Italian residence permit 2025: How to apply

Italy’s pleasant weather, delicious food and peaceful culture attract more than 120,000 immigrants per year. Depending on your nationality you might need an Italian residence permit (Permesso Di Soggiorno) to stay for more than 90 days.

In this article, we'll discuss the eligibility criteria, requirements and application process of each type of permit.

First things first, what is an Italian residence permit, and when do you need it?

If you’re planning to stay in Italy for more than 90 days, you’ll need this legal document known as a Permesso di Soggiorno. It proves you have the right to live in the country beyond a short visit.

There are two main types of residence permits in Italy:

• temporary residence permit and
• permanent residence permit.

Each one comes with its own requirements and benefits, depending on how long you plan to stay and what you’re doing in the country.

Whether you need a residence permit in Italy depends on your nationality and how long you plan on staying in the country.

EU/EEA or Swiss citizens

If you’re a citizen of the EU, EEA or Switzerland you don’t need a residence permit to live in Italy. That said, if you’re planning to stay longer than 3 months, you’ll need to register your Italian address (iscrizione anagrafica). If you move later on, you'll need to inform the authorities of your new address within 20 days of moving.

Non EU citizens

If you’re coming from outside the EU, things are a little more official. You’ll need to apply for a temporary residence permit within 8 days of your arrival in the country. This permit tells the Italian government why you’re here (maybe for work or studies) and it keeps you covered for longer-term stays.

If you’re a non-EU citizen who intends to spend more than 90 days in Italy, you must get a temporary residence permit within 8 days of your arrival in the country. This type of permit is typically granted to people coming for work, study, family reunification or even those making a major investment in the Italian economy (think €250,000 or more).

Pros of a temporary Italian residence permit

Even though having a temporary Italian residence permit doesn’t provide you with the same rights as an Italian citizen, it’ll give you the following benefits:

• Freedom of travelling to other EU countries
• The right to work in Italy
• A clear path to obtaining a permanent residence permit

Requirements for a temporary residence permit

An essential prerequisite for your successful residence permit application is the possession of a long-term Italian visa.

Italy has a range of visas available for internationals, whether you're looking for a Work visa, Student visa or freelancing visa

Once you’ve entered Italy, you must submit a filled-out residence permit application form within 8 days of your arrival date.

How to apply for a temporary Italian residence permit

1. Your first stop is the local police station (Questura). There, you’ll have to fill in a declaration of residence (dichiarazione di residenza), and your fingerprints will be taken.

2. Once you have sorted out the procedure at the police station, your next stop is a local post office (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 to get your appointment at the police station.

The appointment is typically set for 60 days after "The Kit" is submitted, but it 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:

• Four passport-sized photos
• A valid passport
• Documentation confirming the purpose of your stay (e.g. an employment contract or proof of enrollment)
• All the documents you used in your visa application
• Proof of private health insurance from a company authorised to operate in Italy

You must bring an original and a photocopy of each of the documents.

Costs

The total cost of the Italian residence permit is €116.46 as of 2025. The specific charges that make it up are:

How long is a temporary Italian residence permit valid?

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:

When do I need to renew my Italian residence permit?

The timeline for your permit renewal depends on how long your Italian residence permit is valid.

You’ll need to bring the same documents as for the initial application to your extension appointment. You can submit your extension request at the local post office, trade unions, or the municipality.

The cost of renewing your Italian residence permit varies depending on its purpose, but prices start at € 116.

Regardless of your country of origin, you are eligible to apply for permanent residence after 5 uninterrupted years of living in Italy.

Pros of a permanent Italian residence permit

The permanent Italian residence permit grants you 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:

• Using the complete set of healthcare services provided by the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN)
• Freedom to relocate to any other EU member state
• Partake in pension schemes

Application process

In order for you to apply for an Italian permanent 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 need to submit it at the post office.

Your permanent residence permit application will be processed within 4 to 6 weeks.

Requirements for an Italian permanent residence permit

There are four conditions that you must meet if you want to obtain a permanent residence permit:

• You must be able to prove that you’ve been residing in Italy for the past 5 years
• You must be able to present a clean criminal record
• You must pass an Italian language test proving that you have at least a proficiency level of A2
• You must have income sufficient enough to support yourself and any dependents

Once you’ve secured your permanent residence permit, you’re only five years away from securing your Italian citizenship!

Whether or not you need a residence permit, anyone planning to stay in Italy for more than 90 days must register their local address with the Italian authorities. This step, known as iscrizione anagrafica, is essential for accessing public services like healthcare, opening a bank account, or enrolling in school. The process also formalizes your residency within a specific municipality and is one of the first things you should take care of after arriving in Italy.

Once you arrive in Italy, you've 8 days to 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:

1. Get your Italian fiscal code (Codice Fiscale)

This code is your unique identifier in Italy and serves you in all civic matters in Italy.

2. Make an appointment at the local registry

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.

3. Bring all the originals and translated copies of your documents to your appointment, including:

• Passport
• The completed declaration of residence (dichiarazione di residenza)
• A registered housing contract
• Proof of health insurance by a provider certified to operate in the territory of Italy

After all of the above is sorted out, you can expect an official to visit your residential address to confirm its validity within 45 days of your application.

If you’re not home when the official visits, don’t worry. The official will leave a note informing you about the time and date of the next visit.

Once the official confirms your address, you can 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 tick off the rest of your relocation checklist.

Note! Immigration laws can be subject to change. This guide has been prepared in accordance with the latest information as of May 2025. Always make sure to follow the guidance provided on the website of Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.