Family reunification visa

The family reunification visa, pursuant to Articles 28 and 29 of Regulation 286/1998 and subsequent amendments and integrations, allows entry into Italy, for the purposes of a long-term stay, to foreign nationals with a relative residing in Italy that intends to exercise their right to maintain or restore family unity.

For any information in this regard, contact the relevant Italian Embassy or Consulate in your country.

Some guidelines

In order to obtain an entry visa, foreign nationals must hold a special authorization, a clearance (nulla osta) for “accompanying family member” or “family reunification”, issued by the Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione at the Prefecture of their place of residence, and transmitted electronically directly to the Consular Offices.

To request  the clearance for family reunification, you must have accrued, at the time of the request, an uninterrupted period of legal residence of at least two years in the national territory.

The issuance of the clearance must be requested, after registering with a SPID digital identity, by filling in the appropriate forms on the website of the Ministry of the Interior.

Once you have accessed the reserved area of the SUI (Sportello Unico Immigrazione) computer system of the Ministry of the Interior, click on “request forms” and choose one of the following forms:

• Application for family reunification clearance: Form S
• Application for entry clearance for accompanying family members: Form T

The procedure on the website of the Ministry of the Interior and the forms are only available in Italian.

General documentation to be produced (non-exhaustive list)

• Documentation proving the availability of annual income.
  The income must come from lawful sources and not be less than the annual amount of the social allowance for the current year (amounting to EUR 5,830.76 in 2015) increased by half the amount of the social allowance for each family member to be reunited.
  1 family member: EUR 8,746.14 per year
  2 family members: EUR 11,661.52 per year
  3 family members: EUR 14,576.90 per year
• Availability of “appropriate” accommodation, documented by:
  • copy of the lease agreement that has been duly registered with the Agenzia delle Entrate, free loan agreement or deed of ownership of the accommodation
  • housing suitability and health and hygiene certification, i.e. the municipal certificate stating that the accommodation complies with the parameters established by law and meets health regulations
• Proof of family relationship
  The certification of family relationship (certificate of family status, marriage certificate) must be translated, legalised and validated by the Italian diplomatic authority of the country of residence and/or origin of the foreign national.