ItalyNational visa for the family members of an Italian resident

Family reunification in Italy in Italy

A national visa for the relatives of a foreign national who lives lawfully in Italy and wants to bring the family over. The procedure is started not by the applicant but by the relative in Italy: they request a nulla osta authorisation at the Single Immigration Desk at the prefecture, and only then does the consulate issue the visa.

Source: Consolato d'Italia Recife — Visto per ricongiungimento familiare

Who can obtain it

The right to reunification belongs to a foreign national already living lawfully in Italy. The visa goes to their relative — once the Single Immigration Desk has issued the nulla osta and the consulate has checked the documents proving the family relationship.

The sponsor in Italy

Holder of a residence permit valid for at least a year: employed work, self-employment, study, religious grounds, family grounds
A holder of international protection — the income and housing requirements do not apply to them
Reunification with a spouse, a dependent adult child or a parent requires two years of continuous lawful residence in Italy
Holders of a residence permit for international protection are exempt from the two-year requirement
A researcher with a residence permit for research obtains the nulla osta regardless of the term of their permit

Who can be brought over

A spouse aged at least 18 and not legally separated
Minor children, including the spouse's children and children born outside marriage, provided they are not married
Dependent adult children where, because of total disability, they cannot support themselves
Dependent parents where they have no other children in the country of origin
Parents over 65 where the other children cannot support them for confirmed serious health reasons

What the sponsor must prove

Accommodation meeting health and hygiene standards and certified fit for habitation: the certificate is issued by the municipal service or the local health service ASL
Annual income from lawful sources no lower than the assegno sociale social allowance, increased by half that allowance for each relative being sponsored
For two or more children under 14 — income no lower than twice the annual social allowance
The combined annual income of relatives living with the applicant is counted
Health insurance or registration with the national health service for a parent over 65

What it costs

Consular fee for the national visa on family grounds	116 EUR

Documents to gather

The list comes from the consulate in Recife and the consulate general in Paris. Documents are brought to the appointment in person: they are not accepted on a phone or by email.

Nulla osta from the questura and the Single Immigration Desk: the consulate receives it through electronic channels, and the applicant brings a copy on the day of the interview
Completed application form for a national type D visa and the summary form, completed on a computer
Passport and a copy: valid for at least three months longer than the visa applied for, with two blank pages, issued within the last ten years
Certified copy of the document proving the family relationship
Invitation from the relative permanently resident in Italy, with a certificate of their place of residence and the exact address of the flat
Copy of the passport and residence permit of the relative in Italy
Marriage certificate, family composition certificate or birth certificate — depending on who is moving
For an adult child — documents on total disability; for a parent — evidence of financial dependence
Travel insurance
Flight booking: when buying the ticket you must keep the same airport transfers as those given in the booking
Colour photograph on a white background taken no earlier than six months before filing
Receipt for payment of the consular fee

How the process runs

The first and longest part of the route is walked by the relative in Italy. The applicant joins in only at the consular appointment stage.

1
The relative in Italy checks the requirements
The sponsor checks their residence permit and length of lawful residence, obtains an income certificate and gets the housing suitability document. The certificate of health and hygiene requirements and of suitability is issued by the municipal service or the local health service ASL.
2
Requesting the nulla osta at the Single Immigration Desk
up to 150 days
The application with the documents on income, accommodation and family relationship is filed electronically with the Sportello unico per l'immigrazione at the prefecture of the sponsor's place of residence. The desk asks the questura for an opinion that there is no impediment to entry, checks the requirements and issues the nulla osta or a reasoned refusal.
3
Booking an appointment at the consulate
The applicant books a personal interview: documents cannot be filed by post or through a representative. The consulate in Recife takes bookings through the Prenot@mi portal, and the consular fee is paid before booking, with the receipt uploaded to the portal.
4
Filing the documents and issue of the visa
up to 30 days
The consulate checks that the documents on family relationship, marriage, age or state of health are genuine and issues the visa within thirty days of the request. The nulla osta must have been issued no earlier than six months before the visa application.
5
Entry and obtaining the residence permit
8 working days
After entry the relative goes to the prefecture's Single Immigration Desk, signs the documents and receives the kit for requesting a residence permit, which they send in person through a post office with the Sportello Amico service. The application is lodged within eight working days of the date of entry, after which fingerprints are given at the questura.

