In short. Accompanying family members in Italy (familiari al seguito) enter the country together with the person who is moving there with a qualifying permit. Before entry, the family relationship, income and accommodation must be checked, the nulla osta (work/entry clearance) obtained where required and the national visa applied for. After arrival, the formalities for the residence permit must be started within eight working days.
Last updated: 21 September 2026
Moving to Italy for work, study or religious reasons does not necessarily mean leaving your family behind. In certain situations, your spouse, children or other eligible family members can enter Italy together with the main permit holder through the procedure for accompanying family members (familiari al seguito).
The end result is a permesso di soggiorno (residence permit) for family reasons, but the process normally involves three different authorities: the Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione (Immigration Desk), the Italian diplomatic mission and the Questura (police immigration office). That is why it is important to prepare the application in the right order.
What does “accompanying family members” mean in Italy?
The procedure is provided for by Article 29(4) of D.Lgs. 286/1998 (Testo Unico Immigrazione, the Consolidated Immigration Act). It protects family unity when a non-EU national has yet to move to Italy and wants to be accompanied by family members who are entitled to family reunification.
It is therefore neither a tourist visa nor a shortcut compared with family reunification. The family, financial and housing requirements must still be checked.
How does it differ from family reunification and family cohesion?
The three situations are often confused:
- with accompanying family members, the main permit holder and the family members plan the move for the same period;
- in family reunification, the applicant is already legally resident in Italy and asks to be joined by family members living abroad;
- family cohesion generally concerns a family member who is already legally in Italy and applies for a permit for family reasons.
The choice is not just a matter of convenience. The timing of the application, the documents available and the applicant’s position all change.
Who can apply for family members to accompany them?
Where the legal conditions are met, the procedure can be used by those who hold an entry visa for:
- employment linked to a contract of at least one year;
- non-occasional self-employment;
- study;
- religious reasons.
Specific rules may apply to researchers, highly qualified workers and other special categories. It is therefore advisable to check the exact type of visa before preparing the application.
Which family members can accompany you?
In general, the categories are those provided for family reunification:
- a spouse who is of age and not legally separated;
- unmarried minor children, including those of the spouse or born outside marriage, with the consent of the other parent where necessary;
- dependent adult children who cannot provide for their essential needs for objective health reasons;
- dependent parents, in the cases and under the conditions laid down by law.
Adopted children, children in foster care and children under guardianship are treated in the same way as children in the cases provided for by law.
The family relationship must be proven with civil status documents that are valid in Italy. Depending on the issuing country, translation, legalisation or an apostille may be required.
What are the five steps of the procedure?
1. Check the entry permit
Before gathering documents, you need to check that the main holder’s visa allows family members to accompany them. The check must be based on the actual visa category, not just on the general reason for moving.
2. Check the family relationship, income and accommodation
The application normally requires proof of:
- the family relationship;
- suitable accommodation;
- sufficient financial resources.
The income threshold depends on the assegno sociale (the state social allowance) and on the number of family members. As it changes every year, it must be calculated using the figures in force at the time of the application.
3. Apply to the Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione
In the ordinary procedure, the nulla osta is requested from the competent Sportello Unico. If the main holder is still abroad, it may be necessary to appoint a person in Italy through a power of attorney or proxy.
Forms and procedures are not the same at every Prefettura (Prefecture). It is therefore not advisable to use a form found online without checking that it is the one indicated by the competent office.
4. Apply for the national visa
Once the nulla osta has been issued, the family member applies for a national visa for family reasons at the Italian Embassy or Consulate responsible for their place of residence.
The diplomatic mission checks identity, the family relationship and the documents required for that country. It may ask for additional information or further documents.
5. Entry into Italy and the residence permit
The visa allows entry, but it does not complete the procedure. Within eight working days of arrival, the formalities for the residence permit for family reasons must be started.
The application receipt must be kept together with the passport and the documents handed over by the authorities.
What is the accommodation requirement?
Accommodation is one of the issues that most often leads to requests for additional documents. Depending on the situation, the following may be required:
- a registered tenancy agreement, title deed or free loan agreement (comodato);
- a certificate of housing suitability (idoneità alloggiativa), where required;
- the consent of the owner or holder of the accommodation;
- identity documents of the people involved;
- information on the people already living or staying in the property.
For a single child under fourteen, the law provides a specific simplification regarding accommodation. However, the replacement documents must be those required by the competent Sportello Unico.
A hotel booking or temporary accommodation should not automatically be considered sufficient: before applying, check the instructions of the Prefettura.
What is the income requirement?
The applicant must show an annual income from lawful sources that is not lower than the threshold set for their household.
