[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]You don’t need to wait for Italian citizenship to stay in Italy and enjoy an unlimited right of residence. All family members of Italian citizens have a right to reside in Italy, no matter what their nationality.
Family members – spouse or partner, children up to 21 years old and the partner’s children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents… – have a right to a residence permit. After five years, they have a right to permanent residence.
Which family members are entitled to a Residence Card?
- Spouses and partners
- Children of the couple (until 21 years of age)
- Children of the Italian citizen or of the non-Italian spouse or partner (until 21 years of age)
- Children above 21 years of age, if maintained by the Italian citizen
- Parents, if maintained by the Italian citizen
- Grandchildren and grandparents of the Italian citizen
- The parent’s of the Italian citizen’s spouse (or same-sex registered partner)
Example:
The parents of a Chinese daughter who resides in Italy and is married (or registered in a same-sex partnership) with an Italian citizen have a right to enter (visa-free) and stay in Italy under option #6. If their daughter has children in Italy, the right of said parents to enter and stay in Italy falls additionally under option #5.
Basis: Article 2 of Italian Legislative Decree of February 6th, 2007 no. 30
Did you know that…?
> Since February 2017 Italy has extended the right to citizenship and all residence rights to same-sex spouses/partners.
> The right of residence extends to any other of the 27 states which are part of the European Union. You can take up residence and stay as long as you wish, no matter if you work, study or enjoy your retirement. That is the core of family rights for every Italian (thus European) citizen.
How does it work?
Just move to Italy with your Italian family member.
In some cases, you may need a visa to move to Italy. That depends on your nationality. Find out here how to obtain a visa.
Once in Italy, you will register with the immigration authorities (Questura). I have a tip for you: sometimes the Italian authority grants a temporary “Family Residence Permit” to the family members of Italian citizens.
That is a 2-years residence permit called Permesso di Soggiorno per Motivi Familiari.
This permit is enough for family members to access health care coverage, work, study, and travel visa-free to the other 27 European Union member states.
However, this type of permit has some distinct disadvantages. It doesn’t allow you to:
… stay in any other European Union member state after three months;
… work or study in any other European Union member state, even on a temporary basis;
… enjoy any social/healthcare benefit in any other European Union member state;
… avoid a time-consuming renewal process: every second yearyou must undergo a full review of requirements and documents which takes months.
Is there an alternative?
Yes. My advice is to opt for a RESIDENCE CARD.
In fact, family members to Italian citizens (or to any other European Union citizen) have a right to a long-term residence card. Besides, after 5 years of residence in Italy, you are entitled to a permanent card. In Italian, it is officially called “Permesso di soggiorno per familiari di cittadino comunitario”.
A Residence Card is a special treat for the family members because the family is so important in Italy.
As a family member of an Italian citizen, you are eligible for the 5-years residence card and have free access to work, business, studies, health care, and most rights on a par with Italian citizens.
Italian authorities tend to give a 1 or 2-year “Family Residence Permit” if you don’t insist on a 5-year Residence card. That might have to do with the fact that a Residence Card sets you free from bureacratic renewal procedures for a long time and enjoys benefits for at least five years. But the law is on your part. So it’s up to you to claim your rights and demand a Residence Card.
Residence cards for Italian citizens’ family members are free of charge.
How can you obtain a Residence Card?
You just hand to the local immigration office the following:
A copy of your passport (show the original)
An official certificate proving that you are a family member (e.g. a marriage certificate)
Copy of your Italian family member’s id card
Documents of your income, showing that your family have a sufficient income and do not have to depend on the public security (you don’t ned to have a job for that)
Remember: Residence cards are for families residing in Italy. In order to obtain it, both you and your Italian citizen family member need to move to and reside in Italy.
Alternatively, you can have a similar residence card if you move with your Italian family member to another country within the European Union.
For parents:
In case the applicant is the parent of an Italian citizen or of the Italian citizen’s spouse (or same-sex registered partner) as per categories #4 and #6 above, additional documents are required to prove that the applicant is partly or totally maintained by the concerned child (i.e. the Italian citizen or of the Italian citizen’s spouse or same-sex registered partner). This requirement is called “Vivenza a carico”.
Viable documents to this end are bank statements showing that the concerned child sent money to the parent, tax reports, and statements by accountants, as well as any other official statement from Italy or from the authorities of the applicant’s country of origin/residence. Such documents should be translated into Italian and legalized by the Italian Consulate.
Alternatively, the parent may first apply for a residence permit for family reasons and the child should add the parent to the Italian tax report for that year. The following year, the Italian tax report will be accepted as a sufficient document to obtain a 5-year residence card.
