Eligibility Quiz
Application Process
You'll navigate a two-stage process: first obtaining a nulla osta (entry clearance) from Italian immigration authorities while you're already in Italy, then applying for the actual visa at an Italian consulate in your parent's home country.
Stage 1: Obtaining the Nulla Osta (Entry Clearance)
Where and how to apply: You (the sponsor, already living in Italy) submit your application online through the Sportello Unico per l'Immigrazione (SUI) — the Unified Immigration Desk — at portaleservizi.dlci.interno.it. You'll need SPID credentials (the Italian digital identity system). The application goes to the Prefettura (Prefecture) responsible for your place of residence in Italy.
Before you apply, verify you meet the sponsor requirements:
- You hold a valid residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) in Italy
- You have lived legally and continuously in Italy for at least two years (as of December 2024)
- Your residence permit is valid for at least one more year
- You earn stable, lawful income meeting the 2025 thresholds: €7,002.97 annually for yourself plus €3,501.49 per additional family member (so €10,504.46 for you + one parent, €14,005.94 for you + two parents)
- You have suitable housing certified by your municipality
Exception to the two-year rule: If you hold an EU Blue Card, ICT (Intra-Corporate Transfer) permit, or investor visa, you don't need to wait two years. If you're a refugee or subsidiary protection holder, the two-year requirement doesn't apply, and you're exempt from income, housing, and health insurance requirements.
Gather these documents for the nulla osta application:
- Copy of your residence permit and passport
- Proof of two years continuous legal residence (residence permit history, rental contracts, utility bills)
- Copy of your parent's passport
- Certificato di Idoneità Alloggiativa — housing suitability certificate from your municipality (Comune). Contact your local Comune early; they'll inspect your home to confirm it meets health, sanitation, and space standards (typically 45–65 square meters depending on family size)
- Proof of your income in Italy: CUD, 730, or Unico tax forms
- Stato di famiglia — family status document from your municipality (you can self-certify this)
- If your parent is over 65: proof of health insurance (private insurance valid in EU countries, or enrollment with Italy's SSN with contribution payment)
- If your parent has no other children able to support them: a notarized declaration confirming this
- If your parent is over 65 with other children: medical certificates documenting serious, documented health reasons preventing those children from supporting your parent
Processing: The legal deadline is 90 days, but this is not strictly enforced. In practice, expect 1 to 3 months depending on your Prefettura's workload. The nulla osta is valid for 6 months from issuance — your parent must apply for the visa within this window.
If the nulla osta hasn't arrived within the expected timeframe, you can send a formal notice (diffida ad adempiere) to the Prefecture through a lawyer requesting immediate issuance.
Stage 2: Visa Application at Italian Consulate
Who applies: Your parent applies for the visa at the Italian Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence.
When to apply: Your parent can submit the application 3 months before their intended travel date and up to 1 month before travel. They must apply within 6 months of the nulla osta issuance (since the nulla osta expires after 6 months).
Required documents for the visa application:
- Completed long-stay visa application form (available on your consulate's website)
- Valid passport or travel document, original plus one photocopy — must be valid for at least 3 months beyond planned stay and have at least two blank pages
- Recent passport-style photo: 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm (1⅜" × 1¾"), full front, white background
- Nulla Osta (Entry Clearance) issued no more than 6 months earlier, original plus one photocopy
- Proof of family relationship: birth certificate, original plus one photocopy
- Important: If your parent's documents are from a foreign authority, they must be translated into English or Italian and legalized by the Italian Consular Office of the issuing country OR by the Consular Authority in your parent's country of residence
- One-way travel ticket reservation
- If your parent is over 65: proof of health insurance or SSN enrollment
- Proof of dependency on you: bank transfer records, financial statements showing regular support
Critical note on document age: Certificates (birth, marriage, civil partnership) older than 6 months will NOT be accepted. Obtain fresh copies before applying.
