VISA FEE: CFA F 77,000
The family reunification visa allows foreign nationals to enter Italy for the purpose of a long‑term stay, in favour of the family members of a foreign citizen legally residing in Italy who has obtained the Nulla Osta from the competent Single Immigration Desk (Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione – SUI) and intends to exercise their right to family unity.
The Nulla Osta must be used within six (6) months from the date of issuance. For the purpose of calculating its validity, what matters is the date on which the applicant books the appointment with VFS, not the date of the actual visa submission. (Example: if an appointment is booked in April for August, and the Nulla Osta expires in July → the application is admissible because the applicant acted within the required timeframe.)
Family members included in the Nulla Osta must fall within one of the categories strictly listed in Article 29 of Legislative Decree 286/1998, namely:
- Spouse (or partner in a civil union), not legally separated and at least 18 years old;
- Minor children, including those of the spouse or born out of wedlock, unmarried, with the consent of the other parent if applicable. A “minor” is defined as a child who has not yet turned 18 at the time the Nulla Osta request is submitted to the SUI. Adopted, fostered or tutored minors are treated as children, provided the relevant measures were issued by the competent authority under local law and are compatible with Italian public order;
- Adult dependent children, if they cannot provide for their essential needs due to a health condition resulting in total disability;
- Dependent parents, if they have no other children in the country of origin or provenance;
- Parents over 65 years of age, when other children in the country of origin or provenance cannot support them for documented, serious health reasons.
In cases of marriages contracted under polygamous regimes, which are contrary to Italian public order, it must be demonstrated that the foreign resident in Italy is not already cohabiting with another spouse, by presenting a complete Italian family status certificate showing the family relationships of all registered members.
Marriage or the birth of children must occur before the submission of the Nulla Osta request. Otherwise, the visa will be denied and the SUI that issued the Nulla Osta will be notified for possible legal actions.
Where reasonable doubts arise, the Embassy is responsible for verifying the authenticity of civil status documents and any other documents submitted to prove marriage, kinship, minority, health conditions, or dependency.
Applicants must provide evidence of the absence of other children in the country of origin, health conditions, and dependent status. Dependency may be demonstrated through any form of proof (bank transfers, money remittance receipts, provision of accommodation, payment of rent, documents showing the applicant has no income from pensions or annuities, or that such income is insufficient in the local socio‑economic context, proof of total lack of income, etc.).
What documentation is required?
To obtain the visa, the applicant must submit, in addition to the duly completed and signed application form, a valid travel document and passport photos:
- Nulla Osta issued by the competent Single Immigration Desk (SUI);
- Appropriate documentation proving the family or marital relationship with the foreign citizen legally residing in Italy. For example:
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- Marriage certificate and certificate of non‑divorce and non‑separation for the spouse/partner in a same‑sex civil union;
- Full birth certificate / adoption decree / judicial order of foster care or guardianship, as well as the travel authorisation of the non‑accompanying parent, for minor children. For children over 18 years old, proof of dependency (bank transfer receipts for the two years preceding the visa application and the current year, complete and organised by month) and proof of inability to meet essential needs due to a health condition resulting in total disability (appropriate medical certification) must also be provided;
- Full birth certificate of the foreign resident in Italy and of the visa applicant, as well as the applicant’s family status certificate clearly showing the absence of other children in the country of origin, or — for parents over 65 — appropriate medical certification proving that other children cannot support them for serious health reasons, and proof of dependency (bank transfer receipts for the two years preceding the visa application and the current year, complete and organised by month), for dependent parents.
PLEASE NOTE: Civil status documents must be legalised in advance by the Consular Office of the Embassy and accompanied by an Italian translation certified by the same Office. These services are also provided through VFS, where appointments must be booked.
PLEASE NOTE: All documents and judicial measures referenced in the marginal notes of civil status records must also be attached (these do not require prior legalisation). Any corrections required (e.g., discrepancies in dates of birth or marriage) must be made according to national legislation in force and must appear in the marginal notes, or a photocopy of the civil status register containing the original act must be provided.
PLEASE NOTE: The submission of false or forged documents constitutes a criminal offence and results not only in visa refusal but also in the transmission of a criminal report to the competent Italian Public Prosecutor’s Office.