Contents
- What is family reunification in Italy: ricongiungimento vs al seguito
- Who can be reunited in Italy in 2026
- Sponsor requirements: income, housing, residence permit
- Nulla osta for family reunification: application and timelines 2026
- Documents for family reunification in Italy
- Housing certificate (idoneita abitativa): how to get it
- Al seguito Italy: how to travel together with the applicant
- Rights of a reunited relative in Italy
- Reuniting with parents over 65
- Conclusions
What is family reunification in Italy 2026 - ricongiungimento familiare and al seguito
Main article on the topic: Residence permits: all types
Navigation for all guides - knowledge base.
What is the difference between family reunification in Italy (ricongiungimento familiare) and al seguito — and when should you choose which option?
Family reunification Italy is one of the most common procedures immigrants face after moving. When you have already settled in Italy, obtained a residence permit and want to bring your close relatives, you need to go through the ricongiungimento familiare procedure. But there is a second option — al seguito Italy — when a relative travels with you on the first entry. The difference is fundamental, and you should not confuse the two routes.
In 2026 the family reunification procedure in Italy is regulated by the Testo Unico sull’Immigrazione (D.Lgs. 286/1998) and its latest amendments. The process begins with obtaining the nulla osta for family reunification (nulla osta al ricongiungimento familiare) — the authorization from the Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione.
Ricongiungimento familiare
You are already in Italy with a residence permit. The relative comes LATER. A nulla osta is required, then a type D visa for the relative. The main route for most families.
Familiare al seguito
The relative travels TOGETHER with you on the first entry to Italy. No nulla osta is needed. The visa is processed simultaneously. Suitable only when obtaining the residence permit for the first time.
Community member experience
"The whole story with my mother-in-law’s reunification is over. I am on LA, my husband on family grounds, we reunited his mother with me. We applied in May, fingerprints were taken a month later. Mom received the permesso after 9 months. Issued for 2 years."
Participant of the immigration community, 2025
In simple terms: ricongiungimento is when you already live in Italy and call your family to you. Al seguito is when you all travel together for the first time. Procedures, documents and timelines differ.
Family reunification Italy - which law
The main law is D.Lgs. 286/1998, articles 28-30. The latest changes were made in 2023. As of 2026 the procedure has not changed, but processing times and income requirements are updated annually.
Who can be reunited in Italy in 2026
Which exact relatives can be brought through family reunification in Italy — and are there age limits?
Italian law clearly defines the circle of relatives who can be reunited. It is not any relative — only close family members. Here is the full list for 2026:
Legal spouse (not cohabitant). The marriage must be recognized in Italy. Same-sex marriages — yes, if registered in a country where they are legal. Minimum age — 18 years.
Children under 18 — biological, adopted, or spouse’s children. For children from a previous marriage the consent of the other parent is required (notarized).
Only if they have no other children in the country of origin who can care for them. Or if other children are unable to provide care for medical reasons.
Adult children who due to health reasons cannot provide for themselves. Medical documentation confirming the disability is required.
Who CANNOT be reunited
Siblings, grandparents, uncles/aunts, friends — cannot. Cohabitants without a registered marriage — cannot. Parents under 65 years — cannot (except where they are the sole guardians of the sponsor’s minor child).
About parents
"No pension prevents reunification — otherwise all parents receiving a pension would have to remain in their countries. There is only one restriction: age over 65 and absence of other children in the country of origin."
From a discussion in the immigration chat
An important nuance: for reunification with parents the rule “no other children in the country of origin” applies. This means that if your mother has another daughter living in Russia — formally this can be a ground for refusal. In practice, if the second child has also immigrated to another country, that is a different situation.
Unione civile = marriage for reunification
Since 2016 Italy recognizes unioni civili (civil unions). A partner in an unione civile has the same reunification rights as a spouse. If your union is registered abroad, it must be recognized in Italy through the tribunal.
Sponsor requirements for family reunification in Italy 2026
How much do you need to earn, what residence permit to have and what housing — so that your reunification is approved?
