ItalyFamily

Italy family reunification visa

National visa for family reasons (ricongiungimento familiare) with SUI clearance

In short

Family members of foreigners lawfully living in Italy apply for a family visa once the resident has obtained a nulla osta from the Single Immigration Desk of the prefecture. Spouses, minor children and, under conditions, parents can be reunited; the visa application is lodged at the Italian mission responsible for the relative's residence with civil status documents.

checked 25 October 2026

Key facts

Fee
€116National (D) visa fee under Italy's consular fee table; the mission states the currency and method of payment, and an external service provider, where used, charges its own fee.
Work
Yes, family permits allow work.
Family
Spouse, minor children (under 18 when the SUI request is filed), dependent parents under conditions.
Where to apply
Resident applies to the SUI in Italy; family members apply at the Italian mission responsible for their place of residence.

Children

Children travelling with one parent need the other parent's notarised and apostilled consent not older than three months; with sole custody, the translated court judgement. Children travelling alone also need an apostilled accompaniment declaration, and the consent of a divorced parent must cover the move to Italy.

Required documents

Identity

  • National (type D) application form, completed, dated and signed at item 37 and on the last page
  • One ICAO photo 35 × 40 mm and a passport valid at least three months beyond the visa, with copies of current and previous passports
  • Copy of your national ID card; non-nationals: residence permit in the country where you apply; civil status certificate where the checklist asks for it

Travel

  • Outbound flight booking

Family

  • Copy of the SUI nulla osta and of the resident relative's Italian residence permit
  • Civil status documents (marriage certificate, birth certificates)

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Money

  • Parents under 65: proof of remittances, employment or social insurance record, six months of bank statements

Family

  • Minors: other parent's consent, custody judgement or accompaniment declaration as applicable

Two stages

First, the family member living in Italy applies to the Single Immigration Desk of the prefecture, which checks income, housing and the family relationship and issues the nulla osta. Then the relative abroad lodges the national visa application at the Italian mission responsible for their residence, with a copy of the nulla osta and the resident's permit.

  1. The family member in Italy applies to the prefecture's Single Immigration Desk and obtains the nulla osta.
  2. Download the official "Family reasons (with SUI clearance)" checklist from the Italian mission responsible for your place of residence and complete the national (type D) application form.
  3. Book an appointment with the mission or its external service provider and lodge the file in person with originals, apostilled and translated documents where required.
  4. Pay the visa fee as the mission indicates; the statutory processing time for a type D visa is 90 days.
  5. Within 8 working days of entering Italy, apply for the residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) through the post office kit or the Questura.
  6. Attend the Questura appointment for fingerprints and, for permits of a year or more, sign the integration agreement.

After arrival: permesso di soggiorno

Within 8 working days of first entry you must apply to the Questura of the province where you will live, in many cases through authorised post offices. The fee is EUR 40 for permits of more than three months up to one year and EUR 50 for up to two years; applicants for permits of at least one year sign an integration agreement with the State. The card is usually issued within about 60 days.

Who can join

Spouses (with the marriage certificate), minor children under 18 at the time of the SUI request, and parents. Parents under 65 must show they depend on remittances from Italy and have no other children in their country of origin; parents over 65 must show that other children cannot care for them for serious, documented health reasons.

Frequently asked questions

Who applies for the nulla osta?

The relative who lives in Italy, at the prefecture's Single Immigration Desk.

Can my parents join me?

Yes, under strict conditions about dependency and other children in the country of origin.

How old can the children be?

Under 18 at the time the SUI application is submitted.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Italy

Visits and short stays

Business and self-employment

  • Business visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period

Study and training

Work

  • Work visa Maximum stay: 91 to 365 days on the visa; then a residence permit in Italy
  • EU Blue Card Validity: Two years for an open-ended contract; for fixed-term contracts, the contract length plus three months.
  • Digital nomad visa Maximum stay: 91 to 365 days on the visa; then a residence permit in Italy

Family

  • Spouse and partner visa Validity: Residence card for family of EU citizens and family permit for family of Italian citizens: five years.

Residence

  • Retirement visa Maximum stay: 91 to 365 days on the visa; then a residence permit in Italy
  • Permanent residence Validity: 10 years for adults, 5 years for minors; the status is permanent.

Protection

  • Asylum and international protection Validity: Asylum-seeker permit: until the decision; refugee and subsidiary protection: five years, renewable; special protection: two years, renewable.

Italy visa guide