In a landmark decision (Judgment No. 25/2025, published on March 12, 2025), the Constitutional Court declared that Italy’s citizenship law was discriminatory by failing to exempt individuals with severe language learning limitations due to age, illness, or disability from the mandatory language proficiency test. Following this ruling, the Ministry of the Interior has issued a circular outlining new guidelines aimed at making the citizenship application process more inclusive (you can find the circular as follows: Circolare nr.14605 del 13.03.2025 – Concessione della cittadinanza italiana).
The case, initiated by the Regional Administrative Court of Emilia Romagna, called into question the fairness of requiring a language test from applicants who had documented disabilities. Following this ruling, the Ministry of the Interior has clarified the process, specifically stating that applicants with significant language learning challenges due to age, health conditions, or disability will no longer be required to take the language test, as long as they submit an official certificate from a public health institution confirming their limitations.
This new exemption applies to applicants who are either already in the application process or are about to apply for Italian citizenship. They will be required to submit a certificate from a public health institution in place of the language proficiency certificate. For those residing in Italy, foreign medical certifications must be accompanied by the appropriate certification issued by the Italian public health institution. Meanwhile, applicants living abroad must ensure that foreign health certificates are properly translated and legalized.
This important ruling and subsequent guidance represent a significant shift towards a more inclusive approach to citizenship, ensuring that individuals with disabilities are not unfairly excluded from becoming Italian citizens due to language barriers.
This article was written by Giuditta De Ricco and Irene Lauretta.
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