Bringing your family to Italy is one of the most common reasons people navigate the Italian immigration system. Italy’s laws are generally supportive of family reunification, and the pathways differ significantly depending on your own status: whether you are an Italian citizen, an EU national, or a non-EU resident with a valid permit. This guide covers each scenario in detail, including the specific visa types, required documents, timelines, and practical steps for reuniting your family in Italy.
Scenario 1: You Are an Italian Citizen
If you are an Italian citizen (including through citizenship by descent), your family members benefit from EU free movement rules under Directive 2004/38/EC. This applies to your spouse or registered partner, your children (and your spouse’s children) under 21 or older if still dependent, your dependent parents and your spouse’s dependent parents, and other dependent relatives in some circumstances.
Non-EU Spouse or Family Members
If your family member is a non-EU citizen (e.g., your American spouse who does not have Italian citizenship), the process is:
Step 1: Obtain an entry visa. Your family member applies for a visto per ricongiungimento familiare con cittadino UE (family reunification visa with an EU citizen) at the Italian consulate in their country of residence. Required documents include a valid passport, proof of the family relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificates, apostilled and translated into Italian), proof of your Italian citizenship, and passport-size photos.
Step 2: Enter Italy and apply for a Carta di Soggiorno. Within 8 days of arrival, your family member must apply for a Carta di Soggiorno per familiare di cittadino UE (residence card for family member of an EU citizen) at the Questura (provincial police headquarters). This card is valid for 5 years and is renewable. It grants the right to work, access healthcare (SSN enrollment), and travel freely within the Schengen area.
Required documents for the Carta di Soggiorno include the family member’s passport, proof of your Italian citizenship and your Italian residence, proof of the family relationship, proof of adequate housing (a rental contract or property deed), proof of financial resources or health insurance (requirements are interpreted more flexibly for EU citizen families than for non-EU applications), and 4 passport photos.
Important: For EU citizen family reunification, there is no income threshold requirement as strict as the non-EU family reunification process. However, you must demonstrate that the family will not become an “unreasonable burden” on Italy’s social assistance system. In practice, having a job, pension, or demonstrable savings is sufficient.
EU/EEA Spouse or Family Members
If your family member is already an EU/EEA citizen, they do not need a visa. They simply register their presence at the Anagrafe (civil registry) of your comune within 3 months of arrival, providing proof of the family relationship and their own EU citizenship.
Scenario 2: You Are a Non-EU Resident in Italy
If you are a non-EU citizen living in Italy with a valid permesso di soggiorno (residence permit), you can apply for family reunification (ricongiungimento familiare) under Legislative Decree 286/1998 (the Testo Unico sull’Immigrazione) and its implementing regulations.
Who You Can Bring
Eligible family members include your legally married spouse (not legally separated), your minor children (including adopted or in custody), your dependent adult children who cannot support themselves due to health reasons, and your dependent parents (if they have no other children in the country of origin who can support them, or if they are over 65 and other children cannot provide for them due to documented health reasons).
Requirements for the Sponsor
As the sponsor (richiedente), you must hold a permesso di soggiorno valid for at least one year (types that qualify: work, self-employment, study, asylum, family, EU long-term resident, elective residence, religious reasons), demonstrate adequate income (the minimum for 2025 is approximately EUR 6,792/year for one family member, increasing proportionally for additional members; these amounts are pegged to the annual social allowance), and certify adequate housing through a certificate of housing suitability (certificato di idoneita alloggiativa) issued by the comune or ASL, verifying that your accommodation meets minimum size and sanitary standards.
The Application Process
Step 1: Submit the nulla osta request. File the application for a nulla osta al ricongiungimento familiare (authorization for family reunification) online through the Ministry of Interior portal (Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione). Required documents include your permesso di soggiorno, proof of income (CUD, pay stubs, or tax returns), the housing suitability certificate, and documentation of the family relationship (birth/marriage certificates, apostilled and translated). The Sportello Unico has 90 days to process the application (180 days if additional verification is needed).
Step 2: Family member obtains the visa. Once the nulla osta is approved, it is transmitted to the Italian consulate in the family member’s country. The family member then applies for a visto per ricongiungimento familiare (family reunification visa, Type D national visa) at the consulate, presenting the nulla osta, their passport, proof of the family relationship, and additional documents the consulate may require.