Processing: The legal deadline is 30 days, but consulates typically take 1 to 3 months depending on workload. The visa is valid for 365 days (one year) from issuance and allows multiple entries.
Visa fee: The family reunification visa is free of charge as of June 1, 2024.
Stage 3: Entry into Italy and Residence Permit
Entry deadline: Your parent must enter Italy within 6 months of visa approval.
Within 8 days of arrival, your parent must apply for a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno per motivi familiari). They can do this by:
- Submitting a postal kit (kit postale) at a Poste Italiane (Post Office)
- Applying directly at the local Questura (police headquarters/immigration office)
First entry registration: Your parent must also register their first entry at the Prefettura that issued the nulla osta within 8 days. An appointment can be booked through the Ministry of Interior's online portal.
Residence permit processing: The permit must be issued within 60 days of application, but in practice delays are common. Depending on the city and workload:
- High-volume cities (Rome, Milan, Florence): 1 to 4 months
- Standard cases: 45 to 90 days after the fingerprinting appointment
- Total process from postal kit submission to permit receipt: 2 to 6 months for the appointment, then 2 to 5 months from fingerprinting to permit issuance
Important: If no Questura appointments are available within 8 days of arrival, send a certified email (PEC) to the Sportello Unico della Prefettura and submit the postal kit with the PEC receipt as proof of timely notification.
Fees
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Nulla Osta: Two revenue stamps (marca da bollo) | €32 |
| Family reunification visa | Free (as of June 1, 2024) |
| Residence permit: Revenue stamp | €16 |
| Residence permit: Electronic permit printing fee | €30.46 |
| Residence permit: Postal kit fee | €30 |
| Residence permit: State contribution (up to 1 year) | €40 |
| Residence permit: State contribution (up to 2 years) | €50 |
| Subtotal: Core visa and permit fees | €338–348 |
| Health insurance (for parents over 65, basic coverage) | ~€80 |
| Document translation and legalization (multiple documents) | €200–300 |
| Travel costs (flight, transportation) | Varies by origin |
Total estimated cost: €338–348 for core fees; approximately €418 including basic health insurance. The full cost including travel, translations, and other expenses typically reaches several thousand euros.
Does not include: Flight tickets, accommodation, meals, local transportation, notarization of declarations, housing inspection fees, or any visa application fees charged by your consulate (though the family reunification visa itself is free).
Processing Time
Overall Timeline
The entire process from initial nulla osta submission to receiving your parent's residence permit typically takes 3 to 6 months in the best case, but 6 to 12 months or longer is common in practice.
Nulla Osta Stage (In Italy)
- Legal deadline: 90 days from submission
- Practical timeline: 1 to 3 months depending on your Prefettura
- Validity: 6 months from issuance
Visa Application Stage (Abroad)
- Legal deadline: 30 days from submission
- Practical timeline: 1 to 3 months depending on consulate workload
Residence Permit Stage (In Italy)
- Legal deadline: 60 days from application
- Practical timeline: 4 to 12 months depending on the city and Questura workload
- High-volume Questure (Rome, Milan, Florence): 1 to 4 months
- Standard cases: 45 to 90 days after the fingerprinting appointment
- Total from postal kit submission to permit receipt: 2 to 6 months for appointment booking, then 2 to 5 months from fingerprinting to permit issuance
Factors Affecting Speed
Processing times vary based on:
- Administrative capacity and staff levels at your specific Prefettura or Questura
- Technical issues in the Ministry of Interior's IT systems
- Type of permit (family reunification often takes longer than renewals)
- Location of the Questura (larger cities have significant backlogs)
- Completeness and accuracy of your documentation
- Requests for additional information or clarifications
Recent System Updates (February 2026)
Italy's visa system underwent a scheduled migration to cloud architecture from February 12–18, 2026. Consular sections are now prioritizing family-reunification files, with residual delays of up to five working days expected as the system stabilizes.