The Prenot@Ami Illusion: Why Screenshots Won’t Save Your Citizenship Claim
Key Takeaways
* The Dangerous Myth: Some claim that Prenot@Ami booking screenshots dated before March 27, 2025, will exempt you from the restrictive Tajani Decree (Law 74/2025).
* The Reality Check: Five new rulings from the Tribunal of Brescia (March-April, 2026) dismantle this theory, strictly applying the new law to claims filed after the cutoff.
* The Rule: Informal attempts to book an appointment do not create a legal shield. Formal filing dates determine which law applies.
They claim that if you have a Prenot@Ami screenshot, an email to a consulate, or any informal proof that you tried to start your jure sanguinis recognition before the March 27, 2025 cutoff, you are safe from the Tajani Decree. They interpret the recent Constitutional Court judgment as an open door for anyone who had the “intention” to apply.
This is legally inaccurate. And the courts are already rejecting these arguments.
The Brescia Ruling: A Strict Application of the Law
On 30 April 2026, the Tribunal of Brescia issued three identical definitive rulings that should serve as a wake-up call. I became aware of these rulings thanks to a colleague from the Natitaliani association, of which I am a proud member.
The applicants in all of the 5 cases formally deposited their court appeal on March – April 2025 — just days after the decree took effect. The applicants filed their prenot@mi booking attempts. Not one. Several.
Did the court evaluate whether they had tried to book a consular appointment months prior? No.
The judge applied Article 1, paragraph 1 of the decree strictly based on the formal filing date. Citing the recent Constitutional Court decision (No. 63/2026) that validated the law, the Tribunal rejected the citizenship claim outright because it failed to meet the new, restrictive substantive requirements.
The decision was binary. The appeal was filed after the cutoff; therefore, the new law applies. The claim is rejected. Fine della storia.
The Danger of False Hope
In my practice, I am seeing a concerning trend where applicants are encouraged to rely on “booking attempts” as a legal defense against Law 74/2025.
I understand the frustration. The consulate booking system is structurally broken. But from a strict legal standpoint, a screenshot of a full calendar is not a formal application. It does not consolidate your right under the old, more favorable legal framework.
Strategy Over Illusions
You cannot build a solid legal strategy on wishful thinking.
The Italian judicial system requires rigorous, evidence-based approaches. While there are specific, complex legal avenues to challenge the retroactive application in higher courts — such as the pending proceedings before the Court of Cassation — a simple Prenot@Ami screenshot will not convince an ordinary civil judge to ignore a constitutional law.
Do not let sensationalism dictate your choices. If you filed after the cutoff, you need a strategy built on the actual text of Law 74/2025, not on loopholes that the courts are actively closing.
