Family Reunification Visa (Ricongiungimento Familiare)

To qualify as a sponsor, you must hold a valid Italian residence permit (Permesso di Soggiorno) with a duration of at least one year. This includes permits for work, study, asylum, or religious reasons.

The Two-Year Residency Rule

Under Law 187/2024, a significant restriction was introduced: most sponsors must now demonstrate that they have legally resided in Italy for at least two continuous years before they are eligible to apply for reunification.

• Exceptions: This two-year waiting period generally does not apply to highly skilled workers (EU Blue Card holders), researchers, or those with recognized refugee or subsidiary protection status.

Eligible Family Members

You can only sponsor specific relatives under strict conditions:

• Spouse: Must be at least 18 years old and not legally separated.
• Minor Children: Includes children of the spouse or those born out of wedlock, provided the other parent consents.
• Dependent Adult Children: Only eligible if they are unable to provide for their own needs due to documented, total health disability.
• Dependent Parents:
  • If they have no other children in their country of origin; OR
  • If they are over 65 years old and their other children are unable to support them due to documented, serious health reasons.

Financial and Housing Thresholds

You must prove you can support your family without relying on the Italian social welfare system.

• Income: You must earn a minimum annual gross income based on the Annual Social Allowance (Assegno Sociale). For 2025, the base requirement is approximately €7,002.97. This threshold increases by 50% for every family member you bring (e.g., roughly €10,504 for a spouse).
• Housing: You must obtain a Certificate of Housing Suitability (Certificato di Idoneità Alloggiativa) from your local Municipality (Comune). This document proves your home meets health and hygiene standards and is large enough for the number of people who will live there.