Family Reunification for Minor Children

Who Can Apply (The Child)

You can apply for family reunification if you are a minor child under 18 years old, unmarried, and meet one of these relationships to the sponsor:

• Biological child of the sponsor
• Adopted child of the sponsor
• Stepchild of the sponsor (child of the sponsor's spouse)
• Child born outside marriage, provided the other parent has given written consent to your departure from your country of origin

Your eligibility ends on your 18th birthday. If you are approaching 18, the application must be submitted and approved before that date.

Who Can Sponsor (The Parent/Guardian)

Your parent or guardian must be a non-EU citizen holding a valid residence permit in Italy. The residence permit can be issued for any of these purposes:

• Employment (subordinate or self-employed)
• Study
• International protection (refugee or subsidiary protection status)
• Family reasons
• Religious purposes
• Scientific research
• Highly qualified work (EU Blue Card)
• Intra-corporate transfer (ICT)

Important exception: If your sponsor holds a residence permit for international protection (asylum or subsidiary protection), they can sponsor you immediately without waiting. For all other sponsors, they must hold a valid residence permit, though they do not need to have held it for any minimum period to sponsor a minor child. (This is a key protection: Law 187/2024 introduced a two-year residence requirement for other family members, but minor children are explicitly exempt.)

Parental Consent Requirement

If you were born outside marriage or are a stepchild, written consent from the other parent is required for the visa to be issued. This consent must be provided in writing and, depending on your country of origin, may need to be notarized or legalized by the Italian consulate.

Financial Requirements

Your sponsor must demonstrate minimum annual gross income based on the assegno sociale (social allowance), which is updated annually by INPS (the Italian social security agency).

For 2025–2026:

• One minor child: €7,002.97 per year
• Two minor children: €10,504.46 per year (1.5 × base)
• Three minor children: €14,005.94 per year (2 × base)

Special rule for young children: If your sponsor is reunifying with two or more children under age 14, the minimum income requirement doubles to €14,005.94.

Income must come from lawful sources and can include employment salary, self-employment income, pensions, rental income, or investment income. If your sponsor's income alone is insufficient, income from a cohabiting spouse can be combined.

Housing Requirements

Your sponsor must provide a Certificato di Idoneità Alloggiativa (housing suitability certificate) proving the home meets health and safety standards. This certificate is issued by the municipality where the sponsor lives.

Space standards (under Law 187/2024):

• Approximately 45–50 square meters for one person plus one child
• Approximately 10–15 additional square meters per additional family member

The municipality verifies occupancy and minimum living space, and may conduct on-site inspections to confirm compliance.

Exception: If your sponsor is reunifying with only one child under 14, the housing suitability certificate may not be required in some jurisdictions, though this varies by local practice.