A spouse visa in Italy can be obtained if a foreigner is a spouse/partner of an Italian citizen. However, it must be noted that the Italian law does not offer a visa issued for this specific purpose, but rather a foreigner can apply for a family visa, which can also be issued for spouses.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| What is a spouse visa? | A spouse visa in Italy refers to an immigration document that can be obtained by the non-EU spouse or partner of an Italian citizen. |
Who can apply for a spouse visa? | The spouse visa in Italy can be obtained by foreign spouses or civil partners of Italian citizens. |
Minimum conditions imposed to the foreign spouse | – minimum age of 18 years old, – a valid passport, – 2 recent photos, – valid heathcare recognized in Italy, – proof of relationship (marriage certificates, civil partnership documents) |
| Minimum conditions imposed to the Italian spouse | proof of income, proof of residency |
| Duration of the visa processing | Around 2-3 months |
| Visa processing fee | EUR 116 |
| Civil partnership recognized (yes/no) | Yes |
| Spouse visa rules for civil partners | The same as the ones applicable to married persons. |
| Visa fee exemptions | Not applicable |
| Appeals to denied visa applications (yes/no) | Yes |
| Timeframe to initiate an appeal | 60 days since the decision was issued. |
| When is a spouse visa required? | The spouse visa in Italy is required in the case in which the foreign partner wants to live here on a long-term basis (for more than 90 days). |
| Documents attesting the relationship, for partners who have lived in different countries | The legal documents attesting they have been legally married or in a civil partnership (the documents can be issued by either the Italian or foreign authorities) |
| Visa type used for spouse/civil partners reunion | Family Reunion Long -Term Visa |
| Legal services offered by our lawyers | – preparing the visa application file, – ongoing legal assistance during the processing of the file, – advice and representation in visa appeals, etc. |
Our immigration lawyers in Italy provide concise information on the standard immigration formalities and can also assist foreigners in the process of obtaining suitable immigration documents for foreign spouses.
The law on immigration in Italy refers to this visa type as family reunification visa, and it can be obtained only by specific family members, including those who are spouses. Of course, the Italian spouse visa requirements will vary from the ones applicable to other family members.
Our immigration lawyers in Italy can offer an in-depth presentation on the main legal requirements you have to comply with if you need to apply for a spouse visa.
Table of Contents
What are the Italian spouse visa requirements?
The law on immigration in Italy prescribes a set of basic rules that must be completed by those who want to relocate to this country for the purpose of living here on the ground of being married to an Italian national. In the list below, our immigration lawyers in Italy have prepared few highlights of the basic conditions imposed for this visa type:
- the marriage visa in Italy can be obtained by foreigners with a minimum age of 18 years old, who have the status of spouses (who must not be legally separated) and civil partners;
- the applicant must prepare 2 recent photographs, passport size;
- recent photographs refer to pictures taken with maximum 6 months before the application and which have a size of 4 x 3.5 cm;
- a valid passport with a validity date ranging from 3 months to 18 months (the Italian spouse visa requirements can vary based on the nationality of the applicant);
- a valid healthcare insurance, with a value of minimum EUR 30,000, and which is recognized by the officials in Italy.
According to the Italian Government, the applicant must also include documents which testify the validity of the relationship, and this can only be done through marriage and civil partnership certificates.
Sponsorship requirements
It is important to know that an individual can apply for a spouse visa in Italy only in the situation in which the Italian partner (husband or wife) can make the proof of having sufficient income to sponsor the stay of the foreign partner in this country.
It must also be noted that the incoming spouse can’t benefit from the Italian welfare system, and this is why the Italian partner must show evidence on his/her income, that covers the needs of both spouses.
The minimum financial requirement is adjusted on year-to-year basis and in 2025, the minimum threshold is EUR 6,700 per year. This requirement applies when theItalian national sponsors one incoming foreign family member, in this case, the spouse. We mention that the relocation of other family members (such as children under the age of 18 years old) requires an additional EUR 2,200 per year.
Sources of income
When the Italian partner will act as a sponsor for the spouse visa in Italy, he/she must make the proof of having the required income, as presented above. Along with it, the individual must provide evidence that the respective income is obtained from acceptable sources of income, such as:
- employment;
- self-employment;
- pensions.
Other sources of legal income can be accepted as well, and our team of immigration lawyers in Italy can present them to interested parties. Below, you can read our infographic presenting how to obtain an Italian spouse visa:
Obtaining citizenship in Italy as a spouse of an Italian citizen
Foreigners married to Italian citizens can acquirecitizenship in Italy following a simpler route compared to those who apply for citizenship by naturalization (who have to become permanent residents first). In the case of those married to Italians, the formalities for citizenship can be initiated after 2 years of marriage (for couples who live in Italy) or after 3 years (for couples residing elsewhere).
Please mind that the formalities for citizenship in Italy are reduced to 1 year or 1.5 years respectively (half the standard requirements) for spouses who have minors children. However, the procedure can be initiated provided that certain rules have been followed (for instance, if the marriage has been registered with the competent Italian Town Hall).
De facto partners visa options in Italy
If you want to move to Italy as a de facto partner of an Italian citizen, you can’t apply for the spouse visa. At the moment, there isn’t any unmarried partner visa in Italy, specifically designed for unmarried partners.
Thus, there aren’t any unmarried partner visa Italy requirements regulated by the law. But de facto partners (those who are unmarried) can still reunite and live together in Italy. For this, general visa steps should be followed. Our immigration lawyers can also help you if you want to get permanent residency in Italy after moving there.
For instance, the foreign partner of an Italian citizen can apply for a Schengen D visa, which is issued for purposes such as work or study in Italy. The de facto partner will immigrate to Italy, apply for a residence permit and then he/she can live with the Italian partner.
In Italy, de facto partners can benefit from certain legal rights – for instance, the law grants the possibility to register the cohabitation with the Italian municipalities where the couple lives and later on, the partners can be entitled to apply for a more suitable permit regulated by family immigration rules.
Although many European countries grant the possibility to relocate as a de facto partner and obtain a visa related to family reunification, the unmarried partner visa in Italy is, for the moment, non-existent. However, Italy is ahead many European countries when it comes to de facto partners living in Italy through the cohabitation contract, which does not exist in most of the European jurisdictions.
If you want to learn more about the issuance of the Italian visas, including the Italy spouse visa processing time, our lawyers remain at your service. You can contact us if you want to find out if you qualify for the spouse visa in Italy and our lawyers can offer more details on the Italian spouse visa requirements. Alike, we can help de facto partners relocate to Italy.
Our lawyersare ready to assist foreigners in other matters related to immigration. For instance, we can help foreigners apply for a golden visa in Italy.