Italy Family Reunification Visa: Nulla Osta and Timelines
最終更新日: 2026年5月25日
Italy's family reunification visa lets legally resident non-EU sponsors bring eligible relatives to live with them in Italy, provided they meet income, housing, and documentary requirements set out in Article 29 of Legislative Decree 286/1998. The process pivots on a single key document, the Nulla Osta al Ricongiungimento Familiare, issued by the Sportello Unico per l'Immigrazione (SUI) of the Prefecture where the sponsor lives.
Last updated: May 25, 2026
Who Can Sponsor and Who Can Be Reunited
The sponsor must be a non-EU national legally residing in Italy with a valid residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) of at least one year. Qualifying permit categories include employment, self-employment, study, religious purposes, family, international or subsidiary protection, and scientific research.
Eligible family members under Article 29 are:
- A spouse aged 18 or over, not legally separated.
- Minor children under 18 (including the spouse's children or those born out of wedlock, with the other parent's consent where required).
- Adult children who are dependent because of a documented severe disability that prevents self-sufficiency.
- Dependent parents, if they have no other children in the country of origin, or if they are over 65 and their other children cannot support them due to documented serious health reasons.
Note that civil unions are treated equivalently to marriage under Italian law for reunification purposes. Refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection apply under Article 29-bis and are exempt from the income and housing thresholds.
Family members of EU citizens (and UK nationals covered by the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement) follow a different track and do not need a Nulla Osta to obtain the National D-visa for stays over 90 days. The procedure below covers the standard non-EU sponsor route.
Income Thresholds for 2026
The sponsor must show a yearly income from lawful sources at or above the annual social allowance (assegno sociale), increased by 50% of that allowance for each additional family member to be reunited.
For 2026, INPS Circular No. 153/2025 sets the assegno sociale at €546.24 per month for 13 months, equal to €7,101.12 per year (a 1.4% revaluation from the 2025 figure of €538.69 per month).
Applying the formula:
Family members to reunite | Minimum annual income required (2026) |
|---|---|
1 relative | €7,101.12 + 50% = €10,651.68 |
2 relatives | €7,101.12 + 100% = €14,202.24 |
3 relatives | €7,101.12 + 150% = €17,752.80 |
2 or more children under 14 | At least double the assegno sociale = €14,202.24 |
Income can come from employment, self-employment, pensions, or other lawful sources, and the income of cohabiting family members already in Italy may be added in some cases. The Prefecture verifies figures against the most recent tax filings (Modello Unico, Modello 730, or CU).
Housing Requirements After Law 187/2024
The sponsor must provide a Certificato di Idoneità Alloggiativa, issued by the municipality (Comune) or the local ASL, confirming that the home meets hygienic and sanitary standards and offers adequate space for the household.
Law 187/2024 tightened these checks. The Prefecture now verifies how many people already live in the dwelling and applies the minimum-space parameters of Ministerial Decree 5 July 1975. In practice, this means roughly 14 square meters for the first occupant and 10 square meters for each additional adult, with smaller allocations for children, although exact requirements vary by municipality.
The certificate can be issued for owned property, rented property (with a registered lease), or housing provided by an employer. If you rent, the landlord's written consent and a registered contract are typically required.
Document Checklist for the Nulla Osta Application
Filed by the sponsor in Italy through the Portale ALI:
- Sponsor's valid passport and residence permit.
- Proof of income: most recent tax return, CU (Certificazione Unica), recent payslips, or self-employment documentation.
- Certificate of housing suitability (idoneità alloggiativa).
- Registered lease, deed of ownership, or employer-housing declaration.
- €16 revenue stamp (marca da bollo) attached to the application.
- Family relationship documents (marriage certificate, birth certificates, proof of dependency for parents), legalized or apostilled and translated into Italian.
- For minor children, the consent of the other parent or sole-custody documentation.
- Health insurance for parents being reunified (mandatory for dependent parents).
Documents issued abroad must generally be apostilled (for Hague Convention countries) or legalized by the Italian consulate, and translated by a sworn translator. Italian consulates also verify civil-status documents through their own legal office (validazione consolare) before the visa stage.
Step-by-Step: From Portale ALI to Italian Soil
1. Submit the Nulla Osta application online
Applications are filed exclusively through the Ministry of the Interior's Portale ALI (Sportello Unico Immigrazione), accessed with SPID or CIE credentials. Paper submissions are no longer accepted. Several Prefectures, including Florence as of March 2026, have moved to a fully telematic process, eliminating the in-person convocation that used to follow the online filing.
2. Prefecture review
The Sportello Unico per l'Immigrazione checks income, housing, and family relationship documents. The statutory maximum for issuing the Nulla Osta is 90 days (Article 29(8) D.Lgs. 286/1998 sets a 150-day legal limit, but D.L. 13/2017 halved it to 90 days). In practice, processing varies significantly by Prefecture, with some delivering in 60 to 90 days and others running longer despite the statutory cap.
