Italy Dependent Visa - Definitive Guide

Known officially as an Italy family reunification visa, the permit allows people to enter the country as a family member of a resident in Italy, and stay with them for long durations. Based on the relationship and the status of the Italian resident, the reunion or dependent visa can be issued for the following cases -

• Reunion with a spouse.  
• Reunion of parents over 65 with their children.
• Reunion of children under 18, with a parent residing in Italy (biological or dependent).
• Reunion of children over 18 who are unable to sustain themselves due to health conditions.

In order to be able to apply for the dependent category, you will have to meet certain eligibility criteria as required by the Italian embassy. These can be stated as follows - 

• You must hold a passport valid for at least 3 months from the date of expiry of the visa.
• Your passport must contain at least 2 blank pages, and it must not be older than 10 years.
• Both the spouses must be above the minimum age of marriage (for Italy dependent visa for spouse).
• The spouse/parent/children being joined in Italy must have sufficient accommodation as per the requirements and must be financially stable to support the joining member.
• The children joining the parent(s) in Italy must be below the age of 18.
• Children above the age of 18 can join only if they are incapable of providing for themselves due to health conditions.
• For parents joining their child in Italy, the visa is granted only if the parent is above 65 years of age, and they do not have any other child that can take care of them.

These were only the basic requirements. Based on the exact category the applicant falls into, and their individual case, there may be additional requirements to be met. Ensure that you check this with a reputed travel agency.

The application for the dependent visa for Italy from India is done through an Italian Visa Application Centre (VAC). However, before applying for a visa from India, the family member in Italy will have to apply for a ‘Nulla Osta’ authorization from the Immigration desk in Italy. After this, the member in India can apply for the visa as follows - 

1. Download the national visa application form from the website of the Italy VAC.
2. Fill out the visa application form with all the relevant details. 
3. Book an appointment for the application and biometric submission at a VAC under each mission as per the jurisdiction (state of residence in the past 6 months). You can do this online, or by calling them on their number.
4. Visit the relevant VAC with your documents, completed application form, as well as any fees, to submit your application.

Your VACs must be under the embassy/consulate according to the below jurisdiction - 

VACs under The Embassy of Italy, New Delhi covers states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Jammu-Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, as well as Chandigarh. 

VACs under The Consulate General of Italy, Mumbai covers Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, as well as Daman, Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Lakshadweep and Pondicherry.

VACs under The Consulate General of Italy, Kolkata covers Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Orissa,  Mizoram, Tripura, Sikkim, West Bengal, as well as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Note that in the case that you have already submitted your biometrics in the 5 years preceding your date of application, you do not have to submit them again.

Ensure that you submit the genuine documents and correct information. Any false information or fake documents can cause a visa rejection.  A refusal of your permit is considered to affect your future travel.

As per the requirements, the following are the list of general Italy dependent visa documents you will require to get a reunion visa. Based on the individual case of the applicant and the invitee, there may be additional documents necessary.

• A valid passport.
• 2 photos as per the specifications.
• Completed visa application form. 
• Original and copy of the ‘Nulla Osta’ obtained from the immigration desk in Italy. 
• Medical travel insurance covering at least 30,000 Euros. 
• Marriage certificate.
• Birth certificates(in case of children joining/ Italy dependent visa for parents).
• NOC ( in case of a minor travelling with one parent or a third party)
• Death certificate (In the case of death of one of the spouse/parent).
• Proof of dependent parents (In case parents joining their child in Italy).
• Divorce certificate (In case of previous marriage).
• Passport & residence permit/visa copy of the resident in Italy.
• Proof of ownership of a house/apartment or a copy of the rent contract of the resident in Italy.
• Proof of stable, sufficient means of subsistence of the resident in Italy.
• One way flight reservation.

The photos to be submitted for the application must meet the following specifications.

• Dimensions:  35mm X 45mm
• Colour: Coloured
• Head must occupy the central position
• Must be captured within the last 3 months
• Background: Solid, plain white or grey
• Must have 80% face coverage
• The facial expression must be neutral
• Eyes must be directed towards the camera and wide open. 
• Glasses: Non-thick framed and prescription are permitted
• Headgears are allowed only for religious reasons
• Facial hair is permitted

Being a type of the long term Schengen D category, the dependent or reunion permits are granted for stay duration longer than 90 days. The exact validity and duration will depend on the decision of the consular officer processing your application. They will take into account key points from your application while doing so. These can be your expected travel dates, your previous travel history, the means of subsistence, the permit validity of the family member in Italy and so on.

The average processing time for this category is 15 working days. However, depending on several factors, it can fluctuate. In certain special cases, it can even take up to 30 days for your application to be processed. Also in certain extraordinary cases, it could even take as long as 60 days. Therefore, it is advised to apply by keeping in mind the processing time. You will also have to take into consideration the time required for you to get the Nulla Osta. This can take 4-6 months.

The total cost of the visa includes administrative/processing charges,  biometric charges, and other service fees levied by the VAC. As a result, ensure that you check the exact amount before starting the application.

Once you have submitted your application and provided your biometrics, your application will begin processing. Your application is first sent to the embassy or the respective consulate for processing, as per the jurisdiction. The VAC has no authority over the decision-making aspect of the application.

After you have successfully made the application, you can then track the status of your application to know the exact stage of processing it is in. For this, you can click here and enter your reference number and date of birth, or also contact your travel agency to have them track it for you.

Upon receiving your dependent permit, there are a few things you must keep in mind to ensure that you do not face any difficulties with the trip. 

• Before you travel
  1. Note the validity and stay duration mentioned on your visa. You must not stay in the country beyond this period. 
  2. Carry all your travel documents before you travel to the country. 
• At the border
  1. You must show your passport with the visa to the immigration officer at the port of entry. Your entry stamp will be placed on the passport.
  2. You may be asked to show the copy of the other documents submitted as part of your application. 
  3. You may be asked about the basic details of your visit. Ensure that you answer honestly and without hesitance. 
  4. The visa alone does not guarantee you entry into the country. You could still be refused entry if you do not meet the requirements.  
• When you enter Italy
  1. You will have to apply for the residence permit within 8 days of your arrival in Italy. 
  2. On the residence permit, you will be allowed to work full-time, as well as enrol in classes. 
  3. You can travel to other Schengen nations for a stay duration of not more than 90 days in a period of 180 days in them. 
  4. You may be able to extend the visa under certain conditions.
  5. You must respect the culture and customs of the country, as well as abide by the immigration laws during your stay.