<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An Australian woman hoping to retire in her family's ancestral home of Italy has been blocked from obtaining citizenship after </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/italian-citizenship-requirements-restrictions-descent-law/8e5ebd2d-61f6-4d93-857c-88a840a5a4f2" rel="" target="_blank" title="a 165-year-old rule was suddenly overturned."><span>a 165-year-old rule was suddenly overturned.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Carla* considers herself to be </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/italy" rel="" target="_blank" title="Italian"><span>Italian</span></a><span> – she just needed the papers to prove it.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Her parents were both born in Italy, she speaks fluent Italian and is in nearly daily contact with her family members back in Europe.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But due to a new set of conditions imposed by the Italian government, Carla, who is aged in her 50s, may never become an Italian </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/citizenship" rel="" target="_blank" title="citizen."><span>citizen.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/meet-the-team/digital/april-glover#:~:text=Diesel%20hits%20%244.25/litre%20on%20K%27gari%20as%20owner%20lays%20bare%20reality%20of%20fuel%20crisis" rel="" target="_blank" title="Diesel hits $4.25/litre on K'gari as owner lays bare reality of fuel crisis"><strong><span>Diesel hits $4.25/litre on K'gari as owner lays bare reality of fuel crisis</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/uk-eta-rules-family-scotland-trip-ruined/6ea6d79b-6e43-4adc-9507-d2b80096cbdf" target="_blank" title="Jessica's family trip was ruined over a 'distressing' citizenship revelation"><strong><span>Jessica's family trip was ruined over a 'distressing' citizenship revelation</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I attended the Italian Consulate in Sydney in January this year to apply for Italian citizenship for myself and my son as both my parents were born in Italy and they were Italian when I was born in Australia," Carla told </span><a href="https://www.nine.com.au/?rf=true" rel="" target="_blank" title="Nine.com.au."><span>Nine.com.au.</span></a></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/italian-dual-citizenship-strict-new-rule-that-destroyed-carlas-retirement-plans/bf9f10ff-2911-40fa-b7ee-d8f92600742a" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I was shocked and extremely disappointed to find out that, due to the Tajani Decree, I am not eligible for Italian citizenship any longer because my parents became Australian citizens while I was not yet 18.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I feel like I have lost my identity after feeling Italian all my life and then be told in my 50s, I am no longer Italian."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Carla wanted to take advantage of her blood right to citizenship to live in her mother's childhood home upon retirement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Her son was hoping to do the same.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Their plight for citizenship has been derailed by a controversial 2025 emergency decree, known as the Tajani decree, which seeks to tighten eligibility criteria for Italian citizenship.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>Do you have a story? Contact</span></strong></em><span> </span><strong><em><span>reporter April Glover at</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="mailto:april.glover@nine.com.au" target="" title="april.glover@nine.com.au"><em><strong><span>april.glover@nine.com.au</span></strong></em></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/cost-of-living-crisis-australian-women-cant-afford-sanitary-items-as-petrol-prices-soar/c5214cfc-0d28-49f2-829b-a8658339f285" rel="" target="_blank" title="'I'm scared': Price of petrol is fuelling a hidden crisis at the supermarket"><strong><span>'I'm scared': Price of petrol is fuelling a hidden crisis at the supermarket</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Under the old "jure sanguinis" (right of blood) rule, anyone who could prove they had an Italian ancestor alive after March 17, 1861 – when the Kingdom of Italy was founded – could obtain citizenship.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But now, the decree, which has been upheld in Italy's constitutional court, has ruled that only those with a parent or grandparent born in Italy can obtain an Italian passport.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The legislation also denies citizenship to those with an Italian parent or grandparent who held dual citizenship at the time of their birth.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Because Carla's parents became Australian citizens before she reached adulthood, she has been stripped of her right to an Italian passport.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"My husband is eligible for Italian citizenship even though his parents were born in Australia because his grandfather did not become an Australian citizen until my mother-in-law was over 18," Carla added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"My husband does not speak Italian or have any contact with relatives in Italy."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Italy's Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani said he introduced the decree to lower the risk of "passport shoppers".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Being an Italian citizen is a serious thing," Tajani said last year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Unfortunately, over the years, there have been abuses and citizenship requests that went somewhat beyond genuine interest in our country."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Italian passport was ranked as the third most powerful in the world, according to the Henley Passport Index.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/not-so-grey-nomads-max-and-duncan-cancer-diagnosis-during-australia-road-trip/40ca16ad-c8f3-4539-832e-45b1c40bba01" target="_blank" title="Max and Duncan sold everything to become nomads. Then came a grim diagnosis"><strong><span>Max and Duncan sold everything to become nomads. Then came a grim diagnosis</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Carla said this rule will now deny an entire diaspora of Italians the chance to live and work in their family's homeland.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are extremely lucky to live in this wonderful country of Australia that has been enriched by the multitude of varied migrants that have flourished on these shores," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I am not optimistic the diaspora of Italian heritage people like me will be recognised.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"As my lovely son-in-law recently said to me, 'you don't need a piece of paper to say you are Italian, because you definitely are Italian''."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.nine.com.au/?rf=true" rel="" target="" title="Nine.com.au"><span>Nine.com.au</span></a><span> has contacted the Consulate of Italy and Embassy of Italy in Canberra for comment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>*Not her real name.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>