The Italian Parliament has introduced a significant change to court filing fees through Law no. 207 of December 30, 2024, which became effective on January 1, 2025, under the 2025 Budget Law. The filing fee has increased from €518 per case to €600 per petitioner.
This change has raised widespread concerns among associations, politicians, and businesses in the citizenship field, as it diverges from other Italian legal proceedings involving multiple petitioners with the same grounds (e.g., division of property or condominium claims), where co-petitioners are not required to pay separate fees.
Although efforts are underway to challenge the constitutionality of this provision, the process is expected to be lengthy, potentially taking over two years in the first phase alone, and even longer if appeals are pursued. Additionally, Parliament has introduced stricter enforcement measures. Under the new law (Art. 248, par. 3-bis of D.P.R. 115/2002, as amended by Law no. 207/2024), fines equal to 70% of the original amount due will be applied automatically without notice after 30 days of delay (Art. 42 of Law no. 173/24).
Our Recommendations
To avoid delays, penalties, and fines, we strongly recommend paying the full fee (€600 per petitioner). If you are looking to minimize costs, consider the following:
- Excluding children under 10 years of age: Children older than 10, up to 15 years, pose greater risks as they may reach adulthood by the time the citizenship decision is registered with the Municipality. If they become adults, they will need to file a separate court petition.
- Excluding petitioners with limited interest: These individuals can file their own petition at a later time.
The Benefits of Paying the Full Fee
By paying the full fee, you will ensure that your petition is processed efficiently. We fear that attempting shortcuts—such as paying lower amounts—could lead to:
- Delays in proper filing or court management
- Fines for underpayment
- Inability to receive the decision or certification of the sentence as final (executable) without paying the required fee and fines.
Please note that if you choose to pay the full fee now, and this provision is modified after a few years—whether reduced, declared unconstitutional, or otherwise—your chances of obtaining reimbursement from the Justice Accounting Department are exceedingly slim. We urge you to carefully evaluate your options and make an informed decision. Again, we firmly believe that paying the full fee today remains the best course of action to avoid delays and complications in your citizenship case before the Court.
At My Lawyer in Italy, we are available to assess each individual case and work closely with our clients to determine the most effective and tailored course of action.