PERMESSO DI SOGGIORNO
per motivi familiari
The Permesso di soggiorno per motivi familiari is a residence permit granted to foreign nationals who reunite with close relatives legally residing in Italy (Article 30, D.Lgs. 286/1998).
⚖️ 1. Legal framework
D.Lgs. 25 luglio 1998, n. 286 (Testo Unico Immigrazione), Art. 29–30;
D.P.R. 31 agosto 1999, n. 394 — procedures and time limits;
D.L. 2 ottobre 2024, n. 145, conv. Legge 166/2024 — NEW REQUIREMENT: the sponsor must have at least 2 years of lawful continuous residence before filing a reunification request (with exceptions);
D.L. 146/2025 — deadline for submitting the application increased to 15 days; nulla osta issuance time increased to 150 days.
The permesso familiare is always issued outside Decreto Flussi quotas — no click day required.
2. Who is eligible to apply
- A person who entered Italy with a national type D visa for ricongiungimento familiare (family reunification).
- A foreigner who has resided in Italy for more than one year and has married an Italian citizen.
- A foreigner holding any valid permesso (study, lavoro, etc.).
- Close relatives of refugees or persons under humanitarian protection.
- A foreign parent of a minor Italian citizen.
Who qualifies as a familiare?
Main categories of family members:
- Spouse (not legally separated), over 18 years old;
- Minor children (including those born out of wedlock or children of the spouse), with the other parent’s consent;
- Adult children with disabilities who are fully dependent on the parent;
- Minor children who are adopted or under legal guardianship;
- Parents, if:
- they have no other children in their country of origin, or
- they are over 65 years old and other children cannot provide support for health reasons.
⚙️ 3. Step-by-step procedure
If entry is based on a visa (ricongiungimento familiare)
- Sponsor submits request for nulla osta familiare via the SUI portal;
- SUI issues nulla osta within 150 days (D.L. 146/2025; previously 90 days);
- Applicant obtains a type D visa at the Italian consulate;
- Entry into Italy;
- Submit the application (Modulo 1) via Poste Italiane (kit) within 15 days of arrival (D.L. 146/2025; previously 8 days);
- Receive the ricevuta — confirms legal status;
- Questura appointment for photos and fingerprints;
- Processing: 2–6 months (up to 12 months in large cities).
If applying within Italy (conversion)
- Prepare all required documents;
- Submit via Poste Italiane (kit) or directly at the Questura;
- Ricevuta → wait → fingerprint appointment;
- Collect the permesso.
The ricevuta confirms legal status and the right to work during the waiting period.
4. List of required documents
| Document | Notes |
| Passport with type D visa | Copies of all pages |
| Completed Modulo 1 | Included in kit Poste |
| Kit Poste receipts, marca da bollo, envelope | |
| 4 passport-size photos | |
| Codice fiscale (applicant and sponsor) | Copies |
| Proof of family relationship | Certificate or autocertificazione |
| Dichiarazione di sostentamento | From the sponsor |
| Proof of income | CUD, busta paga, dichiarazione dei redditi |
| Idoneità abitativa certificate | From Comune |
Foreign documents must bear an apostille and legalization, be officially translated into Italian, and have the translation notarized in Italy.
🧾 What is dichiarazione di sostentamento?
It is a written declaration by the hosting family member guaranteeing financial support (housing, food, essential expenses) for the applicant requesting the permesso familiare.
It is usually required when:
- The family member arrives in Italy for family reunification;
- The applicant has no personal income in Italy;
- Actual financial dependence is proven (convivenza e mantenimento).
💶 Minimum income thresholds
Assegno sociale 2026: €7,101.12/year (Circ. INPS 153/2025, +1.4% vs 2025).
| Household composition | Minimum annual income (2026) |
| Sponsor only | €7,101.12 |
| Sponsor + 1 family member | €10,651.68 (×1.5) |
| Sponsor + 2 family members | €14,202.24 (×2) |
| Each additional member | +€3,550.56 |
Income can be combined between spouses if they live together and file jointly. The threshold does not apply to holders of international protection.
🏠 Housing
The application must include proof of suitable housing.
Where to obtain: Ufficio Tecnico or Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione at the Comune of residence.
Main criteria: minimum 14 m² per person; heating, water, ventilation, windows, sanitary facilities; no more than 2 persons per room (recommended).
Exception: Holders of asilo politico and protezione sussidiaria are exempt from the idoneità abitativa requirement (Art. 9, comma 1-ter, TUI). For the permesso familiare, verify current practice with the Questura.
5. Validity period
The Permesso is issued:
- For the same duration as the family member’s residence permit (usually 1 or 2 years);
- Renewable at the same time as theirs.
