Family Visa for Thai

To reunite with their loved ones, Italian citizens and permanent residents have the ability to sponsor a foreign family member living in Thailand for an Italian Family Visa. This allows their foreign spouse, children, or other eligible family members to visit or live with them in Italy for a specified period.

Continue reading for more detailed information on the Italian Family Visa, how to apply for one in Thailand, and what documents to submit.

What is an Italian Family Visa?

Foreigners seeking passage into Italy from Thailand for family can choose between 2 different types of short-term Italian visas. These are known as Italian C-visas which grant applicants a Schengen Visa valid for up to 90 days, enabling them to travel to Italy for one of the following reasons:

• Visit their friends and family members who are Italian citizens or permanent residents.
• Looking to live temporarily as a spouse or parent of an Italian citizen, permanent resident, or EU/EEA citizen.

There is also a long-stay family visa option known as the Italian Family Reunion Visa. This is an Italian D-visa allowing non-Italian and non-EU national family members to reunite with their relatives in Italy. With the Family Reunion Visa, non-Italian and non-EU citizen family members can do more than reside with their loved ones in Italy. Securing their visa in Thailand also entitles them to the following benefits:

• They will receive a long-stay, multiple-entry visa valid for at least 90 days.
• Upon arrival in Italy, they instantly receive health insurance coverage and access to national healthcare.
• They can utilize the Italian social security system.
• They can work for a company based in Italy or through self-employment.
• They can study or attend a training course while in the country.
• The child can benefit from educational services offered by the nearest town hall such as access to public schools and childcare. 
• If the family member has lived in the country for at least 5 years, they can apply for permanent residency.

Requirements for an Italian Family Visa

The Italian Family Visa is limited to family members who do not hold citizenship or permanent residency in Italy or any country in the European Union. Applicants looking for a short-term stay will have to complete an Italian Schengen Visa application and are restricted from working or studying in the country.

If applying for a Family Reunion Visa, the applicant must intend to visit their relatives for at least 90 days. Upon arrival, they must apply for a residence permit for “family reasons” within 8 days, allowing the holder to secure employment or enroll in an educational course.

Italian citizens can sponsor the following international members of their family:

• Spouse
• Children under the age of 18 
• Dependent children over the age of 18 (either with a disability or needing to rely on an Italian family member for financial support) 
• Dependent parents (with health issues or needing to rely on the Italian sponsor for financial assistance) 

To sponsor a family member, the Italian citizen will also need to meet the following requirements:

• They must be an Italian citizen or permanent resident (with no less than 1 year validity remaining on their residence permit).
• They must have sufficient finances to support their foreign family members (at least €5.953,87 per year for each family member is needed for the Family Reunion Visa).
• They must have private housing in Italy, with the required dimensions depending on how many family members are accompanying them (e.g. at least 45 square meters and 1 bedroom if they are bringing 2 family members).
• Private health insurance is mandatory for applicants over the age of 65.

Required Documents for an Italian Family Visa

To apply for an Italian Family Visa, both the applicant and their Italian sponsor will need to provide the correct documents. The required documents depend on whether the applicant intends to visit their family, is the spouse or parent of the Italian sponsor, or wants to apply for the Family Reunion Visa. On a general level, the foreign applicant needs to provide the following items:

• Completed and signed Schengen Visa application form (if applying for the short-stay visa option)
• Completed and signed long-stay visa application form (if applying for a Family Reunion Visa)
• A valid passport from each family member (must have at least 18 months validity remaining and a copy of the biodata page needs to be provided)
• A copy of a valid residence permit or visa
• Flight itinerary 
• Passport-sized photograph of each family member (must be in color, size 3.5mm by 4.5mm, taken against a white background)
• Proof of relationship documents (such as birth certificates and marriage certificates) 

The Italian sponsor will need to provide the following documentation:

• Proof of Italian citizenship (such as a national ID card or Italian passport)
• A copy of the Stato di famiglia (known as “Family Status” in English) must be provided, issued directly by an Italian municipality
• Completed and signed invitation letter 
• Additional proof of relationship documents
• Proof of health insurance coverage (only applicable for family members above the age of 65)
• Proof of finances showing that they can financially support their family member during their stay (i.e. a bank statement)
• Proof of legal domicile in Italy (i.e. a Certificate of Housing Suitability or written consent from the property owner)

The applicant and their sponsor may need supplementary documentation if requested by the Italian immigration authorities.

How to Apply for an Italian Family Visa

Once all the necessary documents have been gathered and the application form is completed, the application will be submitted to and received by VFS Italy, the Italian visa application center in Thailand. VFS will be responsible for collecting and assessing the applicant’s biometrics and may request them to book an in-person appointment for it.

After the biometric assessment, they will forward everything to the Italian Embassy in Thailand. At this stage, the application will undergo further processing by the Embassy and a decision will eventually be made on whether to approve it. The foreign applicant may also need to schedule an appointment with them to go through an in-person interview.

Upon approval, the visa will be affixed to the applicant’s passport and they will be able to pick it up at VFS Italy in person or request it to be delivered to their address in Thailand by courier. The visa holder can now proceed with their travel plans, comfortably. If they received a Family Reunion Visa, they must convert their visa into a residence permit at the nearest police headquarters upon arriving in Italy.

What Can Siam Legal Do For You

Acquiring a family visa is challenging, which is why you should partner with Siam Legal to guide you smoothly through your application and avoid delays and immigration issues. As a full-service law firm and visa consultancy active for over 20 years in Thailand, our foreign visa specialists are equipped with the skills and knowledge to help you acquire your visa as quickly and efficiently as possible.

To support you throughout your application, we provide the following services:

• 1-on-1 consultation session between you and one of our visa specialists to assess your eligibility for the family visa and address any concerns.
• Detailed checklist of necessary documents for the application, customized specifically to fit the Italian Family Visa requirements.
• Thorough preparation of all necessary documents to identify errors and missing items before your application is submitted.
• Managing the submission of your application to the relevant authorities on your behalf.
• Handling all correspondence with the authorities to update you on your application status and inform you of any essential amendments.
• Providing useful advice on how to manage yourself during the interview and the questions you should be expected to answer.

Contact Siam Legal today and our dedicated visa specialists will help you secure your new visa so that you can reunite with your Italian relatives with peace of mind.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I receive a document checklist?

Yes, you can request us to issue a document with instructions on what documents to gather and submit as part of your application. This checklist is up-to-date and personalized to match the requirements needed for the family visa of your choice.

How long does it take to receive a Family Visa?

Obtaining an Italian Family Visa can take around a month on average. However, the processing times can vary depending on certain factors such as nationality, the absence of essential documents in your application, and the length of time it takes to acquire each required documentation.

How much do you charge for your Italian Family Visa services?

Our comprehensive Italian Family Visa application assistance costs 21,935 baht plus value-added tax (VAT). This fee is only charged for our services and excludes all other payments, such as the visa and application fees.

What should I do if my application got rejected?

If you have received a rejection letter from the Italian Embassy regarding your application, connect with Siam Legal’s foreign visa team as soon as possible. We will analyze the reasons behind your rejection and guide you closely through the entire reapplication process.