The INPS has released full instructions for accessing the new baby bonus scheme for newborn and adopted children. From 1 January 2025, families in Italy can apply for a €1,000 bonus for each child born or adopted.
The government’s new baby bonus is finally underway. The INPS issued instructions today on how to claim the bonus. The government is trying to encourage families to have children in order to combat the declining birthrate.
The benefit is open to Italian citizens, EU nationals, and non-EU citizens with long-term residence permits or other qualifying documents. UK citizens who were living in Italy by 31 December 2020 are also eligible under EU equivalency rules.
To receive the bonus, families must present a valid ISEE for minors, with an annual income of no more than €40,000. The child must be born or adopted from 1 January 2025 onwards. Adoptive parents can only apply for children under 18.
If the child is in pre-adoptive foster care, the date of entry into the adoptive family counts, based on a Juvenile Court order.
Applications must be submitted within 60 days of the birth, adoption or entry into the household. Failure to meet the deadline results in loss of entitlement. The bonus can be requested by either parent, but only the parent who lives with the child may apply in cases of separation.
For events that happen before the application portal opens, families will have 60 days from the portal’s launch date to apply.
Bonus paid after checks carried out
INPS will process applications based on the order they are received, according to date and time. The bonus will be paid only after the eligibility criteria have been verified, and within the limits of the allocated annual budget.
Funding for the scheme totals €330 million for 2025, rising to €360 million per year from 2026. The bonus is not considered taxable income.
INPS will monitor spending and provide monthly updates to the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Stateless individuals, political refugees, and people with international protection are treated the same as Italian citizens under the rules.
Applications must include the chosen payment method, either via IBAN or bank transfer. The parent submitting the request must be resident in Italy on both the date of application and the event itself.
INPS will publish a message confirming when the online application portal is available. In the meantime, more details can be found here.