To apply for family reunification in Italy the sponsor (the person already living in Italy) must meet three key requirements: income, housing and a valid residence permit. All three are mandatory — without any of them a nulla osta will not be issued.
Minimum income 2026
Income is calculated based on the size of the assegno sociale (social allowance), which is reviewed annually. According to current data:
Real numbers from practice
"In my experience, the minimum income is about 9,814 euros for one person, 13,085 euros if you reunite two. But it’s better to have a margin — prefectures have their own concept of sufficiency."
Participant of the immigration community
What income counts
The annual income for the last tax year is considered (CUD or dichiarazione dei redditi). For Partita IVA — income minus expenses. You can sum the incomes of both spouses if both work in Italy. A pension from Russia can also be considered, but this depends on the specific prefecture.
Valid residence permit
The sponsor must have a permesso di soggiorno (residence permit) valid for at least 1 year. The following types of permits are acceptable:
- Lavoro autonomo (LA) - self-employment
- Lavoro subordinato - employment
- Permesso CE lungo periodo - long-term residence (permanent)
- Protezione sussidiaria - subsidiary protection
- Attesa occupazione - waiting for employment
- Motivi familiari - family reasons (can continue to sponsor further!)
Digital Nomad visa - caution
With a DN visa the right to family reunification in Italy is limited. The DN permesso is usually issued for 1 year, and not all prefectures accept it as a basis for a nulla osta. It is better to convert it to LA first. More: Permesso di soggiorno.
Housing (idoneita abitativa)
The third mandatory condition is the certificate of housing suitability (idoneita abitativa). This is a separate quest, detailed in the section below.
Nulla osta for family reunification: application, documents, timelines 2026
How to apply for the nulla osta for reunification and how long does it really take in 2026?
Nulla osta for family reunification (nulla osta al ricongiungimento familiare) is the authorization issued by the Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione at your prefecture. Without the nulla osta the relative cannot obtain a type D visa to enter Italy for family reasons.
How to apply
The application is submitted online via the ALI portal (Application Lodging Interface) of the Ministry of the Interior:
Register on the ALI portal
Go to nullaostalavoro.dlci.interno.it and create an account. You can use SPID or login/password. Choose "Ricongiungimento familiare".
Fill in the online form
Provide sponsor and relative details, type of relationship, housing and income information. Upload scanned documents. The form is in Italian.
Review by the prefecture
The Sportello Unico checks documents, may request the housing certificate (if not attached), and can ask for additional documents. By law — 180 days, in practice usually faster.
Receiving the nulla osta
If approved — you receive the nulla osta for reunification. The document is sent to the Italian consulate in the relative’s country. The relative books an appointment for a type D visa.
Real timelines by city in 2026
By law the Sportello Unico must review the application within 180 days. In practice timelines vary greatly by city:
| City / Prefecture | Average time | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Milan | 2-4 months | High volume, but relatively fast |
| Rome | 3-6 months | Longest queues, frequent delays |
| Bologna | 1-3 months | One of the fastest prefectures |
| Florence | 2-4 months | Average timelines |
| Naples | 3-5 months | The South is traditionally slower |
| Turin | 2-3 months | Relatively fast |
| Small towns | 1-2 months | Often the fastest in small prefectures |
Timelines are approximate, based on feedback from participants in immigration communities in 2024-2026.
Timelines from practice
"Real nulla osta timelines — from one month to four in the prefecture. It depends on the city and whether all documents are in order. If something is missing — they can request additional documents, and the clock restarts."
From a discussion in the immigration community
What to do if the nulla osta is delayed
If more than 180 days have passed — you can file a diffida (official reminder) to the prefecture. If there is still no response — appeal to the TAR (administrative court). In practice a diffida usually speeds up the process. A lawyer is not mandatory but helps.
Validity of the nulla osta
After receiving the nulla osta the relative must apply for a type D visa within 6 months. If they do not manage to do so — the nulla osta is canceled and you must apply again.
Documents for family reunification in Italy - full list 2026
What documents are required from the sponsor and the relative for family reunification — and which need an apostille?