Costs
⚠️ Updated: The old fees of €70.46–€100.46 are no longer valid.
| Item | Amount |
| Marca da bollo | €16.00 |
| Fee (up to 1 year) | €116.46 |
| Fee (up to 2 years) | €126.46 |
| Electronic residence card | €30.46 |
| Postal fee | €30.00 (fixed) |
| Total ≈ | €192–202 |
7. Rights
- Work: full right to work as employee or self-employed — no conversion or nulla osta required;
- Access to healthcare (SSN registration);
- Access to education and social assistance;
- Always outside Decreto Flussi quotas — no click day dependency.
8. Main reasons for refusal and common mistakes
Reasons for Refusal
- Missing documents proving family relationship;
- Insufficient income of the sponsor;
- Inadequate or non-compliant housing;
- Forged or untranslated documents;
- Late submission;
- Failure to confirm convivenza (cohabitation);
- Sponsor does not meet the 2-year residence requirement (D.L. 145/2024) — except for exemptions.
Common Mistakes
Missing the fingerprint appointment.
Choosing the wrong application type;
Incomplete document set;
Missing renewal deadlines;
9. Conversion from other types of Permesso and status change
Who Can Apply
- Foreign nationals with another permesso within 1 year of expiry;
- Spouses/children/parents of Italian, EU, or non-EU citizens with a valid permesso;
- Parents of a minor Italian citizen;
- Refugees and their relatives.
Conditions for Conversion
- Documented family relationship;
- Idoneità abitativa;
- Sufficient income;
- Dichiarazione di sostentamento;
- Sponsor with 2 years of lawful residence (D.L. 145/2024) — with exceptions.
Exceptions to the 2-Year Requirement
The requirement does NOT apply to:
- Reunification of minor children;
- Sponsors holding international protection (asilo, protezione sussidiaria);
- Spouses or parents of Italian citizens;
- Sponsors holding a permesso UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo.
🧠 10. Tips and important information
- Seek help from a Patronato or immigration lawyer;
- Always keep the ricevuta — it confirms legal status and work rights;
- If the family relationship ends (divorce, death) — permesso is not immediately revoked; 1 year to convert to another type;
- Autocertificazione is often accepted when official documents are temporarily unavailable;
- Never miss your Questura appointment — failure may lead to case closure;
- Check the 2-year sponsor requirement before filing (D.L. 145/2024) — verify exemptions.
Useful links
- Questure — Polizia di Stato: https://questure.poliziadistato.it/
- Portale Immigrazione: https://www.portaleimmigrazione.it/
- Poste Italiane: https://www.poste.it/
- Ministero dell’Interno — Family Reunification: https://www.interno.gov.it/it/temi/immigrazione-e-asilo/ricongiungimento-familiare
- INPS: https://www.inps.it/
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Who can apply for the Permesso familiare? Close relatives of Italian, EU, or non-EU citizens holding a valid permesso: spouse, children, parents. Also applies to parents of minor Italian citizens and relatives of persons under international protection.
2. Must the sponsor have lived in Italy for a certain period? Yes. Since D.L. 145/2024 (conv. Legge 166/2024), the sponsor must have completed at least 2 years of continuous lawful residence before filing. Exceptions: minor children; holders of international protection; spouses/parents of Italian citizens; permesso UE holders.
3. Which documents prove family relationship? Birth or marriage certificates, or autocertificazione. Foreign documents must be apostilled/legalised, officially translated, and asseverated in Italy.
4. How much income is required? In 2026 (assegno sociale €7,101.12/year): €10,651.68 for one family member; €14,202.24 for two; +€3,550.56 for each additional. For two or more children under 14 — €14,202.24 minimum.
5. Is housing documentation mandatory? Yes — certificato di idoneità alloggiativa from the Comune. Exception: holders of asilo politico or protezione sussidiaria.
6. How long does it take to get the nulla osta? By law, the SUI must issue it within 150 days from submission (D.L. 146/2025; previously 90 days).
7. Is it mandatory to apply through Poste? For ricongiungimento familiare (entry from abroad) — yes, via Poste Italiane (kit, Modulo 1). For coesione familiare (applicant already in Italy) — direct submission at the Questura may be possible.
8. Can I work with this permesso? Yes — full right to work as employee or self-employed, without conversion or nulla osta.
9. How long is this permesso valid? Same duration as the sponsor’s permesso (usually 1–2 years), renewed together.
10. What happens in case of divorce or death? Not automatically revoked. Within 1 year, conversion to work, study, or job-seeking is possible. Victims of domestic violence may apply for special protection independently.
11. Does this permesso count towards citizenship? Periods under a family permesso count towards the 10-year naturalisation requirement (2 years for spouses of Italian citizens). Note: it does not count towards the 5-year period for the EU long-stay permit.
12. How long until the permesso is received? By law — up to 60 days. In practice — 2–6 months (up to 12 months in large cities).
We have prepared for you a detailed PDF Guide: it includes all the steps and procedures for obtaining the Permesso di soggiorno per motivi familiari.
Download and use it as a ready-to-go manual!