Eligibility Quiz
Application Process
You'll apply for a national visa (Type D) for family reasons at the Italian consulate or embassy in your country of residence, then apply for a residence permit once you arrive in Italy. As of June 1, 2024, short-stay tourist visas can no longer be used for family reunification—you must use the dedicated family visa pathway. The visa is issued free of charge and is valid for 365 days with multiple entries.
Step 1: Prepare and Legalize Your Documents
Before contacting the consulate, gather and legalize all civil status documents (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.). These must be:
- Legalized with an apostille in your country of origin
- Translated into Italian by an official consular translator or certified translator
- Submitted along with copies of the originals
If your country has an Italian consulate, you can request legalization and translation services there. Alternatively, use VFS (Visa Facilitation Services) if available in your country—they handle these services for a fee. This step typically takes 2 to 8 weeks, so start early.
Step 2: Gather Required Documents
Collect all documents listed below based on your family relationship category:
For all applicants:
- Completed visa application form (available on your consulate's website)
- Valid passport (must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the visa expiration date and have at least two blank pages)
- 2 recent passport-sized photographs (35×45 mm, full face, front view, in color)
- Proof of family relationship (legalized and translated):
- Spouse/civil partner: Marriage certificate or civil partnership deed transcribed in Italy
- Minor children: Full birth certificate
- Children over 21: Full birth certificate + bank transfer receipts for the past 2 years (organized by month) proving financial dependency
- Dependent parents: Full birth certificate + bank transfer receipts for the past 2 years (organized by month) proving financial dependency
- Invitation letter from your EU/Italian citizen family member stating their intention to exercise the right to family unity, signed and accompanied by a copy of their valid identity document (passport or ID card)
- Copy of your family member's identity document (passport or ID card)
- Proof that your family member is registered at the local Comune (town hall) in Italy—request a registration certificate from the Comune
If you are a minor with only one parent in Italy:
- Written consent from the non-accompanying parent (in the form of an affidavit), or
- Court order authorizing the move (if sole custody applies)
Step 3: Book an Appointment at Your Consulate
Visit your Italian consulate's website and use the Prenotami portal (where available) to book an appointment for visa submission. If the portal is not available, contact the consulate directly by phone or email. Appointment availability varies; expect to wait 2 to 8 weeks for an appointment slot.
Step 4: Submit Your Visa Application at the Consulate
Attend your appointment and submit:
- Completed visa application form (signed)
- Valid passport
- 2 passport photographs
- All legalized and translated family relationship documents
- Invitation letter and copy of your family member's identity document
- Proof of your family member's registration at the Comune
The consulate will verify your documents and the authenticity of your family relationship. No Nulla Osta (entry clearance from the immigration office) is required for family members of EU/Italian citizens exercising their right to free movement.
Step 5: Wait for Visa Processing
The consulate will process your application. Processing time varies by consulate, typically 1 to 3 months, though some consulates may take longer depending on workload. You will be notified when your visa is ready for collection. The visa is valid for 365 days with multiple entries, meaning you can enter and exit Italy multiple times during this period.
Step 6: Collect Your Visa and Enter Italy
Collect your visa from the consulate and enter Italy within the visa's validity period. You can travel within the Schengen Area during this time with your passport and visa.
Step 7: Apply for Your Residence Permit Within 8 Days of Arrival
This deadline is strict. Within 8 working days of arriving in Italy, you must apply for a residence permit for family reasons. You have two options:
Option A: Submit a Postal Kit at Authorized Post Offices (Poste Italiane)
This is the most common method:
- Visit any authorized Poste Italiane branch
- Request the postal kit for residence permit application (kit per richiesta di permesso di soggiorno)
- Complete the form inside the kit with your details
- Include the following documents in the kit:
- Copy of your visa
- Copy of your valid passport
- Invitation letter from your EU/Italian citizen family member
- Documents proving family relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.)