Documents for family reunification in Italy are collected from both sides — the sponsor prepares their part in Italy, and the relative gathers documents in the country of origin.
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✓Valid permesso di soggiorno
Copy or ricevuta of the renewal. The residence permit must be issued for at least 1 year.
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✓Passport (copy)
Valid passport with copies of all pages with stamps.
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✓Dichiarazione dei redditi or CUD
Income confirmation for the last tax year. For Partita IVA — modello Unico. Income must meet minimum requirements.
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✓Idoneita abitativa
Housing suitability certificate — from the comune or ASL. More in the section below.
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✓Certificato di residenza
Residence certificate from the comune.
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✓Stato di famiglia
Household composition certificate from the comune.
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✓Passport
Valid, with validity covering the requested visa.
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✓Birth certificate
With apostille and translation into Italian (certified translation). For a spouse — marriage certificate.
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✓Marriage certificate
If reuniting a spouse. Apostille + translation into Italian. The marriage must be recognized in Italy.
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✓Criminal record certificate
From the country of citizenship and from countries where the person lived more than 1 year in the last 5 years. Apostille + translation.
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✓Health insurance
For the initial period of stay (until the tessera sanitaria is arranged). Coverage at least 30,000 EUR.
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✓Photographs
2 passport-size photos (3.5x4.5 cm, white background).
Apostille and translation — do not confuse the order
First put an apostille on the original document, then translate into Italian, then have the translation certified at the consulate. If done in reverse order — the document will be rejected. The apostille is placed in the country that issued the document.
Document set from practice
"For reunification with my father-in-law we collected: the income declaration for Partita IVA with sufficient income for everyone, my husband’s birth certificate, pension certificate from Russia, plus a self-declaration that he is the only child. All documents from Russia with apostille and translation."
Community participant, experience 2025
Dichiarazione sostitutiva instead of some certificates
Some certificates can be replaced by a self-declaration (autocertificazione). For example, the sponsor can self-declare household composition or residence. But income, housing and the relative’s documents must be originals.
Housing certificate for family reunification - idoneita abitativa
How to obtain the housing suitability certificate (idoneita abitativa) and why is this the most difficult part of reunification?
Idoneita abitativa is a certificate confirming that your housing meets sanitary and area standards for the specified number of people. Without it the nulla osta for reunification will not be issued. And this document is often the stumbling block.
Reality of obtaining it
"How to obtain the housing suitability certificate for reunification is a separate quest. The comune can consider the request for months, then send an inspector who will find violations."
From a discussion in the immigration chat
Where to get it
Idoneita abitativa is issued by one of two bodies (depends on the comune):
- Ufficio Tecnico of the comune - the technical office of the municipality. Most often they issue the certificate
- ASL (Azienda Sanitaria Locale) - local health authority. In some communes they issue it instead of the technical office
Area norms
Minimum norms are defined by the Ministerial Decree of 05.07.1975:
| Number of occupants | Minimum area | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 14 sq.m | One living room |
| 2 people | 28 sq.m | Plus kitchen, bathroom |
| 3 people | 42 sq.m | At least 2 rooms |
| 4 people | 56 sq.m | At least 2-3 rooms |
Norms may slightly differ across regions.
Catch-22: housing is needed BEFORE reunification
You need to prove that the housing is suitable for everyone, including a relative who has not yet arrived. At the same time the landlord may not want to list an additional occupant in the contract before their arrival. Solutions: agree with the landlord in advance, rent a larger apartment, or obtain the certificate for the current housing taking into account future occupants.
What requirements are checked
- Minimum area per person (per the norms above)
- Availability of a bathroom with toilet
- Availability of a kitchen or cooking area
- Sufficient lighting and ventilation
- Heating availability
- General sanitary condition of the housing
- Compliance of electrical wiring and gas utilities with standards
Timeframes to obtain idoneita abitativa
From 2 weeks to 3 months depending on the comune. Small communes are usually faster — sometimes within a week. Big cities (Rome, Milan) — up to 2-3 months. Apply in advance, do not wait to file for the nulla osta.
