As a family member of an Italian citizen, you have a full right to enter and stay in Italy. Depending on your nationality and current residence, you may need an entry visa. The most important information is gathered here in 3 steps.
#1 Check
Are you eligible for residency in Italy? You have such right if you can prove one of the following family relations:
- spouse (or same-sex registered partner)
- children and grandchildren (up to 21 years) of the Italian citizen and those of the spouse
- parents and grandparents of the Italian citizen and those of the spouse
- siblings of the Italian citizen
#2 Prepare
If you are a national of a country listed for visa requirement to Italy/Europe, you need to apply at the closest Italian Consulate for a visa for family members (Visto d’ingresso per familiari di cittadini italiani). Such a visa clears your entry through the border checks upon arrival in Europe (more precisely, in the Schengen area). The terms and requirements for this kind of visa are often not published on the Italian Consulate’s websites. In general, the conditions are more favorable than any other visa, the process is free of charge and shorter. The documents to attach to the application may vary from Consulate to Consulate. Documents required for your visa application: In general, this is what the Italian Consulates require:
- Application form filled in with your data (download here) 1 photo in ICAO format (4.0 x 3.5 cm, color photo with white background, taken within the last 6 months)
- Proof of family relation, e.g. official marriage record. The record must be in full format (i.e. including the names of the parents of each spouse or parents, for birth certificates), legalized/apostilled and translated into Italian. Marriage records must be issued less than 6 months before. That is a requirement, in case the Italian citizen did not register the concerned vital record in Italy as yet (at the municipality in which he is a resident or, if not residing in Italy, at the municipality of Rome);
- Invitation letter signed by the Italian citizen (Dichiarazione di ospitalità, download here) your passport + 2 copies (the passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the planned departure date from the Schengen area and was issued less than 10 years before. The passport must have at least two blank and unmarked visa pages)
- Italian citizen’s passport (copy)
- Flight reservation: The reservation document must indicate the applicant’s name, departure city, and destination. In order to avoid any unnecessary expense, flight ticket confirmation can be done after visa issuance.
- Health care insurance: insurance must be valid for the whole Schengen area. It must cover medical fees, hospitalization and repatriation costs of up to 30,000 euros. The insurance must fully cover the initial period of stay within the Schengen area.
- Letter of authorization for visa application/passport return (in case the applicant does not submit the application in person). For those who choose to submit the application by a representative, it is mandatory to provide a letter of authorization, signed by the applicant, mentioning the name of the representative and his/her contacts. The representative ID must be shown and a copy of the ID must be submitted.
#3 Follow The Process
After submitting your application, you are entitled to obtain a visa within 90 days. This term might be extended one time to 30 more days. Please note that, if your application wasn’t complete from the start, the Consulate can stay the process for the time needed for you to give the missing document (max 90 days).
FAST TRACK: The process goes much faster when the Italian citizen has registered in Italy the document proving the relation. For example, if the Italian citizen has married or had a child outside of Italy, it is very important to register the marriage or birth record at the Italian Consulate (if the Italian citizen resided abroad) or in Italy (at the municipality of residence, office of Stato Civile).
What happens next?
In order to secure your residence in Italy, you are expected to apply for a residence permit or a residence card upon your arrival. The family members within the 1st and 2nd degree (spouse, children up to 21 years, parents, grandparents and grandchildren) can obtain a five-year residence card. The other family members are entitled to obtain a two-year residence permit. You may read here about the differences between the two. It is required to prove that you depend on the Italian citizen for your maintenance and to register your residence at the same address.
Would you like to know more?
Download my Free Guide “4-Step Strategy” to obtain a residence permit for family members, complete with the official forms: Invitation statement by the Italian citizen for the family member to show at the border (or to obtain an entry visa, where applicable): Dichiarazione di alloggio e garanzia
- “Dichiarazione di ospitalità” to be submitted to the immigration police within 48 hours
- “Dichiarazione di presenza” to be submitted to the immigration police within 8 days
+ the list of documents required by the police for the application.
Request your Free Guide here:
I have the Italian citizenship. What are the steps for my brothers with their families to obtain a residence permit in Italy or any EU Country?
In Italy, your brothers can apply for residency by registering at your same address. They may do that with their family. However, that possibility was disputed by the local authorities in the past. There is no such opportunity to derive residency from an Italian relative in other EU countries. For more information, please ask us for advice.
