Family Reunification: What It Is and Who Can Apply

Family reunification allows a foreign national who is legally living in Italy to bring certain family members from abroad so that they can live together in Italy.

It should not be confused with family cohesion, which normally concerns a family member who is already present in Italy.

This information mainly applies to non-EU foreign nationals. Different rules apply to family members of Italian or EU citizens.

Who can apply?

The applicant must hold a residence permit that allows family reunification, generally valid for at least one year, or an EU long-term residence permit.

To reunite with a spouse, a dependent adult child or a parent, the applicant is normally required to have lived legally and continuously in Italy for at least two years.

The two-year requirement does not apply to the reunification of minor children, beneficiaries of international protection or other special cases covered by Italian or European law.

Which family members can be reunited?

Family reunification may be requested for:

  1. a spouse or a partner in a recognised civil union who is at least 18 years old and not legally separated;
  2. unmarried children under the age of 18, including the spouse’s children or children born outside marriage, with the consent of the other parent when required;
  3. dependent adult children who are unable to support themselves because of total disability;
  4. dependent parents who have no other children in their country of origin;
  5. dependent parents over the age of 65 when their other children cannot support them because of documented and serious health reasons.

Adopted children, children in foster care and children under legal guardianship are treated in the same way as biological children.

Family reunification cannot be requested for brothers or sisters. Situations resulting in more than one spouse living in Italy are also not permitted.

What are the main requirements?

The applicant must generally provide evidence of:

  1. sufficient income, calculated according to the number of family members;
  2. suitable accommodation for the total number of people who will live there;
  3. the family relationship through official documents, translated and legalised or provided with an Apostille when required;
  4. health coverage for parents over the age of 65.

Beneficiaries of international protection are not required to prove sufficient income or suitable accommodation.

When reliable documents proving the family relationship are unavailable, the Italian Consulate may carry out additional checks, including DNA testing at the applicants’ expense.