In short
Family reunification allows a foreign national lawfully resident in Italy to bring family members into the country. The income requirement starts from the annual social allowance of €7,101.12, increased by 50% per family member: €10,651.68 for one. A housing suitability certificate is also required, and the authorisation must be issued within 90 days.
The threshold is a formula, not a number
The most common error in family reunification applications is looking for "the income threshold" as though it were fixed. It is the result of a calculation with two variables: the annual social allowance, and the number of family members being brought in.
The social allowance is revised every January. For 2026 it is €7,101.12. Every year the thresholds move, which is why guidance publishing fixed figures becomes wrong on 1 January.
The rule is the social allowance plus 50% of it for each family member: €10,651.68 for one, €14,202.24 for two, €17,752.80 for three. For two or more children under 14 the requirement is instead double the social allowance, regardless of the total number of family members.
Income you may count
One point that significantly widens the possibilities: the calculation takes into account the combined income of family members already living with the applicant, not only the applicant's own income.
This allows the threshold to be met in many situations where a single income would not suffice — for instance where both spouses already in Italy are working. It is frequently overlooked, and it is the reason some families abandon the idea unnecessarily.
Housing suitability: start here, not last
The housing suitability certificate is issued by the municipality of residence or the local health authority. It is the step that most often delays these applications, for two reasons.
First, processing times depend entirely on the individual municipality and can exceed a month. Second, and less well known, the floor-space parameters are not uniform nationally: the national reference is 14 sqm for the first 4 occupants, 10 sqm for each additional occupant, but each municipality applies its own building and health regulations.
Checking the local parameters before signing a lease is the only way to avoid discovering too late that the property is not suitable for the number of people involved. Holders of international protection are exempt from the housing requirement.
Who can be brought in
The categories are defined by law and are narrower than people often expect.
- A spouse who is not legally separated and is at least eighteen years old.
- Children under 18.
- Adult children who are totally incapacitated for health reasons and dependent.
- Dependent parents, where they have no other children in the country of origin, or where they are over 65 years and their other children cannot support them for documented serious health reasons.
The figures cited on this page
Every amount, threshold and deadline comes from our public register of legal parameters, each recorded with its legal reference and the date we last checked it. When a value changes, this page changes with it.
| Parameter | Value | Legal reference | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual social allowance | €7,101.12 | Circolare INPS n. 153 del 19 dicembre 2025 | |
| Deadline for the family reunification clearance | 90 days | Art. 29, c. 8 D.Lgs. 286/1998 | |
| Minimum housing surface | 14 sqm for the first 4 occupants, 10 sqm for each additional occupant | D.M. Sanità 5 luglio 1975 | |
| Age of children eligible for reunification | under 18 | Art. 29, c. 1 lett. b) D.Lgs. 286/1998 | |
| Age of parents eligible for reunification | 65 years | Art. 29, c. 1 lett. c) e d) D.Lgs. 286/1998 |
Frequently asked questions
What income do I need for family reunification in 2026?
Can my spouse's income be counted?
How long does the authorisation take?
How many square metres does the housing certificate require?
Professional scope. Italy Immigration Hub is an administrative consultancy, not a law firm, and does not carry out activities reserved to members of the Italian Bar. Legal advice on disputes, court filings and representation before judicial authorities are handled by qualified lawyers we work with, instructed directly by the client. We are a private, independent operator with no affiliation to Italian public authorities, and the outcome and timing of any procedure depend on the competent authority. Legal notice (Italian).
Related pages in English
Full procedural detail in Italian
The Italian pages carry the complete document lists, cost breakdowns, step-by-step procedures and the mistakes that most often cause refusals.