Documents for obtaining idoneita abitativa: rental contract (registered with Agenzia delle Entrate) or deed of ownership, the apartment’s planimetry (planimetria catastale), copy of the permesso di soggiorno and passport. In some communes they additionally request a certificato di agibilità.
Al seguito Italy - how to travel together with the main applicant
How does al seguito Italy differ from ordinary reunification and when can you travel together instead of calling relatives later?
Al seguito Italy (familiare al seguito) is the procedure when a family member travels TOGETHER with the main applicant on the first entry to the country. You don’t need to go alone first, settle, apply for a nulla osta and wait — everything is processed simultaneously.
This is fundamentally a different procedure than ricongiungimento familiare. The main difference: for al seguito no nulla osta for reunification is required. The family member’s visa is processed in parallel with the main applicant’s visa at the same consulate.
When al seguito can be used
- When obtaining a type D visa for the first time - the main applicant has not yet entered Italy
- For spouse and minor children - the standard set of relatives
- If sufficient income and housing are available - the same financial requirements as for ricongiungimento
Difference between al seguito and ricongiungimento
| Criterion | Al seguito | Ricongiungimento |
|---|---|---|
| When | On first entry | Sponsor already in Italy |
| Nulla osta | Not required | Required |
| Where applied | At the consulate (together with the main visa) | Online via Sportello Unico |
| Timelines | Together with the main visa (1-3 months) | 1-6 months (nulla osta + visa) |
| For whom | Spouse, children under 18 | Spouse, children, parents 65+, disabled children |
| Income | Required (same norms) | Required (same norms) |
| Housing | Proof required | Idoneita abitativa mandatory |
Practical advice
"If you are planning to move and you have a family — always try al seguito. It is easier, faster and doesn’t require a nulla osta. You submit visas together at one consulate. Ricongiungimento is when someone comes later."
Immigration consultant, community discussion
Documents for an al seguito visa
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✓Passport
Valid, with validity covering the requested visa.
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✓Marriage / birth certificate
With apostille and certified translation into Italian.
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✓Proof of the main applicant’s income
Income must cover all family members according to assegno sociale norms.
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✓Proof of housing in Italy
Rental contract or deed. For al seguito idoneita abitativa is usually not required, but the contract must exist.
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✓Health insurance
For the initial stay. Coverage minimum 30,000 EUR.
Al seguito and Digital Nomad visa
When applying for a DN visa family members can travel al seguito. This is one of the few visa types where al seguito works without problems. The consulate considers all applications simultaneously. More about DN: Permesso di soggiorno.
Rights of a reunited relative in Italy 2026
Can a relative who arrived for family reasons work in Italy — and what rights does this residence permit give?
One of the main questions: what can the relative do after arriving in Italy for family reunification? The answer — almost everything the sponsor can do.
Right to work
A reunited relative with a permesso per motivi familiari has full right to work in Italy — both as an employee (lavoro subordinato) and as self-employed (lavoro autonomo). This is explicitly stated in the law.
Important clarification
"A parent reunited on family grounds has full rights to work in Italy officially. Even from the moment of receiving the ricevuta, without waiting for the permesso card. This is confirmed by practice and competent lawyers."
From a discussion in the immigration community
Working with the ricevuta
Yes, it is possible to work even with the ricevuta (receipt of application for the permesso). This applies to reunited relatives as well. The employer can verify status through the immigration portal. More: Working in Italy.
Full list of rights
- Employment - any type of paid work, any employer
- Self-employment - open a Partita IVA, run a business
- Healthcare (SSN) - right to a tessera sanitaria and public healthcare
- Education - access to Italian schools and universities
- Social benefits - ISEE, assegno unico for children, other payments
- Residence permit renewal - the permesso is renewed while the family-based ground exists
- Path to long-term residence - after 5 years you can apply for a long-term permesso CE
- Path to citizenship - naturalization after 10 years of residence
Tessera sanitaria
Immediately after receiving the permesso (or the ricevuta) the reunited relative can register with the SSN (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale) and get a tessera sanitaria — the health card with codice fiscale. This grants access to a family doctor (medico di base) and the entire healthcare system.
