[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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Hi
Lara
I am a brother of Italian citizen. I am living in Italy with him, I would like to know can I apply for 5 years family carta as a family member of eu citizen
Thanks
You may obtain a residence card only if you can prove that you strictly depend on your brother for your livelihood (e.g. for health-related reasons) and that your brother has sufficient financial resources to maintain you.
Hi Lara
One of family friend who is a permenant Italian citizen saying he can take me and my wife to Italy through a couple visa and provide work permit . Is it possible to do that
If that means that you may apply for a work permit only after you enter Italy with a short-term (non-work) visa, the answer is no. The law requires that you have to obtain a work permit (autorizzazione al lavoro) and a work visa before you enter Italy if you want to stay for more than 90 days and perform a work activity. Some work activities are always available (among which medical and paramedical staff, executives, fashion and arts operators, etc…). All the other work activities are restricted which means that you have to be assigned a quota in order to obtain a work permit. You can find more information on the Italian Consulate website of your area of residence, visa section.
Hi Lara,
I am been italy from 2017 as a Italian spouse and got 2 years resident permit. The permit doesn’t allowed to enter UK without visa. My resident card will expired August 2019.
My question is How can I get 5 years resident permit and what documents I need to arrange for renue my permit? What is the best time to renue before expires?
You can request a 5 years residence card any time, also right now. In general, the application for renewing any residence permit must be submitted at least 60 days before the permit’s expiration date. Article 5, section 4 of the Italian Aliens Act, Decreto legislativo of 25 July, 1998 no. 286: “Il rinnovo del permesso di soggiorno è richiesto dallo straniero al questore della provincia in cui dimora, almeno sessanta giorni prima della scadenza”.
Hello lara,
I have some question, I have 5 years Carta di soggiorno motivita familiare, it’s possible to invite my brother here in Italy?
You may invite your relatives for a short stay up to 90 days. Only the siblings of Italian citizens can obtain a residence permit for family members (more information on this page).
Dear Lara
I have 2 questions. First, my mother was born in 1918 in todays Mali Losinj, Croatia. Which became part of Italy in 1919. My mother lived there till 1927. Italy lost possession of Mali Losinj in 1943. My question is could my mother have been an Italian citizen and not even known about it. She is not Italian by blood, but Slavic.
Second question, once you apply for citizenship in Italy, what are the physical residency rules? Meaning how many days in a year must you be physically on Italian soil? The same question for the residence card also?
You may be eligible for Italian citizenship under a post-II WW redress rule for “individuals who were Italian nationals, formerly residing in the territories belonging to the Italian State and subsequently surrendered to the Yugoslav Republic according to the Paris Peace Treaty of February 10, 1947” (Article 17bis and 17ter of the Italian Citizenship Act of 5 February 1992 nr. 91). If you live outside of Italy, you can submit your application to the Italian Consulate with official documents that your mother was formerly registered as an Italian citizen and that she resided for some time in the territories belonged to the Italian State and subsequently surrendered to the Yugoslav Republic. I can help to review your documents for your application.
As for your second question, the main rule is that you have to stay in Italy for the time corresponding to half of the duration of your residence permit (Article 13 section 4 of Decreto del Presidente della Repubblica of 31 August 1999 no. 394). If your residence permit has a one-year duration, you are expected to stay in Italy for at least six months, in order to be on the safe side and not risk your permit to be withdrawn or your renewal application rejected.
Hi Ms. Lara,
Good day, Im Jecssy from philippines, im 32 years old this year, i have italian step dad and italian citizen by marriage mother. They want to invite me to italy, do i have a chance to get a visa and what particular visa i need to apply
Thank you and very appreciate for your quick response
The law provides 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 (article 19 section 2C of the Italian Aliens Act, Decreto legislativo of 25 July, 1998 no. 286 and Article 28 of Implementing Regulation of 31 August 1999 no. 394). Once you obtain a visa for any reason (even a short-term one), you have the possibility to apply for a residence permit in Italy for family reasons that enables you to work. It is thus necessary to prove your family tie by official records and that you reside at your mother’s address.
Pls Laura i have permesso di soggiorno periodo lungo ok,if i nring my mother here how many years document will they give her?
The residence card and the residence permit considered in the article on this page apply only to the family members of Italian citizens. Different rules and some restrictions apply to the reunification of parents of non-EU citizens in Italy. These require an analysis of your condition in Italy and your mother’s in her country of current residence. So it is important that you discuss this with the local Questura or a local legal service that can examine your situation.
Hi , Lara
Thanks for this beneficial information, I have query, my wife’s brother is Italian citizen. Can she apply under this family visa. What kind of documents do we need to show for proof of relationship.
Thanks & regards
Aman
The law only forbids the removal of close family members of Italian citizens, including the siblings, provided that they cohabit. Such family members can be granted a residence permit which enables them to work, study or perform any other legal activity (permesso di soggiorno per motivi familiari). But there is no provision about entry clearance to Italy for siblings to take up residence and settle in Italy.
yes, please send me your SPECIAL RESIDENCE CARD KEY.
Thank you!