Italian residence permits: How to get it quickly

Find out what the Italian residence permit options are, their eligibility criteria, and the application process. Read all about it here!

Yordan

6 minute read

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Updated on 8 Nov 2024

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Moving

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 an Italian residence permit (Permesso Di Soggiorno) to stay.

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?

A form of an Italian residence permit is a legal document that you must have if you intend to stay in the country for more than 3 months.

According to Italian immigration law, there’re two types of residence permits: Temporary and Permanent. Each comes with a series of benefits.

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

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

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.

Requirements for a temporary residence permit

An essential prerequisite for your successful residence permit application is the possession of one of these long-term visas:

• Work visa
• Student visa
• Self-employment visa
• Family reunion Visa
• Elective residence visa
• Golden visa

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

How to apply for a temporary Italian residence permit

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.

Once you have sorted out the procedure at the police station, your next stop is to 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 2024. 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.

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 four to six 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!

No, you do not. The only requirement for entering Italy as an EU citizen is having a valid European ID, regardless of how long you plan to 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.

Registering your Italian address

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 November 2024. Always make sure to follow the guidance provided on the website of Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.