{"id":9328,"date":"2026-11-05T09:34:44","date_gmt":"2026-11-05T08:34:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shimmigrations.com\/?p=9328"},"modified":"2026-11-05T09:34:46","modified_gmt":"2026-11-05T08:34:46","slug":"housing-suitability-certificate-italy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shimmigrations.com\/en\/housing-suitability-certificate-italy\/","title":{"rendered":"Housing suitability certificate in Italy (idoneit\u00e0 alloggiativa)"},"content":{"rendered":"

In short.<\/strong> The housing suitability certificate (idoneit\u00e0 alloggiativa) is the municipality\u2019s confirmation that a home meets hygiene, health and suitability standards for the people who will live there. It is needed mainly for the nulla osta (authorisation) for family reunification (Article 29(3) of Legislative Decree 286\/1998). Since December 2024 the check must also cover the number of occupants and the Ministerial Decree of 5 July 1975. Procedures, costs and timing vary by municipality.<\/p>\n

Here you will find what the certificate is, which applications ask for it, which standards apply, how to obtain it and what to do if the home does not qualify.<\/p>\n

Reviewed 5 November 2026.<\/strong> These are general rules, not personalised advice: the practical side depends on your municipality. The official sources at the end were consulted on 5 November 2026; check them again before you apply.<\/p>\n

What is the housing suitability certificate (idoneit\u00e0 alloggiativa)?<\/h2>\n

It is a check by the municipal offices that a home is suitable for a given number of people. The Ministry of the Interior lists a \u201ccertificate of housing suitability issued by the municipality for family reunification purposes\u201d (our translation).<\/p>\n

The legal basis is Article 29(3)(a) of Legislative Decree 286\/1998<\/a>. Anyone applying for family reunification must show that they have the use of \u201chousing that complies with hygiene and health requirements and with housing suitability, as ascertained by the competent municipal offices\u201d (our translation). Law 187\/2024<\/a>, which converted Decree-Law 145\/2024 (annex, Article 12-quater), added that the check is made after verifying \u201cthe number of occupants of the home and the other requirements\u201d of the Ministerial Decree of 5 July 1975.<\/p>\n

The certificate concerns the home, not you. It does not prove that you may use the home (you need a lease or another title) and it does not guarantee approval of the application. A Ministry of the Interior circular, reported on 21 May 2012 in newsletter no. 6\/2012 of the Ministry of Labour<\/a>, describes it as a technical attestation by the municipal offices that cannot be replaced by a self-declaration.<\/p>\n

Which applications require a housing suitability certificate?<\/h2>\n

The table covers the cases in which the official sources we consulted mention it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Application<\/th>\nWhat the sources say<\/th>\nHousing document<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Nulla osta for family reunification
Article 29(3) and (7)<\/em><\/th>\n		You must show that you have suitable housing. The application goes online to the Sportello Unico per l\u2019Immigrazione (one-stop shop at the Prefecture).<\/td>\nMunicipal certificate, or request receipt with a RIA code<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Family permit for someone already in Italy
Article 30(1)(b) and (c); Portale, code 10<\/em><\/th>\n		To convert another permit, the Ministry\u2019s Portale Immigrazione asks for the certificate \u201cin relation to the composition of the family unit\u201d (our translation).<\/td>\nHousing suitability certificate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
EU long-term residence permit
Article 9(1); Portale, code 09<\/em><\/th>\n		The law mentions \u201csuitable housing\u201d. The Portale lists the certificate only for minor children included in the request.<\/td>\nCopy of the certificate, for minor children<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Residence contract<\/a> for employed work
Article 5-bis(1) and (2)<\/em><\/th>\n		The contract must contain the employer\u2019s guarantee of housing that meets the minimum standards of the Ministerial Decree of 5 July 1975, as set by Article 4 of Law 182\/2025<\/a> (in force from 18 December 2025). Before, the reference was to public housing.<\/td>\nGuarantee in the contract; the rule does not name the certificate. Hotels and construction-site dormitories have simplified rules (Article 22(2)(b))<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Presidential Decree 394\/1999<\/a> (the implementing regulation) also asks for proof of housing for the nulla osta (Article 6(1)(c)) and for the EU permit for family members (Article 16(4)(b)). For refugees, Article 29-bis disapplies Article 29(3). For family cohesion with an Italian or EU citizen, the Portale says proof of the family relationship is enough: see our guide on family reunification with an Italian citizen<\/a>. See also the residence permit for employment<\/a> and the types of Italian residence permit<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Which standards do the offices apply?<\/h2>\n

The law sets no measurements. It refers to hygiene and health requirements, to housing suitability and, since 2024, to the Ministerial Decree of 5 July 1975 (Gazzetta Ufficiale no. 190 of 18 July 1975). Among other things, the decree provides:<\/p>\n