Legally, all Italian nationals are citizens of the Italian Republic, regardless of ancestry or nation of residence (in effect, however, Italian nationality is largely based on jus sanguinis) and may be distinguished from people of Italian descent without Italian citizenship and from ethnic Italians living in territories adjacent to the Italian Peninsula without Italian citizenship.
Legalmente, tódolos italianos son cidadáns da República de Italia, sen ter en conta a súa orixe ou nación de residencia (malia que o principio jus sanguinis é empregado a miúdo na lei nacional italiana), e distínguense das persoas de ascendencia italiana e dos italianos étnicos que viven nos territorios adxacentes da Península Itálica.