Family Cohesion (already in Italy)
Plain English
It's the procedure that lets non-EU family members already legally in Italy on another permit convert to a family-cohesion permit linked to a non-EU sponsor who lives here. It\'s similar to ricongiungimento but done from inside Italy.
Why it matters
It avoids the family member having to leave Italy and re-enter on a family visa. The sponsor still needs to meet income and housing requirements.
Real example
"After her brother joined her in Lecce on a student visa, Khadija helped him convert his permit to coesione familiare once he qualified as a dependent."
Common confusion
It\'s only available if the family relationship and economic conditions are already in place when the application is made. It\'s not a fallback when other permits run out.
Official source
Ministero dell'Interno