A New Approach To Jure Sanguinis: Italy Tightens Citizenship Conditions and Makes CBI Look More Attractive

Citizenship by investment is but one path toward obtaining a second citizenship. Through jure sanguinis, Italy, Spain, and other countries open the possibility of naturalization if applicants can prove they are descendants of a citizen.

We have discussed this procedure in the past, stating that CBI offers much more straightforward access. Such programs create an immediate link with the countries through an investment without the need to prove being related to a distant ancestor, who may or may not have saved their birth certificate or related documents. 

Nevertheless, both the Italian citizenship by descent and the Caribbean programs are tightening their requirements as concerns arise regarding the protection of local culture and idiosyncrasy.

The Caribbean Vs Italy: Dual Citizenship Through Jure Sanguinis Or Investment

In essence, naturalization can be through jure sanguinis or jure soli, which means “right of blood” or “right of soil”. Maybe the easiest to understand is the latter because it's based on the place you are born in. If you're born in a country, even circumstantially, you have the right to citizenship. This is not an uncommon situation for people whose parents travel frequently. 

The second approach is proving you are related by blood to a person from that country. Through jure sanguinis, Italy and other countries have been receiving a large flow of immigrants, especially from Argentina, the United States, and Brazil. They claim their citizenship because they have Italian great or great-great-grandparents.

Thus, many are obtaining Italian citizenship by descent without actually having any real link to the country but this distant ancestor. Many of them have never known this person, don't speak the language, and have never set foot in Italy. On top of that, the number of applications causes administrative backlogs that the state organs can barely handle

Italian Citizenship By Descent Gets Farther and Farther Away for Many

In such a scenario, the government is implementing key changes in immigration law. For starters, the relative of the applicant must have had only Italian citizenship and no other. Along with that, they had to be residents in Italy for at least two consecutive years before the applicant's birth. These requirements have been implemented for applications filed by March 2025.

More information

Who Won't Be Eligible for Italian Citizenship Anymore?

With this, Italian citizenship becomes harder or impossible for many descendants of Italians around the world. The already tiresome process of researching the family tree and the search for old birth certificates is now worse than it was, and in most cases, it will be straight away pointless. This new law denies the right to Italian citizenship by descent to those whose connection is purely genealogical and not based on real presence and cultural connections. 

CBI As An Excellent Alternative To Jure Sanguinis: Italy Vs The Caribbean 

If anything, this highlights the advantages of citizenship by investment. Many have expressed negative opinions on such programs, alleging that there is no real connection but the economic contribution. However, all CBI does is create a bond through a much simpler path than the ones we get from traditional methods. Citizenship is not just granted blindly, but there's a whole due diligence process and a careful evaluation of the candidates. Furthermore, new stay requirements and passport renovation conditions are being discussed, which will definitely contribute to generating stronger bonds between the new citizens and their respective nations. 

Whether In The Caribbean Or Italy, Dual Citizenship Requires Greater Involvement

We've recently heard from reliable sources that the five Caribbean countries aim to ensure that the CBI citizens are more involved with the local culture and traditions. Addressing concerns about losing national identity or reputation, the islands are discussing the formation of a common regulatory organ. 

It will be in charge of ensuring that all standards are met and that the countries are penalized when failing to comply. This comes within a framework in which minimum stay requirements will be implemented in all the countries that don't have it (so far, the only one is Antigua and Barbuda), and where travel documents will be issued for a few years, after which renovation will be needed. 

The discussions are being held regarding the implementation of mandatory courses on local history and the involvement in cultural activities.

Choosing Citizenship in The Caribbean Over Italian Citizenship By Descent

While many are concerned about the new requirements, in our view, all this does is to enhance the Caribbean’s allure as a second nationality destination. Now, this will be a region in which access will be easy, avoiding endless research, long waiting times for visa renewals until acquiring a permanent resident status, and so on. At the same time, the region is working on maintaining and growing its reputation and the solidity of each nation. In a way, this is the same thing that Italy is doing, but in a much smarter approach in which everyone wins. 

Disclaimer: this article doesn’t take a position on citizenship by descent or citizenship by investment. This article is published as general information, and it doesn't constitute migration, investment, or legal advice. Before applying for citizenship in any country, consult with certified professionals specialized in those regions and legislations. 

The Caribbean Thrives As Italian Citizenship Becomes More Complex

When it comes to jure sanguinis, Italy has become firmer when it comes to immigration. On the other hand, the Caribbean is implementing more controls during the application and post-application processes. In both cases, the world of second nationality wins, especially in the Caribbean, because it has a more modern approach. It allows people to make their own connections instead of relying on blood bonds that may simply not exist. 

When it comes to citizenship by investment in the eastern Caribbean and Vanuatu, we can help you obtain your status efficiently and safely. Contact us, and one of our experts will guide you through the process. Everything we do is handled by an in-house team, which helps us maintain all the processes 100% secure and reliable. Our team will be waiting for your message.

Send us your enquiry here