Find out what the Italian residence permit options are, their eligibility criteria, and the application process. Read all about it here!
Italy’s pleasant weather, delicious food and peaceful culture attract more than 120,000 immigrants per year. Depending on where you're coming from, you might need a residence permit (Permesso Di Soggiorno) to stay in Italy.
For each permit type, we’ll walk you through:
First things first, what is a residence permit and when do you need it?
A form of an Italian residence permit is a legal document that you must have if you intend on staying in the country for more than 3 months.
As per the Italian immigration law, there are two types of residence permits- Temporary and Permanent. Each of them comes with a series of benefits.
Even though having a temporary residence permit doesn’t provide you with the same rights as an Italian citizen, it’ll give you the following benefits:
The permanent residence permit, on the other hand, grants foreigners the same rights as every Italian national. You can apply for it after living in Italy for five uninterrupted years. Securing your permanent residence in the country means that you’re entitled to:
If you’re a non-EU citizen who intends to spend more than 90 days in Italy, you must obtain a temporary residence permit within 8 days of your arrival in the country.
Find out about the application process and requirements below.
An essential prerequisite for your successful residence permit application is the possession of one of these long-term visas:
Once you’ve entered Italy, you’ll need to submit a filled-out application form within 8 days of your arrival date.
The acquisition and successful submission of the application form is a two-step process.
Your first stop is at the local police station (Questura). You’ll have to fill in a declaration of residence (dichiarazione di residenza) and your fingerprints are going to be taken.
Once you sort out the procedure at the police station, your next stop is one of the local post offices (Patronato), where you’ll complete and submit some additional paperwork. The paperwork referred to as “The Kit”, is a set of documents in Italian that you must fill out in order to get your appointment at the police station.
The appointment is typically set for 60 days after the submission of "The Kit", but can also take up to six months.
In order for your application to be considered valid, you’ll need to bring the following with you:
You must bring an original and a photocopy of each of the documents.
The total cost of the residence permit is € 76,46 as of September 2022. The specific charges that make it up are:
Charges | Cost (€) |
---|---|
Acquiring the residence card | € 30,46 |
Application Stamp | € 16,00 |
Mailing fee | € 30 |
The validity of your Italian residence permit depends on the purpose of your stay in the country. The most common types of residence permits and their corresponding validity are as follows:
Purpose of residence permit | Validity |
---|---|
Academic | 1 year |
Seasonal work | 6 to 9 months |
Regular employment | Up to 2 years |
Family reunification | 2 years |
The following timelines apply based on the validity of your Italian residence permit:
Validity | Renewal requirement |
---|---|
Up to 6 months | A minimum of 30 days before the expiration date |
1 & 2 years | A minimum of 90 days before the expiration date |
You’ll have to bring the same documents as for initial application to your extension appointment. You can file your extension request at the local post office, trade unions or the municipality.
The cost of the renewal varies depending on the purpose of the residence permit, with the prices starting at € 80.
Regardless of your country of origin, you are eligible to apply for a permanent residence in the country after 5 uninterrupted years of residence in Italy.
The permanent residence permit is also referred to as an EU Long Term Residence Permit.
In order for you to apply for the EU long term residence permit, you’ll have to collect the so-called “yellow kit” from the local post office.
Once you’ve filled in the “yellow kit”, you’re expected to file it at the post office.
Required processing time
Your EU long term residence permit application will be processed within four to six weeks.
There are four conditions that you must keep in mind if you want to obtain a permanent residence permit:
Once you’ve secured your EU long term residence permit, you’re only five years away from securing your Italian citizenship!
No, you do not. The only requirement for entering Italy as an EU citizen is having a valid European ID, regardless of the intended period of the stay. However, if you plan to stay longer than 3 months, you'll need to register your Italian address (iscrizione anagrafica). If you move you'll need to inform the authorities of your new address within 20 days of moving.
If you plan to stay in Italy for more than 3 months you'll have to register your address. Once you arrive, you've 8 days register your Italian address. You can do this at the local police station (Questura).
Process for registering your Italian address
Once you’re registered with the local Questura, you have to complete the following steps:
This code is your unique identifier in the country and serves you in all civic matters in Italy.
Securing your time slot in the local registry (anagrafe) has to be done quickly since the wait time can be up to 3 months. You can see the available slots on this website.
With all of the above sorted out, you can expect an official to visit your declared residential address to confirm its validity within 45 days of your application.
If you’re not home at the time of the visit, don’t worry. The official will leave a note informing you about the time and date of the next visit.
Once the official has confirmed your address, you’re all set to return to the local registry and collect your residency certificate.
Now that you have an overview of the process for acquiring an Italian residence permit from the perspective of EU and Non-EU citizens, you’re all set to advance on the rest of the items on your relocation checklist.
Note! Immigration laws can be subject to change. This guide has been prepared in accordance with the latest information as of September 2023. Always make sure to follow the guidance provided on the website of Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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