Who you can bring with you

The categories of relative are closed by law: the list cannot be extended to brothers, sisters or grandchildren.

Spouse

At least 18 years old and not legally separated. A marriage certificate and a family composition certificate showing husband, wife and children are required.

Minor children

Children who had not turned 18 at the time of the request, including the spouse's children and children born outside marriage. The consent of the other parent is required, where there is one. Adopted children and children under guardianship are treated as natural children.

Adult children

Only where, because of total disability, they cannot support themselves. The state of health is certified by a doctor appointed by the diplomatic or consular mission, at the applicant's expense.

Dependent parents

Where they have no other children in the country of origin or residence. A family composition certificate and evidence of financial dependence on the relative in Italy are required.

Parents over 65

Where the other children cannot support them for documented serious health reasons. All-risk health insurance for Italy or registration with the national health service is also required.

Relatives of a refugee

The same categories and the same procedure, but the income and housing requirements do not apply. If the refugee is an unaccompanied minor, the entry of their direct relatives in the ascending line of the first degree is permitted.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

All the steps are taken by the relative who already lives lawfully in Italy: they file the application with the Single Immigration Desk. To have the residence permit renewed you must not be away from the country for more than 6 months in a row.

The residence permit for family reunification is issued for no more than two years. Each renewal may not exceed three years. Renewal is requested from the questore of the province where the foreign national lives, at least ninety days before expiry; the conditions on which the permit was issued are checked again. Where a person who has exercised the right to reunification is refused issue or renewal, the authorities must take into account the nature and reality of the family ties, the existence of ties with the country of origin and the length of residence in Italy.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

After 5 years of lawful residence you obtain the EU long-term residence permit: income no lower than the social allowance and a pass in the Italian test at level A2. The permit is open-ended; as an identity document it is valid for 5 years.

Route to citizenship

After 10 years of lawful residence you apply to the prefecture with SPID. It requires Italian at B1 and income: EUR 8,263.31 a year with no dependants, EUR 11,362.05 with a dependent spouse, plus EUR 516 for each further dependant.

Frequently asked questions about Family reunification in Italy

How much does the family reunification visa cost?

The consular fee is EUR 116. It is charged when the application is filed at the consulate, together with the type D visa form, the passport, the invitation and the documents proving the family relationship.

How long does the nulla osta take?

The law gives the Single Immigration Desk 150 days from the date of the request. The application is filed electronically, the desk issues an electronic receipt of filing, and the decision is communicated to the consulate through official channels.

How long is the nulla osta valid?

The consulate accepts an authorisation issued by the Italian authorities no earlier than six months before the visa documents are filed. If the period has passed, the documents must be gathered again.

When must the residence permit application be lodged after entry?

Within 8 working days of the date of entry — at the questura of the province where the person intends to live, in some cases through authorised post offices. The receipt for the first reunification request confers the same rights as the permit itself. Producing the electronic card takes on average 60 days.

Can you work on a family residence permit?

Yes. The permit on family grounds gives the right to work as an employee and self-employed, to study, to take vocational training, to register on employment lists and to use social services. Its term matches that of the relative's permit and is renewed together with it.

How much does the residence permit itself cost?

The contribution depends on the term: EUR 40 for a permit longer than three months and up to one year inclusive, EUR 50 for a permit from one to two years, EUR 100 for the EU long-term residence permit. Foreign nationals under 18 do not pay the contribution.

What can be done if the nulla osta is refused?

A refusal of the nulla osta, a refusal of the residence permit on family grounds and other decisions of the authorities on the right to family unity are challenged before the ordinary courts. The procedure for such a challenge is set out in a separate law on the simplification of court procedures.

For how long is the visa issued and can you travel within Schengen on it?

A national long-stay visa is issued for a period of 91 to 365 days. Its holder is treated on a par with a residence permit holder and may travel to other Schengen countries for 90 days in any 180 while the visa is valid.

What has to be done after obtaining the residence permit?

Register your residence with the comune: this is a duty of all foreign nationals with a valid residence permit. Anyone over 16 entering for a long stay for the first time signs an integration agreement when requesting a permit of a year or longer. For residence on family grounds, registration with the national health service is compulsory.

Other ways to move to Italy

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Italy.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.