Family reunification for parents

Family reunification for parents is one of the legal instruments provided under Italian law to protect family unity, allowing foreign nationals who are legally residing in Italy to bring their parents to Italy, provided they meet the requirements established by law. The relevant provisions are set out in Article 29 of Legislative Decree No. 286/1998 (Consolidated Immigration Act), which establishes the conditions for obtaining the entry clearance (nulla osta).

When is family reunification for parents possible?

Italian law allows family reunification with a parent when the parent is financially dependent on the child residing in Italy and there are no other children in the parent's country of origin or residence who are able to provide financial support.

An exception applies to parents over the age of 65. In such cases, family reunification may also be authorized even if there are other children in the country of origin, provided those children are unable to care for or support the parent due to serious and documented health reasons.

When is a parent considered financially dependent?

One of the essential requirements is proving that the parent is financially dependent on the child residing in Italy. This may be the case, for example, when the parent has insufficient income, does not receive an adequate pension, or relies on regular financial support sent by the family member living in Italy.

Evidence may include documents proving the absence or insufficiency of income, receipts of money transfers, bank statements, and any other documentation demonstrating actual financial dependency.

Parents over 65 and healthcare coverage

For parents over the age of 65, in addition to proving financial dependency, it is necessary to demonstrate that the other children cannot support them due to serious, duly documented health reasons.

Furthermore, the child residing in Italy must provide suitable accommodation and valid healthcare coverage. Healthcare coverage may be ensured through registration with the Italian National Health Service (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale) or by obtaining private health insurance valid in Italy. Without this requirement, the entry clearance cannot be issued.

Income requirements

Applicants must demonstrate that they have sufficient income. The minimum income threshold is updated annually by the Italian Ministry of the Interior and varies according to the number of family members to be supported.

Income may be proven through the annual tax return, Form 730 or the Personal Income Tax Return (Modello Redditi Persone Fisiche), together with any other documentation demonstrating employment income, pension income, or other lawful sources of income.

Family reunification while holding a residence permit

The application may also be submitted by individuals who are applying for the first issuance or renewal of a residence permit with a duration of at least one year. However, the residence permit must still be valid at the time the application is filed. Applicants must also satisfy all the other legal requirements, including sufficient income, suitable accommodation, and healthcare coverage.

How to submit the application

The application for entry clearance (nulla osta) for family reunification must be submitted exclusively online through the Ministry of the Interior's ALI Portal using SPID digital identity credentials.

After selecting the procedure for family reunification, the applicant must complete Form SM with their own details and those of the parent for whom reunification is requested.

Once submitted, the application is examined by the competent One-Stop Immigration Office (Sportello Unico per l'Immigrazione), which verifies that all legal requirements have been met before issuing the entry clearance.

Frequently Asked Questions

If the parent has other children in the country of origin, family reunification is generally not permitted. The only exception concerns parents over the age of 65, where the other children are unable to provide support because of serious and documented health reasons.

As regards processing times, the Prefecture may take up to 150 days to decide on the application for entry clearance. This deadline was previously 90 days but was extended at the end of December 2025, as provided by the Consolidated Immigration Act. In the event of particularly significant delays, applicants may consider the legal remedies available under Italian law to request the conclusion of the administrative procedure.

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The content of this article is intended to provide general information on the topic. For doubts or specific cases, it is advisable to seek specialized legal advice tailored to your particular situation.

Article written by Alessia Ajelli, Managing Associate of LCA Studio Legale, Italian lawyer specialized on Italian immigration and citizenship law, and Paolo Grassi, Trainee of LCA Studio Legale.