Residence Requirements for EU Citizens in Italy
Non-EU family members residence permit Italy: According to Decree 30/2007, an EU citizen can register in Italy with personal income or the availability of their own financial resources. The law does not specify that these resources must be generated in Italy.
Indeed, one can register using foreign payslips or a foreign bank account statement, though some local municipalities may request an Italian bank account, provided that the minimum annual income or financial resource requirement is met. This threshold is based on the Italian social security allowance, which is updated annually and is currently around €7,500 for a single applicant, plus approximately €3,500 for each additional family member.
What If the EU Citizen Has No Income in Italy?
Income Requirements When Applying for the Non-EU Family Members Residence Permit in Italy
But what happens when the EU citizen is joined by non-EU family members in Italy and does not have income generated in the country? In such cases, things can become more complicated than one might expect.
Non-EU family members of EU citizens must apply for the carta di soggiorno under Article 10 of Decree 30/2007. This is a residence permit issued for an initial period of five years. Upon renewal, it becomes valid indefinitely, provided that the legal requirements continue to be met.
To obtain the family permit in this case, the EU citizen must provide proof of registration with the local Town Hall. Additionally, sufficient evidence of income or financial resources will be required for the non-EU family members’ carta di soggiorno application. This includes legalised, apostilled, and translated documents proving the family relationship.
Most EU nationals recently settled in Italy may not yet have filed an Italian tax return or possess Italian-sourced income. In theory, this should not pose a problem if they can show adequate income from abroad or demonstrate possession of sufficient financial resources.
Practical Challenges in Italian Immigration Offices
However, in practice, many Immigration Offices in Italy have a consistent tendency to request income generated in Italy. This practice can conflict with the provisions of Decree 30/2007 and may result in the rejection of applications for the non-EU family members residence permit in Italy.
In such situations, it is often necessary to challenge the authorities’ decision through legal or administrative channels.
