Process For Family Immigration

All foreigners intending to enter Italy must provide the documentation required to justify the reasons and duration of their stay as well as, in some prescribed cases, the availability of adequate economic means and lodging.

Resident Permit for Family Reunification

The following family members are qualified for family reunification visa applications:

• Spouse not legally separated and not being under 18 years of age.

• Unmarried minor children (under 18 years of age) born to you or your spouse within or out of wedlock, upon consent of the other parent, if any.

• Adult children (over 18 years of age) if they are financially dependent on you or cannot provide for their own needs because of their health conditions implying total disability.

• Financially dependent parents who have not any other children in their country of origin or residence, or parents over 65 years of age whose other children are unable to support them financially because of serious health problems duly certified.

Spouse

Family reunification can be obtained for spouses of Italian citizens.  If you plan to stay for less than 90 days, you can apply for a Schengen Visa. 

If you plan on staying in Italy for longer than 90 days, you will need to apply for permanent residence.

Step by Step Procedures:

Spouse living in Mexico:

• Provide a copy of the passport for spouse living in Italy.

• Invitation letter from spouse residing in Italy with full address in Italy.  The letter should  be formal and include a statement that the spouse living in Italy has adhered to all the  requirements by his governing body.

• Copy of Marriage Certificate.

• Provide valid passport for spouse living in Mexico. 

• Complete Schengen visa application 
  • The fee  for Long-Term Stay visas (type D) must be paid in at time documents are submitted.

    • $1387.55 (PESOS) per application.

• Four, identical, recent passport-style photographs.

• All foreign documents must be translated into Italian, legalized and certified by the Italian Consulate in the country of origin or residence of your family member or members.

• Applications and all other documentation must be submitted in person at the Embassy: 

• You will be interviewed at the Embassy and the Diplomatic Mission will do a security check with the Schengen Information System (SIS) to verify you are not on the list of aliens not allowed to enter the Schengen area.

• Once the application has been approved, you will be issued a Schengen visa within 90 days of application. 

Once you arrive in Italy, you have 8 days to apply for a residency permit.

What to do in Italy:

Since 10 April 2008 the Immigration Desk - 'Sportello Unico per l'Immigrazione' has adopted a new online procedure to apply for reunification. Applications are now accepted only if submitted through the Internet.

Children

If you reside legally in Italy you can have your children included in your residence permit and/or that of your spouse provided they are under the age of 14.

After the age of 14, minor children may be granted either a separate residence permit for family reasons valid until they reach 18 years of age or a long-term residence card.

After they have reached the age of 18, children are entitled to renew their residence permits for the same duration as their parents' s. The same right apply to minors under guardianship.

After they have reached the age of 18, foreign nationals meeting relevant requirements will obtain a different type of residence permit (study, registration at the employment office, employment, or self-employment).

Step by Step Procedures

Children living in Mexico:

• Written permission from the child's parent is required if the child is a minor.
  

• Provide a copy of the passport for parent living in Italy.
  

• Invitation letter from parent residing in Italy with full address in Italy.  The letter should  be formal and include a statement that the parent living in Italy has adhered to all the requirements by his governing body.
  

• Copy of Birth Certificate.
  

• Provide valid passport for child living in Mexico.
  

• Complete Schengen visa application.
  

  • The fee  for Long-Term Stay visas (type D) must be paid in at time documents are submitted.
    

    • $1387.55 (PESOS) per application.

• Four, identical, recent passport-style photographs.

• All foreign documents must be translated into Italian, legalized and certified by the Italian Consulate in the country of origin or residence of your family member or members.

• Applications and all other documentation must be submitted in person at the Embassy:
  

• You will be interviewed at the Embassy and the Diplomatic Mission will do a security check  with the Schengen Information System (SIS) to verify you are not on the list of aliens not  allowed to enter the Schengen area.

• Once the application has been approved, you will be issued a Schengen visa within 90 days of application.

Once you arrive in Italy, you have 8 days to apply for a residency permit.

What to do in Italy:

Since 10 April 2008 the Immigration Desk - 'Sportello Unico per l'Immigrazione' has adopted a new online procedure to apply for reunification. Applications are now accepted only if submitted through the Internet.

Parents

Financially dependent parents who have not any other children in their country of origin or residence, or parents over 65 years of age whose other children are unable to support them financially because of serious health problems duly certified can apply for a family reunification visa.

Step by Step Procedures

Parents living in Mexico:

• Proof of parents financial dependence on family member in Italy or proof of financial support due to serious health problems.

• Proof there are no other children of the parents who can support them.
  

• Provide a copy of the passport for family member living in Italy.
  

• Invitation letter from family member residing in Italy with full address in Italy.  The letter should be formal and include a statement that the family member living in Italy has adhered to all the requirements by his governing body.
  

• Proof of relation to family member In Italy.
  

• Provide valid passport for parent living in Mexico.
  

• Complete  Schengen visa application. 
  

• The fee  for Long-Term Stay visas (type D) must be paid in at time documents are submitted.
  

  • $1387.55 (PESOS) per application.

