Italy family reunification visa guide

What Is a Family Reunification Visa?

A family reunification visa lets you bring family members to Italy to live with you long-term. This applies if you're an Italian citizen, EU/EEA citizen living in Italy, or a non-EU resident with legal status. The goal is to keep families together while meeting Italy's legal requirements.

Who Can Be Sponsored

You can typically sponsor:

• Your spouse or registered partner
• Children under a certain age (biological, step, or adopted)
• Dependent adult children with health conditions or disabilities
• Sometimes parents or grandparents, depending on your circumstances
• Siblings in limited cases

Each person's relationship to you must be documented with marriage certificates, birth certificates, or official partnership papers.

Basic Requirements for the Sponsor

To bring family members to Italy, you generally need to:

• Prove you have stable legal residence in Italy
• Show you have sufficient income to support them
• Demonstrate you have adequate housing space
• Have a criminal record check
• Purchase health insurance for dependents (or prove access to Italian healthcare)

Income and housing requirements vary by region and family size. The government expects you to be financially independent and not burden social services.

Documents You'll Need

Prepare official documents including:

• Passport and residence permit
• Marriage or partnership certificate
• Birth certificates for children
• Medical reports (if applicable)
• Bank statements or employment contracts
• Rental agreement or property deed
• Police clearance certificate

All non-Italian documents must be officially translated into Italian and apostille-certified (a special government stamp).

The Application Process

First, you submit your application to the Italian consulate in your family member's home country—not in Italy. The consulate reviews your paperwork, may request additional documents, and interviews your relatives. If approved, they receive a visa to enter Italy. Once they arrive, they apply for their residence permit with Italian authorities.

Processing times vary by location, so check with your specific consulate early.

Important Tips

• Start gathering documents well in advance
• Use certified translators for all non-English papers
• Keep copies of everything
• Contact the Italian consulate in your relative's country for exact current requirements
• Some regions have different income thresholds—verify locally
• Your family member may need medical or character certificates

This is general self-help information, not legal advice. Always verify current rules on the official government website.