3. Nulla Osta issued telematically
Once approved, the Nulla Osta is issued through the portal and automatically transmitted to the competent Italian consulate abroad. It is valid for 6 months from the date of telematic issuance and cannot be extended or renewed. If the family member does not apply for the visa within those 6 months, the procedure must start over.
4. Visa application at the Italian consulate
The relative applies for a National D-visa for family reunification at the Italian consulate or embassy in their country of residence. The consulate typically issues the visa within 30 days once it has the Nulla Osta and complete documentation. Documents commonly requested:
- Valid passport.
- Original family relationship documents, legalized and translated.
- Copy of the Nulla Osta.
- Visa application form and photos.
- Proof of payment of the visa fee.
The visa is valid for 12 months from issuance, and the family member has 12 months to enter Italy.
5. Entry and residence permit
After arrival, the family member must apply for the residence permit for family reasons (permesso di soggiorno per motivi familiari) within 8 working days, at a Poste Italiane office using the dedicated kit. A €16 revenue stamp is required for the kit, plus the standard residence-permit issuance fees. The kit triggers an appointment at the Questura for fingerprinting and document verification.
Fees and Realistic Timelines
Item | Cost (2026) |
|---|---|
Marca da bollo for Nulla Osta application | €16 |
Marca da bollo for residence permit kit | €16 |
National D-visa fee, non-EU family member | €116 |
National D-visa fee, EU family member | Free |
Permesso di soggiorno issuance fees | Variable, check Questura |
Sworn translations and apostilles | Highly variable |
Consular fees can shift with exchange rates and local surcharges. For binding 2026 figures consult the official Italian visa portal at vistoperitalia.esteri.it or the competent consulate.
A realistic end-to-end timeline:
- Document gathering and translations abroad: 4 to 12 weeks.
- Idoneità alloggiativa in Italy: 2 to 8 weeks, depending on the Comune.
- Nulla Osta processing: 60 to 150 days.
- Consular visa issuance: up to 30 days after Nulla Osta receipt.
- Residence permit issuance after arrival: 3 to 8 months in many Questure, though the receipt (ricevuta) lets the family member stay and work legally in the meantime.
Plan for at least 6 to 9 months from start to family arrival, and longer if civil-status documents need to be reconstructed or apostilled.
Common Pitfalls
- Underestimating income. Pay attention to the formula: 50% of the assegno sociale per additional relative. Including a non-cohabiting family member's income or counting gross instead of net figures leads to rejection.
- Outdated housing certificates. Many municipalities consider the idoneità alloggiativa valid for a limited period. Re-pull it shortly before filing.
- Letting the Nulla Osta expire. Six months sounds generous until you factor in translations, consular appointment backlogs, and document corrections. Book the visa appointment as soon as the Nulla Osta is issued.
- Missing the 8-working-day deadline for the residence permit after entry. The clock starts on the day of arrival.
- Civil-status mismatches. Names spelled differently across passport, marriage certificate, and birth certificate are a frequent cause of suspension. Reconcile these in the country of origin before applying.
- Assuming flow decree quotas apply. They do not. Family reunification is a subjective right under the Constitution and Article 8 ECHR. The decreto flussi is irrelevant here, although it matters for the work-visa track.
- Dependent-parent applications without proof of dependency. The Prefecture wants documentary evidence (remittances, medical reports, sibling declarations). Verbal assertions are not enough.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the reunited family member work in Italy?
Yes. The family residence permit, under Article 30(2) of the Immigration Act, allows employment and self-employment without a separate work permit.
Can I apply if my own permesso di soggiorno is up for renewal?
You need a valid permit at the time of filing. If renewal is pending, the receipt usually suffices, but check with the Prefecture. For renewal mechanics, see the Permesso di Soggiorno renewal guide.
Does an investor or elective residence permit count for sponsorship?
Investor-visa holders typically include family members at the original application stage rather than via Article 29 reunification. The Italy Investor Visa guide covers the thresholds and family-inclusion rules.
How long until permanent residence?
After 5 years of legal residence in Italy, the family member can apply for the EU long-term residence permit (permesso di soggiorno UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo), subject to income, clean record, and Italian language at A2 level.
Are unmarried partners eligible?
No. Article 29 covers spouses and partners in a registered civil union, not de facto partners. Some Italian consulates accept partnership tracks under different residence categories, but not under family reunification.
Is there a quota?
No. Italy issued 146,022 Nulla Osta authorizations for family reunification in 2023, and the procedure is not subject to annual flow-decree quotas.
Can the family member travel in the Schengen Area before getting the residence permit?
With the National D-visa in the passport and during the validity of the visa, short trips within Schengen are generally allowed, but the priority should be filing the residence-permit kit within 8 working days of arrival.
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