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:
My wife is lives in Italy and she is Italian Citizen can I go Italy. she is also registered marriage in Italy municipality and how much time to take visa and what documents needed
The answer depends on your nationality and in which country you reside.
Each Italian Consulate provides a list of documents for the family members of Italian citizens. We sent to your inbox the following:
– The 4-step strategy to obtain a residence permit for family members, complete with the official list of documents required by the police for the application and
– the official form for an invitation letter which facilitates your visa application ( to be signed by the Italian citizen).
I need suggestions..my father lives in Italy he own two houses and one company there do I have to show the embassy about my father houses and company there that’s he’s living there or didn’t? Because in pre enrollment portal they will ask anyone living in Italy??? Or I have to lie no one lives there? ,please guide me I’m very confused about this… I’m applying for study visa from Pakistan I’m 23 and half years old some people said don’t show your blood relation in embassy they will reject your visa on suspicion of that you will not come back after the study
It is necessary that you show your blood relation by way of a birth record in long-form and that you establish residence in Italy at the same address as your father. He should sign an invitation letter for you. More details in this article Family members of Italian citizens: how to obtain a residence permit
Hi lara
I am italian n married to pakistani girl
I want my wife to join me in italy
As u mentioned the quickest way is if the marriage is registered in italy but for that we need to get all documents legalised by italian embassy first bit it tales to long months to get appointment in islamabad pk n than after appointment they take more 2/3 month’s to return documents
So can i apply visit visa for her if the marriage is yet not registrred in italy?
What is the quickest way you suggest
Plz reply me soon
Thanks
Yes, you may register your marriage directly at the Italian municipality you will reside in. However, in order to obtain a visa, you still need that your original marriage record is legalized by the Italian Embassy in Pakistan. That may take a long time. The translation can be made in Italy and legalized at any Italian Tribunal or even sworn by the translator at the municipality of your residence.
Ciao, Lara volevo cortesemwnte chiederti un informazione riguardo al visto, io in Pakistan ho due sorelle di cui disabile non autosufficiente, anche l’altra sorella e sposata in Italia e si ricongiungera a breve, la sorella disabile non e autosufficiente io volevo chiedere come fare per chiedere il visto anche per lei cosi ce ne prenderemmo carico, io e mio marito abbiamo supportato finaziariamente la mia sorella
Ciao Ayisha! Se hai la cittadinanza italiana, puoi ottenere un permesso di soggiorno un permesso di soggiorno per motivi familiari e rimanere in Italia, con la copertura medica sanitaria al pari dei cittadini italiani. Per far questo, prima è necessario che entri in Italia con un visto per visita ai familiari (tipo C, per almeno 90 giorni). Per questo dovrà rivolgersi al Consolat italiano. Tua sorella dovrebbe portare in Italia con una copia integrale del suo atto di nascita legalizzato e tradotto in italiano, da cui si vede chiaramente che ha gli stessi genitori che hai tu. Meglio se porta questo documento in due atti originali perché potranno servire in più uffici amministrativi. Facci sapere se vuoi altre informazioni. Contattaci pure.
Hello Lara,
Your article is very interesting keep doing the great job.
also i would like to know if its possible to apply for valong term visa which is maximum 3 months.
I am nephew of an italian citizen, I was just wondering how does it work in this case about the visa.
thanks a lot
thanks for your appreciation! The law provides long-term visas and residence permits for a limited range of family members of Italian or EU citizens which does not include nephews. Moreover, even if you enter Italy with a visa and join your uncle who is an Italian citizen, the law provides no residence permit for family reasons. That is because such permits are granted to family members of first and second degree of relation and a nephew is regarded by Italian law as a relation of third degree. We published more information about that in this article.
Hi Lara am Italian citizen I want to invite my mother italy from Nigeria what do I need to do. Thanks
You should have her contact the Italian EMbassy and apply for a special visa for family members of Italian citizens, based on your invitation statement (dichiarazione di ospitalità), a copy of your Italian passport or id card and birth record.
Hi!! I am Miraj from Bangladesh.. My wife is a Italian.. So how could she apply Italy visa for me?? Can you help me to give information about my italy visa?
Hi Lara
My dad is an italian citizen living in the UK, can I apply for the permit? Im 29 years Ghanaian. Thanks
No. As a family member, you can obtain the residence permit only if you cohabit in Italy with your father.