Key facts
| Italian descendants | A very large community; Italy recognised about 8,000 citizenships in Venezuela in 2024 alone. |
|---|---|
| Entering Italy | Visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180 in the Schengen area. |
| ETIAS | No confirmed start date yet (the EU postponed it; expected in 2027). |
| Apostille | Online legalisation and apostille system of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MPPRE). |
| Italian consulates | Caracas and Maracaibo. |
| Social security | Italy–Venezuela bilateral agreement. |
| Driving licence | No confirmed general conversion agreement: we check it case by case. |
Italian citizenship for Venezuelans in 2026
Since 28 March 2025 (Decree-Law 36/2025, Law 74/2025), people born abroad who hold another citizenship only qualify for Italian citizenship by descent if:
- they filed the application or court case by 27 March 2025; or
- a parent or grandparent holds, or held at death, only Italian citizenship; or
- an Italian parent lived in Italy for 2 continuous years after becoming a citizen and before the applicant's birth.
In 2026 the Constitutional Court upheld the reform (judgment 63/2026) and then referred questions to the EU Court of Justice (order 147/2026), so the issue is still open. The Court of Cassation (Joint Sections, judgment 24045/2026) resolved the minor issue favourably: a minor born in a jus soli country did not lose Italian citizenship when the parent naturalised. This matters a lot for cases filed before 2025.
The document problem
Getting records, criminal certificates and apostilles in Venezuela can take a long time. Some solutions:
- Start with the ancestor's Italian records, which we request directly from the Comune in Italy.
- Use the MPPRE online apostille system early and check that names and dates match.
- If documents can't be obtained, consider alternative evidence in a court case.
If you're already in Italy without a permit
Depending on your story, there may be routes such as special protection or international protection, permits based on family ties (Italian spouse or children), or citizenship if your case fits the law. Don't file anything before your case is assessed. See the regularisation guide.
If you have an Italian passport
- You can live and work in Italy without a visa and register your residence at the Comune.
- Your Venezuelan family can apply for a residence card as family members of an EU citizen, even from within Italy.
Frequently asked questions
My Venezuelan passport has expired. Can I still do procedures in Italy?
It depends on the procedure. Some accept other identity documents; in other cases there are specific solutions. We review it in the consultation.
Can I apply for asylum in Italy as a Venezuelan?
You can apply; the outcome depends on your personal story. Sometimes another route is better. We assess before filing.
My grandfather was Italian. Do I qualify?
If your grandfather held only Italian citizenship (never naturalised Venezuelan), it's one of the cases the law keeps. It must be proven with documents.
Last updated: 2026-10-23. This guide is general information and does not replace a lawyer's advice on your specific case. Italian immigration rules change often.