family reuniting to italian citizens at the airport

Family Visa for Italy: 2024 Changes and 2025 Guide

June 1, 2024, there have been are important changes to the family visa process for non-EU family members who want to join Italian or EU citizens in Italy. These changes come from updates to Italian Immigration Law – art. 23 D.lgs 30/2007 and make the process simpler and more direct for foreign family members who want to live in Italy with their loved ones.

This guide explains how to get a family visa to join an Italian citizen, what documents you need, and what has changed from the old rules.

No More Tourist Visas: The New National Family Visa

One of the biggest changes is that you can no longer use a tourist visa or family visit visa to join your family in Italy. Since 2024, you must apply for a national visa for family reasons.

What the new visa includes:

Duration: 365 days with multiple entries allowed
Cost: Free (no visa fees required)
Residence permit: Within 8 days of arriving in Italy, you must apply for a residence permit for family reasons
No special permits needed from the Immigration Office (Sportello Unico)

This new framework especially simplifies the process for anyone applying as a spouse visa Italy or dependent family member of an Italian or EU citizen.

Who Is Eligible?

Italian immigration law recognizes the right to family unity. Those eligible for this visa include (art. 2 D.Lgs. 30/2007):

Spouses or registered partners (if civil partnerships are legally recognized in their country)
Children under 18, or adult children who dependent on parnents
Dependent parents
Adopted or fostered children, or minors under guardianship
In rare cases, other relatives who are seriously ill and fully dependent on the Italian sponsor

If you’re applying as an EU family member visa Italy or a non-EU spouse of an Italian citizen, you now have a clearer legal route.

What Documents Do You Need?

To apply for a family visa Italy, you’ll typically need:

A formal invitation from the Italian or EU citizen residing in Italy
Proof of identity and legal residence of your family member in Italy
Translated and legalized documents proving the family relationship (e.g., marriage or birth certificates)
Proof of financial support if required (income documents from the Italian family member)

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Residence Permit: What to Do Once You’re in Italy

After entering Italy with this visa, you have 8 days to apply for a residence permit for family reasons. You can do this:

At authorized post offices using the postal kit
In some cities, directly at the police headquarters (Questura)

Documents needed for the residence permit:

Copy of your visa
Passport
Invitation letter
Documents proving family relationship

While waiting for your residence permit, you can legally stay in Italy with the receipt from your application.

Short-Stay Visas (Less Than 90 Days)

If you’re visiting an Italian or EU citizen for less than 3 months, you can still apply for a tourist visa. However, you must prove your family relationship.

For family members not covered by the main family reunification law, the application will be treated as a regular tourist visa.

Italian Citizens’ Family Members Who Don’t Need a Visa

Some non-EU family members don’t need a visa to enter Italy:

If they come from countries that don’t require visas for short stays
If they live with an Italian citizen
If they can show complete documentation of their relationship and cohabitation

In these cases, they can apply directly for a residence permit without an entry visa.

Documents Required for Family Reunion Visa Italy

Marriage certificate or birth certificate
Proof of cohabitation (family registry, residence documents)

These family members also cannot be expelled from Italy under Italian law (art. 19, par 2 del D.Lgs. 286/1998. T.U). Immigrazione

Why Did the Rules Change?

The reform follows recommendations from the European Commission, which asked Italy to align with EU directives on freedom of movement and family reunification.

The result is a more consistent and streamlined process, but with new requirements for applicants: