Family Reunification Visa Requirements
This information is not legal advice. Requirements and procedures change; always verify current details on official government websites, including the Italian consulate with jurisdiction over your place of residence, since documentation requirements can vary by consulate.
The process starts in Italy: the sponsor must first apply for the Nulla Osta al Ricongiungimento Familiare through the Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione, which reviews the application and forwards it to the Questura for verification; this step is submitted electronically and can take several months to be issued.
Required documents typically include proof of the family relationship (such as a marriage or birth certificate, apostilled and translated into Italian), valid passports, proof of the sponsor’s income and residence permit, and a formal invitation letter from the sponsor.
Once the Nulla Osta is granted, the family member applies for the visa at the Italian consulate with jurisdiction over their place of residence, presenting the Nulla Osta along with the required documents; once in Italy, they must apply for the Permesso di Soggiorno within 8 days of arrival. The National Visa for Family Reasons is typically valid for 365 days with multiple entries, and processing can take up to a few months depending on the consulate’s caseload.
Family Reunification allows non-EU family members to join a relative who is already legally residing in Italy. Eligible family members typically include spouses, dependent minor children, and dependent parents of the Italy-based sponsor.
Under current rules, the sponsor generally must have been legally and continuously resident in Italy for at least two years before applying, and must demonstrate sufficient income (roughly in line with Italy’s social allowance threshold, increased for each additional family member) as well as suitable accommodation.
