Immigration
Family Reunification.
If you’re a non-EU citizen legally residing in Italy, you may be eligible to bring your close family members to live with you. This process, known as family reunification, starts with obtaining a “nulla osta” — an official authorization that allows your relative to enter the country and apply for a residence permit
How we can help.
Need help with family reunification in Italy?
We provide full legal assistance — from eligibility checks to application submission — so you can bring your loved ones to Italy
Who Can Apply for Family Reunification in Italy?
To request the nulla osta, you must be legally staying in Italy with a valid residence permit of at least one year, issued for one of the following reasons:
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Employment (either self-employed or employed)
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International protection (asylum or subsidiary protection)
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Study
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Religious purposes
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Family reasons
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Long-term EU resident permit (permesso di soggiorno UE)
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Awaiting Italian citizenship
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Digital nomads or remote workers (if holding a residence permit for this purpose)
Important: You can apply for the nulla osta even if your residence permit is being renewed, as long as you have the official receipt from the Italian authorities.
Which Family Members Qualify?
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Spouse or civil partner (same-sex unions included), aged 18 or over and not legally separated
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Children under 18, including children born out of wedlock or adopted, provided the other parent consents
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Dependent adult children with total disabilities preventing self-sufficiency
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Parents who are:
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Financially dependent and have no other children in their home country, or
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Over 65, and their other children cannot support them for proven health reasons
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Biological parents of an unaccompanied minor with refugee status in Italy
Excluded: You cannot apply for family reunification for siblings, uncles, aunts, grandparents, or cousins — even if they are dependen
What If My Relative Is an Italian Citizen?
Things change significantly when your family member is an Italian citizen. Under Italian law, if you’re a non-EU citizen living together with a relative up to the second degree (including siblings) who holds Italian citizenship, you cannot be expelled and may qualify for a residence permit for family reasons.
This means you may be eligible for:
Residence permit based on cohabitation with a sibling or other second-degree Italian relative
Residence permit for family ties with an Italian citizen
What Are the Requirements for the Nulla Osta?
To submit your family reunification request, you must provide proof of:
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Housing that meets minimum health and safety standards, and an official certificate of suitability issued by your local municipality
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Minimum annual income from lawful sources — this must not be lower than the yearly amount of the social allowance (assegno sociale), increased by 50% for each family member you wish to bring
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Health insurance for elderly parents (over 65) if they’re the ones joining you
What Income Is Required for Family Reunification?
To apply for family reunification in Italy, the applicant must prove an income not lower than the annual amount of the social allowance, which for 2025 is €7,002.97 per year (equivalent to €538.69 per month for 13 months).
This base amount must be increased by 50% for each family member the applicant wishes to bring to Italy.
Special case: If you are applying to reunite two or more children under the age of 14, you must demonstrate a minimum annual income equal to twice the social allowance, which means €14,005.94 in 2025
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