Timeline and what happens after the application is submitted.

After the applicant submits the application electronically, the system sends an acknowledgement of receipt of the application with the date and time of its acceptance.

At that point, the statutory 180-day inspection period for inspection practices and permit issuance will begin.

The Police Office in Italy, which has received a finding that there are no grounds preventing the entry of the family member for whom reunification in Italy is requested, issues a permit or issues a refusal.

P.S. An appeal against the refusal to issue a permit may be filed in the regular court of residence.

In case of SIS alerts, the police department will issue a positive preliminary response. The migration office will immediately inform the applicant if there is an SIS alert.

The applicant must take care to inform his/her family members, who will have to contact the consular representation to verify his/her identity and confirm family ties. The diplomatic mission will then contact the police department, which will cancel the SIS signal.

Visa issuance

The foreigner must submit documents proving family ties to the Italian consulate in his/her country of residence. The necessary checks will be carried out at the Consulate. If the verification is successful, the Consulate or Embassy will issue the reunification visa within 30 days of the request to the family member for whom the authorisation has been issued.

The issuance of a visa in respect of a family member for whom the above-mentioned authorisation has been issued confirms the authenticity of all the documentation provided by the Italian consular authority, thus confirming the conditions of kinship, marriage, minority or health status.

Entering Italy and …..

Within 48 hours of the entry into Italy of the family member authorised for reunification, the receiving party must submit a declaration of accommodation (Cessione fabbricato), at the competent office, and keep a copy.

Within 8 days of entry, the applicant must inform the Immigration Office in the Prefecture of the arrival of the family member and wait for a call to make an appointment to obtain the necessary documents to apply for a family residence permit, with which they will go to the post office to forward the documentation, formalising the application for a family residence permit.

IMPORTANT: In some cities, the wait for an appointment at the prefecture is about 4-6 months, during which time the person concerned does not have access to any services because he or she has not yet been able to apply for a residence permit.

For how long a residence permit is issued for family reasons

A family residence permit is issued for a period equal to the validity of the residence permit of the family member who requested family reunification.

The family residence permit allows access to social security services, free of charge to attend courses, allows for employment or self-employment.

Minor children under the age of 14 are no longer registered in the residence permit of their parents (effective 23 July 2016 under Law 122). Autonomous residence permit for minors is provided even up to the age of 14.

At the age of majority, a child who is still living at the expense of his/her parents will only be granted a residence permit for as long as the parents’ residence permit has been issued. This is due to the fact that there is an obligation of the parents to support the child until he/she achieves his/her own economic independence and his/her own place in society.

If a foreign national who has requested family reunification has an EU long-term residence INA, family members who have entered Italy for reunification usually receive a normal family-based INA

P.S. According to the practice followed by some police stations, after submitting the application for a residence permit, you must provide a certificate of no criminal record (Certificati del carichi pendenti) and a certificate of no criminal record (Certificati del casellario giudiziale). With these documents, you can then request the issuance of a residence permit for long-term EU residents and for family members who are reunited, without having to submit a new application.

So far this is all the information regarding residence permit for family reunification. Don’t forget to read part 1 of this article, it contains important points.

Stay tuned for more updates.