Nulla Osta Family Reunion Guide
The income threshold, the attested documents from Dhaka, the SUII portal workflow and the Dhaka visa step — mapped end to end.
Who you can bring
The law covers your spouse (including a spouse from a registered religious marriage, once the certificate is attested and translated), your unmarried children under 18 — including your spouse's children — and children over 18 who are severely disabled. Parents can come only after age 65, if they have no other dependent children and can show they cannot be supported in Bangladesh.
The income requirement
Your lawful annual income must be at least the assegno sociale — €7,002.97 at the 2025 rate — plus half of that amount for every family member you bring. One member means roughly €10,504, two about €14,006, three about €17,507. Pay slips, CUD certificates, your tax return or combined income of family members living with you all count. The figure is indexed every year, so confirm the current amount before filing.
Since December 2024 the rules also require a minimum period of residence in Italy before you can apply to bring a spouse, and the Prefettura checks housing suitability (idoneità alloggiativa) from your comune on top of the income. Skipping either check is the most common reason a file stalls.
Documents and the SUII workflow
Collect the Bangladeshi documents first: attested marriage and birth certificates with certified translations into Italian, plus the housing report from your comune. Then file the Nulla Osta request through the Sportello Unico per l'Immigrazione (SUII) portal, wait for the Prefettura summons, and — once the Nulla Osta is issued — your family applies for the entry visa at the Italian Embassy in Dhaka, which then leads to their own permesso kits after arrival.
Plan the calendar honestly: the Nulla Osta file usually runs three to six months, the Dhaka visa appointment adds its own queue, and the December 2024 tightening added the residence-period check. Files refused by the Prefettura can be challenged before the regional court, but a complete file wins long before a fight does.
Frequently asked questions
Which income counts toward the requirement?
Employment and self-employment income, pay slips, CUD and your Unico tax return are the cleanest evidence. Family members legally living with you can pool their income. Regular state transfers count with limits, but social assistance payments are excluded.
How long does the whole process take?
The Nulla Osta itself typically takes three to six months at the SUII, after which the Dhaka visa appointment and processing add their own months. Realistic door-to-door planning is close to a year from filing to arrival.
Can I bring my parents under 65?
No — the parental route opens only after the parent turns 65, and even then only if they have no other children able to support them in Bangladesh and you can show adequate means. Under-65 parents are limited to visitor visas.
Is a religious marriage certificate enough?
A kazi or religious marriage certificate works once it is attested by the Bangladeshi authorities and translated into Italian by a certified translator. The Embassy in Dhaka legalises the documents before the visa file is built.
What if the Prefettura refuses the Nulla Osta?
Refusals arrive with reasons attached — usually income, housing or document defects. Fixable defects can be cured and refiled; genuinely contested refusals can be appealed to the regional administrative court (TAR) within 60 days, with a lawyer.