The calculation starts from the annual amount of the assegno sociale and increases with the number of family members. Special rules apply to some household compositions. In addition, under the conditions laid down by law, the income of cohabiting family members may be taken into account.
It is best to do the calculation before starting the application. Using figures from previous years can lead to a request for additional documents or a negative assessment.
Which documents do you need for the nulla osta?
The exact list depends on the visa, the family relationship and the Prefettura. It is normally useful to prepare:
- the main holder’s passport;
- a copy of the visa or of the decision authorising entry;
- the family member’s passport;
- a marriage or birth certificate;
- the other parent’s consent, where necessary;
- proof of income;
- documents relating to the accommodation;
- the housing suitability certificate, or replacement documents where permitted;
- a power of attorney or proxy, if applicable;
- translations, legalisations or apostilles required for documents issued abroad.
Names, dates and places must be consistent across all documents. Even a difference in transliteration between a passport and a birth certificate may call for clarification.
Which documents do you need for the visa?
After the nulla osta, the diplomatic mission publishes its own up-to-date list. The following are generally required:
- the national visa application form;
- a valid passport;
- compliant photographs;
- the nulla osta;
- civil status documents proving the family relationship;
- a copy of the main holder’s passport and visa;
- any additional documents requested by the Consulate.
There is no single list that applies to every country. Before the appointment, you must check the official “Il visto per l’Italia” (Visa for Italy) portal and the website of the competent Embassy or Consulate.
What if the family member is a minor?
For a minor, maternity, paternity and parental responsibility must be clearly established. If the child is travelling without one of the parents, a specific travel authorisation may be required, in addition to consent and any custody orders.
What about the residence permit for family reasons?
Once in Italy, the family member follows the formalities indicated by the Sportello Unico and the Questura. As a rule, you should keep:
- the passport and national visa;
- documents relating to the nulla osta;
- documents proving the family relationship;
- the main holder’s documents;
- documents handed over by the Sportello Unico;
- the required receipts and payment slips;
- passport-size photographs.
The permit for family reasons normally has a validity linked to that of the main family member’s permit and allows the holder to work as an employee or self-employed within the limits set by law.
What are the most common mistakes?
The most common mistakes are not just about a missing document. Applications often stall because:
- the main holder’s visa was not checked properly;
- income was calculated using the previous year’s figures;
- the accommodation does not match the one stated in the application;
- foreign certificates were not translated or legalised in the required form;
- personal details do not match between passports and certificates;
- forms from a different Prefettura were used;
- the Consulate’s list was checked too late.
Drawing up a timeline of the application (nulla osta, consular appointment, entry and residence permit application) helps you avoid missing deadlines and documents.
Frequently asked questions
Are accompanying family members and family reunification the same thing?
No. The family, income and accommodation requirements are related, but the timing of the move is different. With accompanying family members, the main permit holder and the household plan to enter Italy in the same period; in family reunification, the applicant already lives legally in Italy and is joined later by relatives abroad.
Is the nulla osta always required?
In the ordinary procedure for family members accompanying a non-EU national, the nulla osta from the competent Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione is normally required before the national visa can be issued. Some special categories, such as researchers and highly qualified workers, may follow different rules and must be checked separately.
Can an accompanying family member work in Italy?
Yes, as a rule. The residence permit for family reasons generally allows the holder to work as an employee or to be self-employed, within the limits set by law. Its validity is normally linked to that of the main family member’s permit, so both permits should be monitored and renewed in good time.
By when must the residence permit be applied for?
The formalities for the residence permit for family reasons must be started within eight working days of entering Italy. The national visa only allows entry and does not complete the procedure, so the family member should keep the passport, visa, nulla osta documents and every receipt issued by the authorities.
Is a hotel booking enough to prove accommodation?
It should not be taken for granted. Accommodation usually has to be proven with a registered tenancy agreement, title deed or free loan agreement, the owner’s consent and, where required, a housing suitability certificate. The documents accepted depend on the specific case and on the instructions of the competent Sportello Unico.
Official sources
- Article 29 of D.Lgs. 286/1998 on Normattiva
- Ministry of the Interior Services Portal
- Official “Il visto per l’Italia” (Visa for Italy) portal
- Prefecture information on family reunification and accompanying family members
The sources were consulted on 15 October 2026. Rules and forms may change: always check the latest instructions from the competent office.
How can SH Immigration Specialists help?
A complete application must be consistent from start to finish: the family relationship declared to the Sportello Unico must match the documents submitted to the Consulate and those used for the residence permit.
SH Immigration Specialists can assist with the preliminary check of the requirements, the preparation of documents and the management of the various stages of the procedure for accompanying family members. The outcome depends on the competent authorities. For an assessment of your case, contact us.
This content provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.
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