In some circumstances, the parents of minors with Italian citizenship can be granted a residence permit, even if they do not live together. In that case, it is important to show the authorities both proof of family tie (the child’s birth record showing parentship) and of the parent’s right of shared custody or visit.
Now it’s your turn…
Let me know with your comment on this page: how does this information work for you?
Which other information would be useful for you to know?
Free compact guide SPECIAL RESIDENCE CARD KEY
Are you interested to know more about some requirements for the residence card?
You can receive more information about sufficient income limit to apply for a residence card, or the conditions to keep or lose your card, or how you can obtain a Residence Card if you settle in another country in Europe.
I put this information together in a compact guide: SPECIAL RESIDENCE CARD KEY. If you want to have it for free, ask for it and I will send it to you shortly by email.
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Special Residence Card Key
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Dear Lara
i find your website very usefull
i want to invite my wife to visit italy for a short stay, I have italian citizenship and i did trascrizione of atto di matrimonio in italy, i went to questura for Letter of invitation to send to my wife, but the letter requires to have fideiussione bancaria and health insurance, is there any way to get visit visa for her without showing fideiussione bancaria and health insurance, or i am going with the wrong category of visa
Grazie
Sure. You don’t really need to use this form and make this (difficult) application process.
If you accompany your family member to Italy, you don’t need that invitation form. Even if you can’t personally accompany your wife to Italy, she can apply for a long stay visa. There are easier terms and requirements for Italian citizens’ family members. I hope this helps. For more information, you can contact me.
Hello I have a question for you ..am married to Italian and we have down all the necessary stuff at the questura but is been 4 months now the 5 years document is still not ready yet please I want to ask how long it take for the document to be ready thank you will be waiting for you reply
The law provides that you are entitled to obtain a written decision on your application within 90 days. However, this term may stop each time they ask for another document and resume as soon as you provide for it. If you feel that you gave the office all the required documents and should obtain a decision by now, you may seek legal assistance and send them an urging notice. Such assistance can be obtained at public immigration services offered by municipalities or local associations or trade unions which cooperate with lawyers, or by private law firms.
at the time of applying citizenship i gave my original birth certificate to the prefattura, now i received citizenship can i get my original birth certificate back from my commune?
thanks in advance
The Prefettura cannot give back your certificate. They pass it on to the Comune to register your citizenship on your birth record and they have to keep it there. But you always can request them a “copia autenticata”. That is a special copy with the stamp of the office stating that its content corresponds faithfully to the original certificate. You can use that copy for any other application before the Italian authorities. Moreover, once your citizenship registration is completed, you can always request a new birth certificate as an Italian citizen. You are entitled to have an Italian birth certificate like any other Italian citizen who was born in Italy. Just ask your Comune. Depending on the use you make of your birth certificate, you may even not need it altogether: Italian citizens can avoid using certificates before Italian authorities and make a simple statement of the facts (“autocertificazione”). For more information, you can contact me. You can request a free consultation call here. Congratulations to the new Italian citizen!
Hi i am sri lankan , my husband is Italian citizen and hold a dual citizenship with sri lanka. We are married 7 months now . Tell me how long will it take to make my visa ti italy
According to the law, the process should take no longer than 120 days (visto per familiare al seguito, Article 6, Section 5 of Decreto del Presidente della Repubblica 31 agosto 1999, n. 394). In practice, the processing time may vary according to the current workload the Italian Consulate’s visa office. It is very important that your husband registers the marriage records with the Italian municipality of residence (Comune) as soon as possible.
Hi Lara my name is Gabriele SIMONCINI I’m born Italian citizen threw my father I have double nationality South African and Italian my wife is South African also our marriage is registered in Italy in Brescia we are currently in france because I did not have anyone to go to in Italy my father has passed away so I was never in italy my wife is doing asylum here because it is my first time in Europe so I did not work so we are 1 year and 3 months in France she is still in the asylum process can you give me advice can I go without her to Italy and ask for a residence card for her there or can the ambasy in France not help me with her residence card or any advise will be appreciated thanks
In France, your wife has a residence right as a family member to an EU national, if you have a job or can otherwise show that you can maintain your family.
Hi Lara,
I sent you an email with some information I was looking to obtain. In the meantime can you please send the Special Residence Card Key to my email?
Thanks in advance
Sent!
Hello Lara,
my husband is an Italian citizen and we joined him this year in ITALY. instead of 5years my kids were given 2years. I am yet to present my documents to the question in September and we want to take the soggiorno to them to correct and give the kids 5years. how do we go about it please?
You can request a residence card for you and for your children any time, provided that your family proves to have a sufficient income. I have sent you the SPECIAL RESIDENCE CARD KEY with the application requirements. Enjoy!
