National Visa for family reasons for non-EU Family members of EU citizens (settlement in Italy)

YES, you must apply for a National Visa for Family Reasons.

Family members entitled to family reunification are exclusively those identified in Article 2 of DL 30/2007:
1) spouse;
2) partner in a registered partnership with the European Union citizen on the basis of legislation of a member State, if the legislation of the host member State considers the registered partnership as equivalent to marriage and in accordance with the conditions laid down by the relevant legislation of the host Member State;
3) direct descendants who are under the age of 21 or are dependents and those of the spouse or partner referred to in point (2);
4) dependent direct ascendants and those of the spouse or partner referred to in (2);
5) Adopting parents and adopted children and minors subject to guardianship/permanent foster care under measures issued pursuant to L. 184/83 are considered equivalent to family members referred to in points (3) and (4).

Applications for National Visas are received by mail.

You do not need to book an appointment to submit your application.

IMPORTANT NOTE: As of January 11, 2025, fingerprints must be acquired even for National Visa Applicants.

(1) Please send all necessary documents (see below “What documents do I need to apply?”), including a money order or bank draft for due consular fees payable to the Consulate General of Italy in Toronto and a prepaid and pre-addressed XpressPost (or any other courier service) envelope, which will be used to return your passport, by registered mail (with a tracking number) to the Visa Office at the address below.

Consulate General of Italy
VISA OFFICE
136 Beverley St.
Toronto M5T 1Y5

Please be aware that the Consulate does not take responsibility for applications, passports or money order / bank draft lost by the postal service or by courier services.

(2) If you do not already have an account, please, set up an account on Prenot@mi (press the button “register your account”. You only need to register as user. DO NOT book any appointment. The Consulate will contact you to schedule an in-person appointment for fingerprints, in due time. In order to allow the Consulate to assign you an appointment, you must be registered as a Prenot@mi user.

(3) Once the Consulate will have received your postal application, if you will have registered on Prenot@mi, the Visa Office will contact you to make an appointment. On the day of the appointment, applicants must attend the Consulate in person. Being summoned for fingerprinting DOES NOT imply that your visa application will be granted.

The only exemptions to the requirement of fingerprints are: children under the age of 12; physical inability, even temporary; Heads of State and Government and members of foreign governments with their delegations on official missions; sovereigns and members of royal families on official missions. Even if exempt from the requirement of fingerprints, children under the age of 12 must attend the appointment for identification purposes.

– Letter of invitation from the Italian/EU family member living in Italy or intending to settle in Italy, indicating the intention to exercise the right to family unity accompanied by a copy of a valid identity document (Passport, Identity Card of the EU family member).

– Civil status documentation (Long form Marriage certificate, Long form Birth certificate) attesting to the status of family member pursuant to art. 2 of  Legislative Decree no. 30/2007 translated and apostilled, or marriage or civil partnership act registered in Italy. If marriage or same-sex marriage have taken place in Canada, please check our Civil Registry Section.

– In cases where verification of dependency is required: proof of economic remittances by the Italian/EU citizen. The economic support must be of a structural nature (there is no minimum duration) and must allow the beneficiary, in light of his/her financial and social conditions in the State of origin or provenance, to meet his/her essential needs.

– Original passport of the applicant with an expiry date that is three months longer than that of the visa requested and a passport photocopy;

– Application form duly filled out and signed (once printed);

– If the applicant is not a Canadian citizen, Canadian Residence Permit or Canadian Visa (not a tourist visa);

– Proof of residence (proof of address) in the consular jurisdiction of the Consulate General of Italy in Toronto (utility bill, driving license, bank statement)

– Passport-style photo full front and white background and not older than 6 months. Styled poses (looking over one shoulder, head bowed etc.) are not allowed. The head must be free of all headgear, no hats, scarves, headbands or other decorative objects.

– Prepaid and self addressed envelope (preferably Canada XpressPost or any other courier service with a tracking number): we will use this envelope to return your passport once the visa will be issued. If you do not provide a prepaid an self addressed envelope, we will not be able to ship your passport once ready nor could we return your application if incomplete. Please be aware that the Consulate does not take responsibility for applications, passports or money order / bank draft lost by the postal service or by courier services.

– If you are applying on behalf of a minor child: authorization to settle in Italy signed by the holder(s) of parental authority in the forms required under local law, along with a copy of his/her identity document (if the minor is not travelling with his/her parents or guardian).

BEWARE: Incomplete applications will not be processed and will be returned to the applicant using the aforesaid prepaid and self addressed envelope. The Consulate reserves the right to ask for additional documents. The Consulate is not liable for applications, passports or money order lost by the postal service.

National visas for family reasons are free of charge.

A National Visa for Family Reasons is issued with a conventional duration of 365 days and multiple entries.

Within 8 days of entering Italy, family members must apply, by filling in the appropriate kit at post offices, for a residence permit for ‘family reasons’. Read carefully the information available at this link: Il visto per l’Italia (esteri.it)