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:
Hello , my partner sister is an italian citizen , we have 15 year old son and weare financially independent US citizens ,can we get an italian residence? Thanks
The law provides the possibility for family members of Italian citizens within the second degree to stay long term in Italy. That would be for your partner who has an Italian sister. The same opportunity does not extend to you as his (unmarried?) partner and it is doubtful that he may obtain residence that way for his and your child. You may check this article: Family members of Italian citizens: how to obtain a residence permit
Hi, madam LARA -I am mother of Italian citizen I would like to know if I have right to come in Italy as mother of Italian citizenship, we’re still not married yet with my Italian Boyfriend. But we have a kids, ( if possible I have right to come there in “ITALY”) what is a requirements needs to apply “ITALY VISA”
Grazie mille Segnora LARA
If your children reside in Italy, you can obtain a residence permit. Please read more information in my article Family members of Italian citizens: how to obtain a residence permit
Hello Lara
My elder want to invite me in Italy he is citizens there how much the quick process for to get Visa. Does the Age matter for Visa?
If he is your brother or parent, age does not matter. Please read more information to obtain the residence permit for family members of first and second degree in my article Family members of Italian citizens: how to obtain a residence permit
hi, i am naturalized italian citizen and my husband is italian. i would like to invite my brother who is filipino and 21 years of age here in Italy. I am a housewife and my husband is the only working. my question is can invite my brother here in Italy, all his expenses will be under my husband because i am also dependent to my husband. thank you for your immediate response and God bless
Yes. There is no income requirement for the family members of Italian citizens. You may refer to my article here: Family members of Italian citizens: how to obtain a residence permit.
How can my husband invite my mother to Europe country both of us are working and he is an Italian citizenship holder
I suggest reading my article Is your family member an Italian Citizen? Get your 5 years residence card and then contacting the Italian Embassy in your mother’s country of residence. For a private consultation, you are welcome to contact me. Good luck!
Hi I am Dual Citizen, Italian and Filipino. I would like to invite my brother here in Italy. Is it possible for him to obtain residence here?
Yes. Please check the information I published in this article: Family members of Italian citizens: how to obtain a residence permit
My mum is an Italian and I’m 30 years old with 3kids and I want to visit my mum with my kids for the first time,is it possible
Yes, it is. Check the Italian Embassy’s website of the country you are currently residing in to see whether you need a visa for a short term visit (up to 90 days). In that case, your mother will need to fill in and sign the Invitation letter signed by the Italian citizen mentioned in the list above. That is necessary even for short term visas. Good luck!
Hello Lara
my mother is married to an italian citizen and she became italian too by marriage,im albanian citizen and im 21 years old,can i have a permesso in italy ?
Yes. Check the information we published here: Family members of Italian citizens: how to obtain a residence permit