Hello Lara; May I get the SPECIAL RESIDENCE CARD KEY?
thanks
Hi ma’am Lara..good evening to you…
I’m Liya from Philippines..
I am pregnant now with my fiancee Italian citizen we are living together now but (we are not married)i have child in Philippines(minor) 8 years old. I can might able to get my child in the Philippines? What we should do?.please give me an advice.. thank you so much…
You should obtain the consent of the child’s father (written and notarized) and fetch your child in the Philippines. It is required to obtain clearance to the Italian Embassy, in order to lawfully bring your child to Italy and obtain a residence permit for him.
i am received italian citizenship by residence,
i am married to non eu citizen and my husband never visited italy , now we are planning to move italy and to get him italian citizenship,
i have registered my marriage in our local commune, now what will be the procedure to bring my husband to italy,
1) does he need a tourist visa to enter italy,and what documents needed
2) after entry in italy he will apply for soggiorno for citizen of eu family? what documents required for that? is it neccesary to show proof of income as i heard income is not required for the family members of italian citizen, as i dont work and my husband will be new in italy so if i dont have any proof of income?
3) when can he apply for citizenship we have a baby,
thankyou
Depending on which country you are currently residing in and on your husband’s citizenship, he may need an entry visa from the Italian Consulate. Once in Italy, he has a right to a 2-year residence permit for family reasons, irrespective of income requirements. If you can prove by papers that you have a sufficient income as a family, your husband can have a 5 years residence card.
Can you confirm you received my gift compact Guide “SPECIAL RESIDENCE CARD KEY”? You will find very useful information there about your questions. Welcome to Italy!
thanks for your quick response. i have not received the free guide
to get 5 years card can we proof ourself self sufficient by showing our bank statement or do we need to work in italy and show buste page or cud for being self sufficient
TIA
You can prove your income with any document concerning the resources you and your family are going to live on in Italy. No need to wait until you have an income tax report in Italy or pay checks.
I have resent the free Guide “SPECIAL RESIDENCE CARD KEY”. Enjoy!
I intend moving to France with my 5 year old son who has a Portuguese nationality. His father resides in France but we are not married.would i be issued a resident permit since iam the mother to an EU citizen? I equally have an appointment at the embassy in the coming weeks
The parent residing in France should prove that he can maintain you and the child, in order to prove his right to have you and the child stay with him according to the European Union Directive 2004/38/EC of 29 April 2004 on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States.
Hi
I am a UK citizen engaged to an african in Italy trying to seek asylum.
My question is that if i apply for residency in Italy and rent a property to live in and we get married will my husband get residency in Italy ?
Yes. Once you are married, your can obtain a 2-year family residence permit (renewable) or even a 5-years residence card. THe law provides that for any spouse of an EU citizen as UK citizens still are. It can be difficult to obtain the necessary clearance for marriage for a groom who cannot contact the Consulate of his country of origin and officially prove he is unmarried. However, marrying is a fundamental right by the law and the Italian authority should find a way around it. You may need legal assistance for that.
I married to Italian national girl, I am pakistani and working in Dubai, I applied three month tourist EU family visa, how many chances that they will issue me visa?
The family members of Italian nationals have a vested right to obtain a special visa for family reasons (not a tourist visa). You may check the information I published here: Are you a family member to an Italian citizen? Obtain your visa to Italy in 3 steps
I need the Special Residence Key card to be informed. I am 31yrs old and my mum is a naturalized Italian citizen. How do I take advantage of this residence card programme.
I have already a Schengen Visa
Children who are older than 21 years old are not included among the family members of Italian citizens who can obtain a residence card. That is so unless such children prove that they can’t maintain themselves and are in charge of their parents for objective reasons (e.g. a serious health condition). Children who are older than 21 years and live in Italy at the same address as their Italian parents can obtain a two-year residence permit for family reasons. More information in this blog: Are you a family member to an Italian citizen? Obtain your visa to Italy in 3 steps
Hello,
I have two children with my partner an Italian citizen and they both have Italian citizenship, but we lived in Africa for over ten year.
We recently moved to Italy, I applied for my resident permit and was granted two years permesso di soggiorno, my question is, after these two years I’m I eligible to apply for an Italian passport or a permanent residency?
Meanwhile I have enrolled in language school to acquire the necessary certification.
Thank you
Diana
You can apply for a 5-year residence card immediately. There is no need to have a 2-year residence permit or to wait. The main difference lies in providing the necessary income documents and in insisting on obtaining the residence card instead of the family residence permit. Good luck!