• Four, identical, recent passport-style photographs.

• All foreign documents must be translated into Italian, legalized and certified by the Italian Consulate in the country of origin or residence of your family member or members.

• Applications and all other documentation must be submitted in person at the Embassy:
  

Website 
E-mail

• You will be interviewed at the Embassy and the Diplomatic Mission will do a security check with the Schengen Information System (SIS) to verify you are not on the list of aliens not allowed to enter the Schengen area.

• Once the application has been approved, you will be issued a Schengen visa within 90 days of application.

• Once you arrive in Italy, you have 8 days to apply for a residency permit.

What to do in Italy:

Since 10 April 2008 the Immigration Desk - 'Sportello Unico per l'Immigrazione' has adopted a new online procedure to apply for reunification. Applications are now accepted only if submitted through the Internet.

EC residence permit for long-term residents

Since 8 January 2007, the permanent residence card ("carta di soggiorno") has been replaced by the EC residence permit for long-term residents.

The new permit is permanent.

You can only apply for this permanent permit if you have been legally living in Italy for five years.

Your application may include your spouse and your children under 18 years. Your parents and your children aged 18 or over may also be included, but only if they are your dependants.

In order to obtain long-term resident status for your family members, your application must also include the following documents:

• Evidence that your annual income can suppport you and all dependents of your family. If you apply for two or more children aged under 14, your annual income must be twice the annual amount of the social allowance ("assegno sociale").

• Proof of family relation (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.).

• All foreign documents must be translated into Italian, legalized and certified by the Italian Consulate in the country of origin or residence of your family member or members.

• Valid passport /travel document for all applicants. 

• A copy of your income tax statement bearing evidence that you have a minimum income higher than the social allowance ("assegno sociale").

  • For domestic workers and caregivers: INPS (National Social Welfare Institution) payment receipts or INPS itemized statements.

• Copy of criminal records and pending charges, if applicable. 

• Evidence of appropriate accommodation.

• Copies of pay slips for the current year.

• €27.50 (Euro) fee for the electronic residence permit fee.

• Receipt for €14.62 (Euro) electronic Tax stamp on your passport-to be obtained in Italy- from a post office or tobacco shop. 

You can apply for this permit at:

• 'Patronati'  (Institutions offering advice and social assistance to workers).
  

  • Staff will assist you, free of charge, in the completion of your application.  You will have to pay a fee of €30 (Euro) for the visa, which will be sent via registered mail.

• Municipalities ('Comuni') which provide this service.

  • Staff will assist you, free of charge, in the completion of your application.  You will have to pay a fee  of €30 (Euro) for the visa, which will be sent via registered mail.

• Post Offices, where you receive the kit containing the application form.

All post offices have the yellow kit. It consists of an envelope with a yellow stripe which contains two forms and a list of instructions. After you have filled out the application form, you can hand it in at any one of the post offices bearing the 'Sportello Amico' logo.

You can apply at the above places if you are applying for a residency permit for the following reasons:  

• Pending employment

• Pending re‐acquisition of nationality

• EC residence permit for long‐term residents (formerly known as “carta di soggiorno”)

• Family

• Family, minor aged 14 – 18

• Self‐employment

• Employment

• Seasonal employment

• Mission

• Religious reasons

• Elective residence

• Application for stateless status (renewal)

• Special cases provided for by Art. 27 of the Immigration Law

• Study

• Vocational training 

• Political Asylum

• Guardianship 

• 'Questura' - the central police station set up in every Italian province. 

• You must apply for a residency permit at the Questura if you are applying for a residency permit for the following reasons:

  • Political asylum (application and issue)

    • Medical treatment

    • Sport competitions

    • Justice

    • Integration of minors

    • Minor age

    • Humanitarian reasons

    • Application for stateless status (first issue)

    • Working holidays

    • EC long-term residence permit (carta di soggiorno) for family members of Italian or EU nationals.

What happens after submitting your application for a permanent resident permit:

• You will receive a letter at home from the Questura asking you to report to the Police on a given date.

• The letter will mention any document that was missing from your application and you will need to bring those to your appointment at the police station.

• If this is your first time in Italy, you will be fingerprinted, too.

• You will receive your electronic residence permit; this is similar to a credit card. The machine-readable magnetic strip will house your personal details, photograph and fingerprints.

EC long-term residence permit entitles you to:

• Enter Italy without a visa

• Work

• Social benefits/services supplied by the Italian government

• Participate in local public life

Exclusions and refusals

You cannot apply for an EC long-term residence permit on the following grounds:

• You are considered a threat to the public and State security
  

• Study/vocational training
  

• Temporary protection
  

• Asylum/refugee
  

• If  you have a short-term residence permit
  

• If you have a diplomatic, official and service passport
  

• Hold laissez-passer issued by international organizations of a universal character
  

Your EC long-term residence permit may be revoked in the following cases:

• Fraud
  

• Expulsion from Italy
  

• Leave  the territory of the European Union for a period of 12 consecutive months
  

• You have acquired long-term resident status in another European Union member State
  

• You have been absent from Italy for a period exceeding 6 years