Civil-society network Progetto Melting Pot Europa has lodged a class-action lawsuit in the Lazio Regional Administrative Court (TAR) challenging what it calls “systemic and intolerable” delays by Italian consulates in issuing family-reunification entry visas. The suit, filed on 12 June ahead of a merits hearing on 7 July, is dedicated to the memory of Annick—an Ivorian woman who died before her visa was processed.
For families caught in similar backlogs, VisaHQ can help streamline the paperwork: through its Italy portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) the platform pre-screens documentation, books consular appointments where available, and provides real-time tracking so applicants and HR managers know exactly where each case stands.
Plaintiffs argue that waiting times routinely exceed the 90-day limit set by article 5 of the Consolidated Immigration Act, citing 2026 data from Rome, Milan and Nairobi posts where processing stretched to 14 months. They contrast Italy’s outsourced model with Sweden’s fully in-house system, noting that Sweden schedules appointments directly and free of charge, while Italian applicants often pay third-party service fees without guaranteed slots. If the action succeeds, the court could order the Foreign Ministry to clear backlogs within fixed deadlines and to compensate applicants whose fundamental right to family unity was violated—a precedent that would have knock-on effects for corporate transferees seeking dependent visas. Employers are watching closely: protracted spousal-visa waits are a top reason expatriate staff turn down Italian assignments, according to EY’s 2026 Mobility Survey. HR teams should review relocation timelines and consider interim solutions such as temporary Schengen C-visas for short stays until the legal landscape clarifies. The Foreign Ministry has not commented publicly but insiders note recent budget allocations to expand consular staffing by 8 % in 2027, contingent on digital-process reforms.
For families caught in similar backlogs, VisaHQ can help streamline the paperwork: through its Italy portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) the platform pre-screens documentation, books consular appointments where available, and provides real-time tracking so applicants and HR managers know exactly where each case stands.
Plaintiffs argue that waiting times routinely exceed the 90-day limit set by article 5 of the Consolidated Immigration Act, citing 2026 data from Rome, Milan and Nairobi posts where processing stretched to 14 months. They contrast Italy’s outsourced model with Sweden’s fully in-house system, noting that Sweden schedules appointments directly and free of charge, while Italian applicants often pay third-party service fees without guaranteed slots. If the action succeeds, the court could order the Foreign Ministry to clear backlogs within fixed deadlines and to compensate applicants whose fundamental right to family unity was violated—a precedent that would have knock-on effects for corporate transferees seeking dependent visas. Employers are watching closely: protracted spousal-visa waits are a top reason expatriate staff turn down Italian assignments, according to EY’s 2026 Mobility Survey. HR teams should review relocation timelines and consider interim solutions such as temporary Schengen C-visas for short stays until the legal landscape clarifies. The Foreign Ministry has not commented publicly but insiders note recent budget allocations to expand consular staffing by 8 % in 2027, contingent on digital-process reforms.