Hi I would be interested in the information on the residence card
Thank you Clara
Sent
Hi Lara,
My wife live outside Italian, and her sister Italian she can apply for her resident there, and what is the requirements.if yes there is any possibility to rejected.
Many Thanks,
Yazan
We have sent the form to your email address. The Sollecito form is automatically sent to everyone who asks for it, as soon as the request is viewed by our staff. Good luck with your Italian dual citizenship!
My father has italian nationality and he has shifted to england now he wants us to visit him can you please tell me which documents are required?
It is important that you make this question to the UK Embassy of the country you are living in. They may have published this information on their website.
My mom is Italian citizen by nationality. I have collected permission di sorgono of 2 years twice.my two years document will expire soon. I am planning to add Autonomo to my document to show that I am working so that I will be given carta di soggiorno. Is this possible?
Only if you are under 21 years of age. That is a requirement for children of Italian or EU nationals to obtain a residence card as family members.
Hello there Lara my name is Raul my brother has italian citizenship because he married his italian wife 25 years ago. He has been living in rome for 15 years can he apply for Italian residency for me his younger brother, many many thanks
Yes, Raul. Please check my earlier reply to Jecssy Jimenez about Italian law providing that a family member within the second degree of an Italian citizen (and residing at the same address) cannot be returned and can obtain a residence permit for family grounds.
Hello Lara, my name is Jin. Im married to an Italian, is it possible that my sister from Philippines can apply a visit visa in Italy for the reason that Im pregnant and I need her help for assisting me on my due date since she is a nurse there. Thank you
She can apply for a visa for a temporary stay up to 90 days. Until you will obtain the Italian citizenship, your sister cannot obtain a family residence permit (for relatives to Italian citizens within the second degree). You and your husband may consider an employment procedure (work visa), so she may stay and work in your household.
Hi . I’ve been to italy and in many shengen states in the past 2-3 years already and i’ve applied this time and they rejected my visa application. I have a sister who is a per net resident in Italy with a husband of an Italian citizen and a Child whos also an Italian citizen . I am coming back to be a staff like Helping her look after her Child as he start going to School and they need my moral physical support in There . What visa would I need ? Please send me an email for the answer please .
na****************@***oo.com
Sincerely yours,
Jenny
A residence permit can be granted in the situation you describe only to siblings and other relatives of Italian citizens (and not of their spouses). See our Article “Family members of Italian citizens: how to obtain a residence permit”). The main alternative is to obtain a work visa: your sister’s family can apply to the local Labor Agency for an authorization to employ you as domestic help. Based on such authorization, you can obtain a work visa for domestic employment.
Hi Lara, I hope ur doing great..!
I was in italy about 5 years when i was kid…and now ive been studies in my country since 2009. Now i wanna go back to my family there in italy…My father said to me that ive a green card which is for whole life time called Carta Sourjonno like my father said.
I turned 18years old in last month (June,2019). Its been almost 10 year since last i was in italy…Now what necessary steps should i take to go italy and do i need re-entry visa..?
(Sorry for my bad English)
#ThanksInAdvance
After 12 months of stay outside of Italy, the permit for long term residents is no longer valid (called “Carta di Soggiorno” in the past). If you move again to Italy, you can obtain such permit again after three years of residence. During that time, you need to obtain a residence permit for another reason (family, work, study, etc…). Article 9 section 7 of Decreto legislativo of 25 July 1998, no. 286
Hi lara my name is Fred I apply for the eu family pds because am married to eu citizen for years now and we live in Italy for almost 3months now them are telling me my permit is still processing please are long do the permit for eu family citizen take to issued by questura?Thanks will be waiting for your reply.
Can you explain your question?
Hi lara
i am non eu merriage with eu husband we came to italy with family base visa of my husband country that is cyprus then we applied pds my huband is blind he is getting pention in Italy.then we applied my husband declaration than i am responsible of all her sources so what he have pention is enough or he have to have work..? thanks
In order to obtain a residence card the income of both spouses is taken into account. Although the law does not provide a specific amount for the income, it is required to earn a sufficient income to not pose as a burden to the EU member state in which you reside. If you receive a social subsidy, you do not qualify for a residence card. But you may qualify for a residence permit for family reasons. In that case, the required yearly amount for a family of two adults is € 11.908,00.
I have a italian passport because I married a Italian. Now.we reside in Italy. I lile to bring my son over from south africa.
What can I do. I like him to.work maybe england spain because of his degree. And can obtain residence and passport even if he.does not.work in itlay. How.can I help.my son to get a eu.passort any other way
In order to obtain a residence card or permit in Italy, your child need to reside with you. As for obtaining such residence card in other EU member states, the law requires not only that the parent and the child cohabit, but also that the child is 21 years old or younger.