Prior to beginning, ensure to check here if you require a Family Reunion visa!
The family reunion visa in Italy is a type of long-stay visa designed for foreign nationals who can demonstrate familial connections in Italy, allowing them to stay for more than 3 months.
Once granted, this visa permits foreign families to enter Italy, while the family residence permit enables them to legally reside and potentially work in the country.
Non-European residents possessing a valid Italian residence permit, sufficient income, and appropriate housing can initiate the process of bringing their family members to Italy on a family reunion visa, often referred to as the spouse visa Italy.
It’s important to note that if you’re a citizen of an EEA country, you must apply for the EU family member residence permit to bring your non-EU family member to Italy.
Where and how to apply
To apply for the Italian Family Reunion Visa, the spouse legally residing in Italy must apply for a “nulla osta” (authorization) for reunification at the “Sportello Unico” (Unified Immigration Desk). This can be done through a dedicated computerized procedure accessible on the Ministry of the Interior’s website.
Then you can visit the Italian embassy or consulate in your home country to apply for the visa. You could schedule an appointment online or by phone. Here you can find the Italian embassy or consulate in your home country. Or you can consider an External Services Providers listed here.
Once approved, your visa will be affixed to your passport, allowing you to travel to Italy within the visa’s validity period.
Who among the family members can qualify for the family reunification visa
You have the option to request to bring the following family members:
- Your spouse, if they are over 18.
- Children under 18 years old, who are unmarried, with the consent of the other parent.
- Children over 18 who rely on you due to health conditions or disabilities.
- Parents under 65 years old, if they depend on you and have no other children to care for them in their home country.
- Parents over 65 years old, if their other children in their home country are unable to care for them due to serious health issues.
- Parents, if you are under 18 years old.
You cannot request to bring:
- Children over 18 years old, even if they rely on you but are not totally disabled.
- Siblings, regardless of their age.
Who can apply for a “nulla osta” (authorization)
If you’ve been granted refugee status or subsidiary protection in Italy, you have the option to request to bring your immediate family members from a non-European country to join you.
In such cases, proof of income or accommodation is not required for the application process.
Additionally, if you hold at least a 1-year Permesso per Motivi di Lavoro (subordinato and autonomo) or Permesso per Motivi di Studio, or if you possess an Ex Carta di Soggiorno, you can also request to bring your immediate family members to Italy. However, the regulations for these situations may vary slightly compared to those with refugee status or subsidiary protection.
It’s important to note that if you’re still awaiting a final response on your asylum case or if you have 2-year Casi Speciali or Protezione speciale, you are not eligible to apply for this benefit.
Financial requirement
Income criteria are subject to yearly updates. The required income rises proportionately with the number of family members to be reunited. This necessary income is calculated based on the annual social allowance, increased by half for each additional family member. For instance, in 2021, the social allowance stood at €5,983.64. To reunite one family member, an income of €8,975.46 is required; for two family members, €11,967.28, and so forth.
In cases involving the reunification of two or more children under 14 years old, or two or more family members of international protection holders, an income no less than twice the annual social allowance is always necessary.
Accommodation requirement
To ensure a successful application for the Italy family visa, you must secure a housing suitability certificate (certificato di idoneità alloggiativa) verifying that the residence meets hygiene and size standards.
The required square meters (m2) per family member are as follows:
Number of residents Required living space per person
- 2 – 28m2
- 3 – 42m2
- 4 – 56m2
For each additional family member, you must have an extra 10m2 per person. For example, if you’re welcoming 7 family members, your property must be at least 82m2.
To obtain this housing suitability document in Italy, bring your rental agreement and any floor plans to the immigration office (Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione) in your municipality.
Documents required
To obtain the Nulla Osta, you must submit the following documents along with their translated and notarized copies:
Italian residence permit and a valid ID/passport Evidence of family relationship, such as a birth certificate or marriage certificate Proof of adequate income Documentation confirming suitable accommodation in Italy Evidence of health insurance if the family member is 65 years or older Financial details demonstrating your family member’s dependence on you
For the visa application, the family member must provide:
Completed visa application form Valid passport Nulla Osta Passport-sized photographs Receipt of visa fee payment Documentation proving the family member’s relationship with you Flight itinerary Criminal background check report