/p>\n

Once the nulla osta has been obtained, the Italian descendant candidate must submit the work visa application at the Italian diplomatic representation in their country, attaching documentation proving Italian descent (birth, marriage, and death certificates linking the applicant to the Italian ancestor).<\/p>\n

Once in Italy, within 8 working days, the worker must go to the \u201cSportello Unico per l\u2019Immigrazione\u201d to sign the residence contract, and subsequently apply for the residence permit at the designated post office.<\/p>\n

This process, while requiring careful preparation, is significantly more accessible than standard procedures thanks to the exemption from quotas. Boschetti International Law Firm offers specialized assistance at every stage, ensuring a smooth transition to the new life in Italy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Italian descendants abroad: how to move and work in Italy<\/h2>\n
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For Italian descendants coming from Argentina, Brazil, the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Venezuela <\/strong>and Uruguay,<\/strong> relocating to Italy represents not only a return to their roots, but also an opportunity for professional growth in a country that offers high standards of quality of life and access to the European single market.<\/p>\n

Preparation for this important step begins with gathering documentation proving descent from Italian citizens. This documentation includes birth, marriage, and death certificates that create an unbroken chain from the Italian ancestor to the current applicant. It is essential that these documents be official, apostilled under the Hague Convention or legalized according to the procedures provided in the country of origin, and translated into Italian by authorized translators.<\/p>\n

At the same time, it is necessary to start looking for job opportunities in Italy. This can be done through specialized online platforms, professional contacts, or with the assistance of consultants specialized in the Italian labor market. Language skills, both in Italian and in the language of the country of origin, represent a significant competitive advantage, especially in sectors oriented towards internationalization.<\/p>\n

Once a job opportunity has been identified, the visa application process is carried out with the support of the future employer, who will initiate the procedure with the competent Italian authorities.<\/p>\n

Boschetti International Law Firm offers a complete service that accompanies the Italian descendant through every phase of the transfer: from the preliminary verification of documentation to the search for professional opportunities, from the management of bureaucratic procedures to assistance with integration into Italian society.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A concrete path towards Italian citizenship through residence<\/h2>\n
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The extra-quota work visa is not only an immediate opportunity to move to Italy, but it can also represent the first step of a broader path towards the acquisition of Italian citizenship, which the Italian descendant would obtain through another route. If the changes introduced by Decree 36\/2025, converted with amendments by Law No. 74\/2025,\u00a0have limited the automatism of the ius sanguinis, they have paradoxically facilitated the path towards citizenship by residence for descendants of Italians.<\/p>\n

Article 1-bis, paragraph 2 of the decree has in fact reduced from three to two years the period of legal residence required for the granting of citizenship to the foreigner whose parent or grandparent was an Italian citizen by birth. This reduction in waiting time represents a significant advantage compared to the ten years normally required for foreign citizens. Italian descendants who choose to move to Italy through the extra-quota work visa can therefore plan an integration path that, in only two years of legal and continuous residence, may culminate with the acquisition of Italian citizenship.<\/p>\n

Citizenship acquired in this way represents the crowning achievement of a real-life path in Italy, rooted in daily experience and in the building of authentic relationships with the local community.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Building your future in Italy: a concrete opportunity<\/h2>\n
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Moving to Italy does not only mean reconnecting with one\u2019s cultural roots, but also embracing a lifestyle unique in the world. Italy is universally recognized for its extraordinary quality of life, the result of a perfect balance between tradition and innovation, between artistic beauty and economic dynamism. The country offers an excellent public healthcare system, a quality educational system accessible to all, and a social safety network that provides support at every stage of life. Added to this is the richest artistic and cultural heritage on the planet, a natural environment of extraordinary beauty and variety, and a gastronomic tradition celebrated worldwide.<\/p>\n

From a professional point of view, Italy offers opportunities in diverse sectors, from high-end manufacturing to fashion, from design to high technology, from tourism to agri-food. The skills and intercultural perspective of citizens from the USA and Latin America represent an added value particularly appreciated in the Italian labor market, which is increasingly oriented toward internationalization.<\/p>\n

For families, Italy offers a safe and stimulating environment for the growth of children, with excellent educational opportunities and a social context that values family and community bonds. Young professionals can benefit from Italy\u2019s strategic position at the heart of Europe, with easy access to the entire European single market for further opportunities for personal and professional growth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

How we can help you obtain the work visa for Italian descendants in Italy: the complete services of Boschetti International Law Firm<\/h2>\n

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Undertaking an international relocation path requires careful planning and an in-depth knowledge of immigration laws and bureaucratic practices and procedures. Boschetti International Law Firm, with its long-standing experience in assisting foreigners wishing to emigrate to Italy, has developed an integrated approach that supports the client in every phase of the path to Italy, from the initial preparation of documentation to full integration into Italian society.<\/p>\n

Our team of professionals specialized in immigration law will take charge of your case by carrying out the following activities:<\/p>\n