Italian Residence permit for family reasons

The Italian Immigration Law provides for and protects family union. EU and non-EU Italian nationals legally residing in Italy are granted the right to request a residence permit for family reasons for their spouse and minor children. Under special circumstances, family reunion with parents and adult children is allowed as well. For the purposes of the issuance of such permit, the applicant must provide evidence of the availability of the required minimum income (€9.000,00 per year for a single relative, and further €3.000 for each additional family member) and of a suitable accommodation in Italy for the household.

In the event the reunited foreign national is a member of an Italian national’s family, the former cannot be expelled. A family member of a EU or non-EU national (who holds an Italian residence permit) is issued a residence permit of the same validity as that of the national requesting family reunion. The residence permit for family reasons allows to work in Italy. Said permit can be converted into another permit (for instance, a work permit), and vice versa.

For the purpose of maintaining the residence permit for family reasons, its holder is required to live in Italy with the national requesting family reunion. The holder of a residence permit for family reasons is granted access to Italian healthcare under the same conditions as his/her family member requesting family reunion. For instance, family members of a non-EU national holding a work permit are granted free healthcare, whereas family members of a national holding an investor residence permit are not.

Upon granting of the residence permit for family reasons, the foreign national must attend a free 10-hour civic education course (integration agreement) in Italy organized by the Ministry of the Interior. The foreign national can choose the language of the course. After 5 years of residence permit, the foreign national can convert his/her residence permit for family reasons into a long-term EU residence permit (formerly known as residence card), i.e. a permanent residence permit. Non-EU nationals can apply for the Italian citizenship and passport 10 years after the issuance of the first residence permit by means of application for naturalization by residence.

There are three different procedures for the purposes of the residence permit for family reasons.

Family reunion
This procedure is reserved for foreign nationals legally present on the Italian territory requesting authorization for reunion with their family members living abroad. The procedure begins with the request for Nulla Osta for family reasons with the relevant Prefecture. By means of an attorney, the applicant shall submit such request together with the documentation demonstrating that all requirements provided by Law are met. Not later than 180 days after having received the request, the Prefecture issues (or denies) the family reunion Nulla Osta, which is valid for 6 months.

During the period of validity of the Nulla Osta, the foreign national to be reunited, must schedule an appointment before the Italian Consulate in his/her country of origin for the purpose of being issued a visa for family reasons by submitting the Nulla Osta granted by the Ministry. The Italian Consulate then issues a multiple-entry type-D visa for family reasons valid for 365 days. Prior to the expiration of the visa, the foreign national to be reunited must come to Italy in order to request the residence permit. The residence permit request procedure consists of 4 steps:

• Step 1 Not later than 8 days after entry into Italy, the non-EU national must appear before the relevant Prefecture in order to sign the integration agreement.
• Step 2 The non-EU national must request a residence permit for family reasons by submitting his/her application with Poste Italiane (Italian Post Offices).
• Step 3 Following the application for residence permit, the foreign national will be issued a receipt providing the date scheduled for the fingerprinting appointment with the Immigration Desk.
• Step 4 The residence permit can be collected not later than 30/40 days after the fingerprinting appointment.

The non-EU national to be reunited must be present in person for the 4 steps of the procedure.In the time period between the residence permit request and its collection, the foreign national is allowed to travel abroad.

Accompanying family member
This procedure is reserved for nationals holding a long-term entry visa (work, student, investor, elective residence, etc..) and, before entering Italy, request for authorization to enter Italy together with their family members. The procedure begins with the request for Nulla Osta for family reasons (accompanying member) with the Prefecture. Such request shall be submitted together with the documentation demonstrating that the applicant meets all requirements provided by Law. Not later than 30 days after having received the request, such Prefecture issues (or denies) the accompanying family member Nulla Osta, which is valid for six months.

During the period of validity of the Nulla Osta, the foreign national to be reunited must schedule an appointment before the Italian Consulate in his/her country of origin for the purpose of being issued a visa for family reasons by submitting the Nulla Osta granted by the Ministry. The Italian Consulate then issues a multiple-entry type-D visa for family reasons valid for 365 days. Prior to the expiration of the visa, the foreign national to be reunited must come to Italy in order to request the residence permit. The residence permit request procedure consists of 4 steps:

• Step 1 Not later than 8 days after entry into Italy, the non-EU national must appear before the relevant Prefecture in order to sign the integration agreement.
• Step 2 The non-EU national must request a residence permit for family reasons by submitting his/her application with Poste Italiane (Italian Post Offices).
• Step 3 Following the application for residence permit, the foreign national will be issued a receipt providing the date scheduled for the fingerprinting appointment with the Immigration Desk.
• Step 4 The residence permit can be collected not later than 30/40 days after the fingerprinting appointment.

The non-EU national to be reunited must be present in person for the 4 steps of the procedure. In the time period between the residence permit request and its collection, the foreign national is allowed to travel abroad.

Family cohesion
This procedure is reserved for family members of a national residing in Italy by means of another residence title (such as, for instance, for tourism reasons). The family cohesion residence permit request procedure consists of 3 steps:

• Step 1 No later than 1 year after the expiry of the entry visa (such as, for instance, a tourist visa), the non-EU national must apply for a residence permit for family reasons, by filing the application through the Italian Post Offices.
• Step 2 Following the application for residence permit, the foreign national will be issued a receipt providing the date scheduled for the fingerprinting appointment with the Immigration Desk.
• Step 3 The residence permit can be collected not later than 30/40 days after the fingerprinting appointment.

The non-EU family member must be present in person for the 3 steps of the procedure.

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