In this episode of A New Life in Italy, I’m diving into a question I get all the time from clients, members, and listeners: “If I get the Digital Nomad Visa… can I bring my spouse? What about my kids?”

The short answer? Yes—you can.

But (you knew there’d be a but, right?)… it’s not always as straightforward as people expect.

So today, I’m walking you through what it really looks like to bring your family with you when you’re making the move to Italy on a Digital Nomad Visa. We’ll talk about what’s possible, what the law says, and what you can actually do to keep your family together during the move.

I’ll break down what qualifies as a family member in Italy’s eyes (spoiler: you need to be legally married or in a registered civil union—common-law relationships don’t count here). And I’ll explain the difference between bringing children versus bringing a spouse, especially now that Italy has introduced a two-year wait for spouses under family cohesion. Yep, that’s new—and not great—but there is a workaround.

I’ll walk you through the steps you need to follow, like:

• Getting your own Digital Nomad Visa approved first
• Securing a long-term lease in Italy
• Applying for the Nulla Osta (a critical clearance document)
• And gathering all the paperwork—like marriage certificates, birth certificates, and apostilles—that you’ll need to submit on your family’s behalf

I also talk about some of the real challenges people face once they’re in Italy—like how different every Questura (immigration office) is, and why that can seriously affect your timeline. It’s one of those things no one tells you about until you’re already in it, so I’m telling you now.

And of course, I answer some of your listener questions—like whether your spouse can work on the family visa, what happens if you're not married, and how the process looks different for other visas like the Elective Residency Visa.

This episode is packed with the practical, behind-the-scenes info you need to make sure you’re not caught off guard. If you’re planning to move to Italy and want to bring your partner or kids, this episode will help you plan it the right way—without the panic, delays, or unnecessary heartache.

So grab a coffee, maybe a notebook, and let’s get into what it really takes to move to Italy with your family. You don’t have to do it alone—we’re here to help every step of the way.

Ciao for now!

— Samantha

Resources

The Family Visa

Smart Move Italy

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Until next time!

Ci vediamo!

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