Family reunification
(EU/EEA citizens)
The legislation (Directive 2004/38/EC and Legislative Decree 30/2007) provides for facilitations for relatives of EU/EEA citizens.
As of 1 June 2024, foreign family members of Italian/EU citizens travelling to Italy for the purpose of family reunification will have to apply for a national visa (no longer a short-term Schengen tourist visa) to be converted into a residency permit for family members of an Italian or EU citizen, upon presentation of the documents indicated in art. 10 of Legislative Decree n. 30/2007 (http://www.esteri.it/mae/normative/Normativa_Consolare/Visti/D_Lgs_30_2007.pdf) at the competent Questura within 8 days of entering Italy.
The family members who are entitled to family reunification are those referred to in art. 2 D. Lgs. 30/2007, namely:
– Spouse of an EU citizen or part of a civil union with an EU citizen
– Children of EU national under the age of 21 or dependent and those of the spouse/spouse
– Dependent parent of EU National
For a facsimile of an invitation letter, please click here.
Visas for the above categories of family members of EU nationals are issued free of charge (Art. 5 Legislative Decree 30/2007).
For short visits or periods of less than 3 months, a Schengen visa for tourism will be issued instead, subject to the fulfilment of the requirements established by the reference legislation.