Family reunification visa for Italy

A non-EU national lawfully resident in Italy, on a permit allowing it, brings close family to join them through family reunification (ricongiungimento familiare). The outcome turns on income, housing and, above all, on civil-status documents proving the family tie. We prepare and translate those documents and follow the procedure from the clearance through to the family permit.

What this visa is for

Family reunification, governed by Article 29 of the Consolidated Immigration Act (Testo Unico sull’Immigrazione), lets a non-EU national already settled in Italy be joined by close relatives. The relatives receive a permit for family reasons (permesso per motivi familiari), which allows them to work and to study.

Which relatives qualify

The sponsor needs a suitable permit of their own, a long-term EU residence permit or a permit of at least one year for work, protection, study, religious or family reasons. The route then covers the spouse not legally separated, unmarried children under eighteen at the date of the application, adopted and fostered children included and with the other parent’s consent where one exists, adult children who are dependent and permanently unable to provide for their essential needs for reasons of health, and dependent parents who have no other children in the country of origin, or parents over sixty-five whose other children are unable to support them for serious documented reasons of health, with health insurance or registration with the National Health Service for a parent over sixty-five. The exact position of each relative is assessed before the application.

Income and housing

The sponsor shows an annual income no lower than the social allowance (assegno sociale), increased by half of the allowance for each relative to be reunited, and no lower than twice the allowance where two or more children are under fourteen, and the income of family members living with the sponsor counts towards the total. The sponsor also shows suitable housing, through the housing suitability certificate (idoneità alloggiativa) of the municipality (Comune) or the hygiene and sanitary suitability certified by the local health authority (ASL), while for a child under fourteen joining a parent the consent of the person who holds the home is enough. The current figures are confirmed against the social allowance in force for the year.

The procedure

The sponsor applies for the clearance (nulla osta) at the Single Immigration Desk (Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione) at the Prefecture of their place of residence, which obtains the Questura’s opinion and checks the income and the housing. Once the clearance is granted, the relative obtains the entry visa for family reasons at the Italian consulate, which first verifies the authenticity of the documents proving the family tie, and after arrival applies for the permit for family reasons at the police headquarters (Questura). Where ninety days pass from the request without a decision, the relative is entitled to seek the visa directly from the consulate on the stamped copy of the application. A request is refused where the marriage or adoption was entered into only to obtain entry or stay.

The documents proving the family tie

This is where reunification is won or lost. Birth certificates, marriage certificates and other civil-status records issued abroad have to be legalised or carry an Apostille and to be translated into Italian by a sworn translator. Names spelt differently across documents, mismatched dates and missing legalisations are the commonest cause of refusal, and correcting them after the event costs months. Preparing the records correctly, at the outset, is the heart of the work.

How we assist, from abroad and in Italy

We check the position of each relative, prepare and sworn-translate the civil-status documents, and arrange their legalisation or Apostille. We then follow the clearance, the visa and the family permit, so the sponsor in Italy and the relatives abroad deal with one team.

Legal references: Article 29 of the Consolidated Immigration Act, Legislative Decree 286/1998.