Hi, Thank you so much for providing such valuable info for many people. It is really appreciated. I have a question please. I have permesso di siggornio for studying reason and I have issued an ID card from the cumune where i live. my girlfriend got pregnant and soon to deliver. what should I do to register the child, and how can I get the resident card? Do i have to apply through the post office ? and what are the required documents in details please. Thank you in advance for your help.
Hi Sami, as soon as your child is born, you will request a residence permit for family reasons in his name, together with the mother, through the post office. THe local immigration office at the police station will issue the residence permit. That is necessary to register with the municipality and the National Helath Care system. For more information, please ask for personal advice.
Hi, I am a Russian citizen residing in UK, my husband is an Italian citizen residing in the UK as well. I am going to apply for EU Family members Italian visa. I would like to ask having this type of visa does my husband need to be present with me at the airport on passport control in Italy? And can I fly alone to other EU countries with this type of visa? Thank you in advance.
This type of visa is necessary only to enter Italy for the first time and establish residence. By requesting this visa, your husband and you declare that you are both going to reside in Italy permanently. Once in Italy, you need to change the visa into a residence permit or 5-year residence card. Residency in Italy is compatible with temporary absence for tourism or work purposes, up to half of the duration of your residence permit/card. You are welcome to ask for personal advice.
Hello Lara,
I am an Italian citizen married to an pure italian husband living in Italy for almost 3years with 3small children. I want to bring my sister from Philippines. I read once she’s in Italy she has the right to stay in Italy. I also read A Sibling(or aunt/uncle) who is a national of a country whose citizens need a visa to enter the Italian/European territory shall be denied. ( a Family visa for family members.) and the solution is to apply for a tourist visa . Im a bit confused to understand that . What’s the best visa does she need to apply to come to Italy from Philippines please … thank you so much ..
Have a good day!
I understand that it is confusing. The law does not provide a visa for siblings or other 2nd-degree family members of Italian citizens. On the other hand, the law forbids the removal from the Italian territory of siblings or other 2nd-degree family members of Italian citizens. That is to protect the right to family life of Italian citizens irrespective of the nationality of their family members. As a result, family members can enter the Italian territory with any visa they get (usually a tourist visa or other temporary visa to visit family) and, once in Italy, they can extend their stay by applying for residency. For more information, please check my article Family members of Italian citizens: how to obtain a residence permit
For personal advice, you are welcome to contact me.
Hi,
I want to ask that, I am 24 year adult child and my father is italian citizen but I am from non EU country. Am I eligible to get family reunification visa through my father nationality?
You are eligible for residency based on your family tie to your Italian father. For more information, check my article Family members of Italian citizens: how to obtain a residence permit
Hello Lara,
Am married to an Italian for 3 years and I would like to apply for residency, currently we are living in oman but husband residency is in Italy still as he works there and he spend 6 months with me in Oman.. do I need to get residency and apply from Italy faster for the citizenship? In this case which visa i need to get to apply to enter Italy that will allow me to get the residency permit. Will tourist visa works or in need to apply for family visit long stay or family joining ? Ma h thanks
It is not needed nor faster to apply in Italy for citizenship, especially if you live in a country where the Italian community is very small. That is because the Italian consulate is usually more efficient in countries where there is a lower demand for their services by the Italian citizens living in that territory. In any case, if you want to enter Italy as the spouse of an Italian citizen, you may follow the directions in the article on this page (see above). Need more guidance? your are welcome to ask for Quick Advice.
Hi I am living in the uk on indefinite leave to remain, on a South African passport. my wife is Italian with an Italian passport. We are looking at getting a Schengen visa for myself to go to Italy for a holiday. What exact documents do I need to present being married to an Italian citizen, and can it be done personally at the Italian consulate, or does it have to be through vfs,
Hello, Shannon. According to Italian law, for family members of an Italian citizens the same rules apply as for family members of the EU citizens. So you should apply for a visa following the information at this page of the Italian Consulate in London (VFS). How does this work for you?
hi my wife is on a uk spouse visa and her sister is a Italian resident we want to go to Italy for a holiday what Visa does she need
The answer depends on your spouse’s nationality. The citizens of some non-European states are admitted entry to Italy and the Schengen Area without a visa, for stays up to 90 days. You may check your spouse’s options via the Italian Ministery of Foreign Affairs visa website at this page.