- Documents proving economic dependency (if applicable—bank transfer receipts)
- 4 passport-sized photographs
- Receipt of application for registration in the resident population register (issued by the Comune—obtain this from your local town hall before submitting the postal kit)
- Submit the kit at the post office and keep the receipt
The post office will send your application to the local Questura (Police Immigration Office). You will receive notification to attend the Questura for fingerprinting and document verification.
Option B: Submit Directly at the Local Questura
In some cities, you can submit your residence permit application directly at the Questura. Contact your local Questura to confirm if this option is available and what documents are required.
Step 8: Attend Fingerprinting and Document Verification at the Questura
After submitting the postal kit, you will receive a notification (typically by mail or email) to attend your local Questura. At this appointment, you will:
- Provide your fingerprints
- Submit original documents for verification
- Confirm your information
Processing time from postal kit submission to fingerprinting appointment: 2 to 6 months (varies by location and Questura workload).
Step 9: Receive Notification That Your Residence Permit Is Ready
After the Questura processes your application, you will receive notification that your residence permit card is ready for collection. This typically occurs 2 to 5 months after your fingerprinting appointment.
Important: While waiting for the physical card, the postal kit receipt is a legal document that allows you to remain in Italy. You can use it to register with the tax authority, open a bank account, and apply for employment. However, travel outside Italy with only the receipt is complicated and should be avoided if possible.
Step 10: Collect Your Residence Permit Card
Collect your residence permit card (Carta di soggiorno per familiare di cittadino UE or Permesso di soggiorno per motivi familiari) from the Questura. The card is valid for 5 years and is renewable.
End-to-end timeline: From initial visa application to receiving your residence permit card, expect 6 to 12 months in most cases. In less congested areas, the process may be completed in 3 to 6 months. In high-volume cities (Rome, Milan, Florence), expect 1 to 4 months for the residence permit stage alone, but the overall timeline may still be 6 to 12 months due to consulate processing delays.
Fees
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| National visa (Type D) for family reasons | Free |
| Electronic residence permit card | €30.46 |
| Postal service fee (for postal kit submission) | €30.00 |
| Revenue stamp (Marca da Bollo) | €16.00 |
| Government contribution tax (up to 1 year) | €40.00 |
| Government contribution tax (more than 1 year, up to 2 years) | €50.00 |
| Total estimated cost for 1-year residence permit | €116.46 |
Additional costs not included in the above:
- Document legalization and translation: €100–€300+ (varies by country and number of documents)
- Apostille certification: Varies by country
- VFS service fees (if using visa facilitation services for document legalization/translation): Additional fee required
- Travel to consulate and Questura appointments
- Registration at the Comune (town hall): Free or minimal fee (varies by municipality)
Processing Time
Visa Processing
Consulate visa processing: 1 to 3 months (varies significantly by consulate and workload)
Visa validity: 365 days with multiple entries from the date of issuance
Residence Permit Processing
Italian law requires the residence permit to be issued within 90 days of application. However, in practice, processing times are considerably longer:
Postal kit submission to fingerprinting appointment: 2 to 6 months
Fingerprinting to "Ready for Collection" notification: 2 to 5 months
Total estimated time from arrival in Italy to receiving the physical card: 4 to 11 months
Geographic variation:
- High-volume Questure (Rome, Milan, Florence): 1 to 4 months total for the residence permit stage
- Standard cases in mid-sized cities: 45 to 90 days after the fingerprinting appointment
- Smaller provinces: 2 to 3 months total for the residence permit stage
Important: While you wait for the physical residence permit card, the postal kit receipt is a legal document that allows you to remain in Italy, register with the tax authority, open a bank account, and seek employment.
End-to-End Timeline
From initial visa application at the consulate to receiving your residence permit card in hand: 6 to 12 months is realistic for most applicants. Some cases in less congested areas may be completed in 3 to 6 months, while complex cases or applications submitted to high-volume Questure may take up to 12 months or longer.
Document validity periods:
- Passport: Must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the visa expiration date
- Residence permit card: Valid for 5 years and renewable
- Postal kit receipt (temporary document): Valid until the physical card is issued