Two ways to bring your family
- Together with the main applicant: with several visas (digital nomad, some skilled work visas, elective residence), the family can apply for a visa at the same time or shortly after. See the rules for each path.
- Family reunification (ricongiungimento): the main applicant already lives legally in Italy and requests a nulla osta from the Sportello Unico at the Prefettura. With it, the family applies for the visa at the consulate.
If one spouse is an Italian citizen, different and simpler rules apply. See marriage to an Italian citizen and descendants.
annual assegno sociale for 2026, the basis for the income calculation
of that amount for each family member being reunited
legal deadline for the family reunification nulla osta
compulsory schooling age in Italy
Minimum income for family reunification
Article 29 of the Testo Unico Immigrazione requires a lawful annual income equal to the assegno sociale plus half of it for each family member. In 2026 the assegno sociale is €546.24 per month in 13 installments, or €7,101.12 per year. Income from family members who already live with you can be added.
| Family members to reunite | Minimum annual income (2026) |
|---|---|
| 1 (for example, your spouse) | €10,651.68 |
| 2 | €14,202.24 |
| 3 | €17,752.80 |
| 4 | €21,303.36 |
With two or more children under 14, income can't be less than twice the assegno sociale (€14,202.24). These are legal minimums: in practice, consulates and Prefetture also look at how stable your income is. For a sense of your real budget, use the cost of living calculator.
Idoneità alloggiativa: the right home
Your home needs a certificate of suitability issued by the comune, which checks sanitary conditions and the number of occupants. The standards come from a 1975 Ministry of Health decree:
- 14 m² per occupant for the first four and 10 m² for each additional occupant;
- bedrooms of at least 9 m² (one person) or 14 m² (two people);
- studio apartments of at least 28 m² for one person and 38 m² for two.
For a child under 14 joining one parent, the property owner's consent is enough. Certificate costs and documents vary by comune. [confirm procedure and fee at the comune of Monza]
Family reunification step by step
Secure income and a home
Pay stubs or tax return, a registered lease and the idoneità alloggiativa certificate.
Prepare your family's documents
Apostilled and translated birth and marriage certificates. For children from another relationship, the other parent's consent.
Apply for the nulla osta
Online application to the Sportello Unico in your province. The legal deadline is up to 150 days.
Visa at the consulate
With the nulla osta, the family applies for the family reunification visa. The consulate decides within 30 days.
Permesso and residence
Within 8 days of arrival, go to the Sportello Unico and submit the application for a family permesso. Then register with the comune's anagrafe.
SSN, pediatrician and school
Once the permesso application is in, enroll everyone in the National Health Service and enroll the kids in school.
Public school
Every foreign minor has the right to attend school, regardless of visa status (article 38 of the Testo Unico and article 45 of DPR 394/1999). Practical points:
- Kids who arrive mid-year can be enrolled at any time, directly at the school. They usually go into the grade that matches their age.
- For the following school year, enrollment is online, usually between January and February, on the Ministry's Unica platform.
- Public school is free. You pay for meals (mensa), transportation and supplies, with ISEE-based rates.
- Many schools offer Italian as a second language (L2) classes for newcomers.
SSN pediatrician
Holders of a family permesso have mandatory, free enrollment in the National Health Service. When you enroll, which in Monza is done at the ASST, you choose a pediatra di libera scelta (family pediatrician), mandatory until age 6 and optional until 14. Pediatrician visits are free. See also our page of doctors who speak Portuguese and English.
Daycare and international schools
- Daycare (asilo nido, ages 0 to 3): municipal spots are competitive and fees follow the ISEE. INPS's bonus nido reimburses up to €3,600 per year for children born in 2024 or later, but requires, among other things, an EU long-term permesso or citizenship. [confirm eligibility with other permessi]
- Preschool (scuola dell'infanzia, ages 3 to 6): public and free, except for meals.
- International schools: Monza has the International School of Monza (IB programs), and the Milan area has several others. Annual tuition usually runs from about €9,000 to €25,000. [confirm amounts with each school]
Helping kids adjust
Young children usually pick up Italian within a few months. Teenagers need more support, especially in high school. What helps: starting Italian before the move, arriving close to the start of the school year (September), keeping your home language at home and finding sports activities in your neighborhood. See our Italian guide and the moving checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring my parents?
Only in specific cases: dependent parents with no other children in their home country, or parents over 65 when the other children can't support them for serious health reasons. They need health insurance or voluntary SSN enrollment (€2,000 per year per parent).
Does my spouse's income count?
Income from family members who already live with you in Italy counts. Income from those still abroad generally isn't included in the calculation.
Does my child need to speak Italian to start school?
No. Enrollment doesn't depend on language. The school organizes the welcome and Italian support.
Can I choose the school?
Yes, but priority usually goes to families living in the school's area. Choose your home with that in mind.
How much does daycare cost in Monza?
It depends on your ISEE and on whether it's municipal or private. Private ones usually charge from a few hundred to over a thousand euros per month. [confirm current rates]
Sources: Art. 29 of the Testo Unico Immigrazione (Brocardi, updated Jul 2026); Assolombarda, family reunification procedure (Oct 2025); Income for family reunification 2026 (2026); InvestireOggi, assegno sociale 2026 (2026); Arletti Partners, DL 145/2024 (2025); Studio Madera, idoneità alloggiativa (2025); Money.it, school enrollment for foreign minors (2024); AUSL Modena, SSN enrollment for foreigners (2025); Open, bonus nido 2026 (Mar 2026); International School of Monza profile (2026).