Where to apply for the tessera sanitaria
At the ASL in the place of residence. Required: permesso di soggiorno (or ricevuta), codice fiscale, certificato di residenza. More on healthcare: Healthcare in Italy.
Renewal of the permesso on family grounds
The permesso per motivi familiari is renewed while the family link remains. Spouse — as long as the marriage exists. A child — while a minor (after 18 they can convert to another type of permit). Parent — indefinitely while the ground exists.
If the sponsor loses their residence permit
If the sponsor for some reason loses their residence permit, the reunited relative does not automatically lose theirs. The family-based permesso can be converted into a work permit (if the relative already works) or into attesa occupazione. More: Permesso renewal.
Reuniting with parents over 65 — special requirements
How to bring mom or dad to Italy by family reunification — and what additional documents are needed for parents?
Reuniting with parents is a separate and more complex story. Italian law imposes additional conditions that do not apply when reuniting with a spouse or children. We will go through all the nuances.
Mandatory conditions for parents
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✓Parent’s age – over 65
This is a strict requirement. A parent under 65 cannot be reunited (except in rare medical-exception cases).
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✓No other children in the country of origin
The parent must be alone — without other children who can take care of them. If siblings have moved to other countries — this is acceptable.
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✓Or other children cannot provide care
Alternative: other children exist, but they are medically or socially unable to care for the parent.
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✓Sufficient sponsor income
Standard assegno sociale requirements. Income must cover the parent.
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✓Housing (idoneita abitativa)
Housing suitability certificate considering the additional occupant.
Additional documents for parents
In addition to the standard document package, for reuniting with parents you must provide:
- Parent’s pension certificate - from the country of origin (with apostille and translation)
- Self-declaration (autocertificazione) - that the applicant is the only child, or that other children cannot provide care
- Sponsor’s birth certificate - to confirm the relationship (with apostille and translation)
- Medical documents of the parent - if the ground is health-related
Experience of reuniting with a parent
"We collected a bunch of papers: Partita IVA income declaration with sufficient income for everyone, husband’s birth certificate with apostille, father-in-law’s pension certificate from Russia, plus a self-declaration that my husband is the only child. We applied in May — approved in 3 months."
Participant of the immigration community
Parent’s pension — not an obstacle
A common question: can a parent who receives a pension in Russia or another country be reunited? Yes, they can. A pension is not an obstacle.
About pension and reunification
"A pension in no way prevents reunification. Otherwise all pensioners would have to stay in their countries without the possibility to move to their children. On the contrary — having a pension shows the parent will not be fully dependent on the sponsor."
From a discussion in the immigration chat
Healthcare for parents
After obtaining the permesso the parent has the right to the tessera sanitaria and a family doctor. This is particularly important for elderly people. The first months before the permesso is issued are covered by the health insurance arranged when applying for the visa.
If the parent has other children
This is the most common reason for refusals in reunification with parents. The prefecture checks whether the parent has other children in the country of origin. If they do — this is formally a ground for refusal. The solution: prove that other children are unable to provide care (medical documents, proof of living in another country, or other justifications).
Conclusions - family reunification in Italy 2026
If the family travels together on first entry — al seguito Italy (easier, faster, no nulla osta). If a relative comes later — ricongiungimento familiare via the Sportello Unico.
Sufficient income (from ~10,651 EUR/year for 1 relative), housing with idoneita abitativa and a valid residence permit for at least 1 year. Without any of the three — refusal.
Apply online, real timelines 1-4 months depending on the city. The nulla osta is valid for 6 months — during this time the relative must obtain a type D visa.
All documents from the country of origin must be apostilled and translated into Italian. This takes time — start collecting 2-3 months before applying.
The permesso per motivi familiari grants full rights to work as an employee and as self-employed. Even with the ricevuta. Plus tessera sanitaria, education and social benefits.
Reuniting with parents over 65 is possible if there are no other children in the country of origin. A parent’s pension does not prevent reunification. Additional documents are required.