Step 3: Arrival and permesso di soggiorno. The family member must enter Italy within the visa’s validity period (typically 6 months). Within 8 working days of arrival, they must apply for their own permesso di soggiorno per motivi familiari (family reasons residence permit) at the post office (Poste Italiane) using the designated kit. This permit matches the duration of the sponsor’s permit and allows the holder to work, study, and access SSN healthcare.
Special Case: Family Members Already in Italy
In some cases, a family member who is already in Italy on another type of permit (e.g., study or tourism) may be able to convert to a family permit without leaving the country, depending on circumstances. This is assessed case by case by the Questura.
Scenario 3: Family Visas for Specific Situations
Elective Residence Visa Holders
If you hold an elective residence visa (common for retirees and financially independent Americans), your spouse and dependent children can apply for family reunification using the standard non-EU process described above. The income requirement must be met from passive income (pension, investments, rental income).
Digital Nomad Visa Holders
Italy’s digital nomad visa (introduced 2024) allows the holder’s family members to apply for dependent visas. The income threshold is EUR 28,000+/year for the primary applicant, with increases for dependents.
Student Visa Holders
Students with a valid study permit can apply for family reunification, though they must demonstrate adequate income and housing. This is less common and more difficult to qualify for given typical student income levels.
Cohabiting Partners (Conviventi)
Italy recognizes convivenza di fatto (de facto cohabitation) under the Cirinna Law (Law 76/2016). Cohabiting partners who have formalized their status at the Anagrafe with a dichiarazione di convivenza may have certain rights, but cohabitation alone does not create the same immigration rights as marriage or a civil union. For immigration purposes, marriage or civil union provides the strongest legal basis for family reunification.
Children
Minor Children
Minor children (under 18) are included in family reunification applications as dependents. Both parents must consent to the child’s relocation (or a court order must authorize it in cases of sole custody). If only one parent is relocating with the child, the other parent’s notarized consent (atto di assenso) is required.
Children Born in Italy
A child born in Italy to at least one Italian citizen parent is automatically an Italian citizen. A child born in Italy to non-EU parents acquires their parents’ citizenship, not Italian citizenship (Italy does not have birthright citizenship). The child receives a permesso di soggiorno linked to their parents’ status. For a comprehensive guide to birth-related processes, see our having a baby in Italy guide.
Rights of Family Permit Holders
A permesso di soggiorno per motivi familiari grants the right to work (employed or self-employed) without needing a separate work permit, access to the SSN (national health service) on the same terms as the sponsor, access to public education for children, access to social services, and the ability to travel freely within the Schengen area (with a valid passport and permit). The family permit is renewed with the sponsor’s permit and can eventually lead to an EU long-term residence permit (permesso di soggiorno UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo) after 5 years of continuous legal residence.
Practical Tips
Start document preparation early. Obtaining apostilles, translations, and certifications takes weeks to months. The housing suitability certificate can take 30 to 60 days to obtain; apply for it well before submitting the nulla osta. Income documentation should cover the most recent tax year (Modello 730 or CU). Keep copies of everything, as both the Sportello Unico and the Questura may request additional documentation at various stages. If your situation is complex (blended families, prior divorces, custody arrangements), consult an immigration lawyer (avvocato esperto in diritto dell’immigrazione) before beginning the process. The ACLI Patronato and INCA patronati offer free immigration assistance and can help with the application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my spouse work in Italy with a family visa?
Yes. A permesso di soggiorno per motivi familiari grants full work authorization (employed or self-employed) without needing a separate work permit. A Carta di Soggiorno (for family of EU citizens) also includes work rights.
How long does the family reunification process take?
For EU citizen families: relatively fast, typically 1 to 3 months for the Carta di Soggiorno once in Italy. For non-EU family reunification: typically 4 to 8 months total (90 days for the nulla osta, plus visa processing time, plus permit application in Italy).
What if my application for the nulla osta is denied?
Common reasons for denial include insufficient income, inadequate housing, or incomplete documentation. You can appeal the decision to the Tribunale (civil court) within 30 days. Correcting the deficiency and reapplying is also an option.
Can I bring my parents to Italy?
Yes, if they are dependent on you and meet the specific criteria (no other children in the country of origin who can support them, or age/health conditions). For EU citizen families, the criteria are more flexible. For non-EU sponsors, dependent parents must meet stricter dependency requirements.