FOREIGNERS (in Italy). - Foreigners are admitted to enjoy in Italy the civil rights granted to citizens on condition of reciprocity; this principle is to be considered valid (except for special provisions) even for legal persons.
While they are in the State, they are subject, as temporary subjects, to the penal laws, police laws and public security laws in general; they may be criminally liable, in certain cases, even for offenses committed abroad; they may be expelled (with free choice of destination) or extradited (with surrender to the authorities of another State); extradition for political offenses is, however, excluded. They may enjoy the "right of asylum" within the territory of the Republic if in their own country the exercise of the democratic freedoms guaranteed by the Italian Constitution is denied them (Constitution, art. 10).
By special convention diplomatic protection, which by its nature is limited to citizens, may be extended to nationals of another State in the territories of third States. In financial matters, special provisions are often issued for individual taxes on the property of foreigners in Italy. Former citizens retain (in addition to the obligation, in certain cases, of military service) the duty of loyalty, with the corresponding penal consequences.