09 Lug New rules to register a birth with the Italian Consulate

Context and Importance

Registering a child’s birth with the Consulate General of Italy in London is a crucial step in obtaining recognition of the child’s Italian citizenship and their registration with AIRE (Registry of Italians Residing Abroad). As of May 2025, new regulations have come into effect that significantly change the process of registering births abroad to Italian citizens—especially in cases of dual citizenship.

Legislative Changes (Decree-Law No. 36/2025 – Law 74/2025)

Law 74 of May 23, 2025 (effective from May 24) introduced important changes regarding the acquisition of Italian citizenship jure sanguinis (JS) for children born abroad:

– Italian citizenship is no longer automatically granted to children born abroad to Italian citizens if they also hold another citizenship at birth.

– The birth certificate is no longer sufficient on its own: proof of the right to citizenship must now be provided through additional documentation.

Required Documentation (from 2025 onwards)

In addition to the documents previously required for registration, new documents are now mandatory, especially in JS descent cases:

Basic documents (as before):

– Form Mod.14 (and Mod.15, if applicable), signed by both parents.

– Full British birth certificate, apostilled and translated.

– Copies of both parents’ identity documents.

– AIRE self-declaration form (if requested by the Consulate).

Additional documents required under the new rules:

– Certificate of Italian citizenship of the transmitting parent (obtainable from the relevant Comune or the Consulate).

– Residency history of the transmitting parent (issued by the Italian Comune) to prove continuity of citizenship.

– Proof of uninterrupted citizenship transmission (e.g., birth and citizenship documents of ancestors, including grandparents).

In some cases, also required:

– Court ruling recognizing paternity/maternity (if the child was born out of wedlock).

– Documentation proving JS transmission through the paternal or maternal line.

All documents must be recent, legible, in original or certified copy format, and translated where necessary.

Transitional Provision: Extension until May 2026

The law includes a transitional provision for the protection of descendants of Italian citizens jure sanguinis:

– For children born abroad to Italian citizens registered with AIRE before May 24, 2025, and for those who can prove descent from an Italian JS citizen, registration and citizenship recognition remain possible until May 23, 2026.

– This temporary window allows registration even if the new criteria are not yet fully met, as long as the documentation is submitted before the deadline.

– However, all required documents (e.g., certificate of citizenship and residency history) must still be attached, even in these transitional cases.

It is strongly advised not to wait until the May 2026 deadline, as processing times by Italian municipalities can exceed six months.

Practical Tips

– Check with your Italian Comune whether you still hold Italian citizenship and are correctly registered with AIRE.

– Prepare all documentation well in advance, especially the citizenship certificate (which can take weeks to be issued).

– If in doubt about your jure sanguinis eligibility, consult a legal expert in Italian citizenship law.

– If your child was born between March and May 2025, urgently check the protocol date of the birth certificate at the Consulate: what matters is the date the documentation was received, not the actual birth date.

Conclusion

In summary, registering a birth at the Consulate in London has become a more detailed and document-intensive procedure. Law 74/2025 marks a major shift for those intending to transmit Italian citizenship jure sanguinis, but also provides a transitional opportunity until May 2026.

Being well-prepared, submitting a complete application, and staying informed about the new rules are essential to avoid jeopardizing the child’s right to Italian citizenship.