For permanent residence in Italy, a foreigner must obtain a residence permit. Find out what types of permits exist and the features of the procedure for issuing a document in 2024

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Italy is a popular country for moving, because it has a good climate, favorable living conditions, a developed economy and a promising labor market. Every year, the state issues about 390,000 residence permits, with citizens of the Philippines, the Dominican Republic, and South Africa most often applying for a permit.

Obtaining an Italian residence permit (Permesso di soggiorno) may seem like a difficult task, however, if you research the procedure in detail, issuing the document is quite real.

Every foreigner planning a long-term stay in Italy must have a residence permit, except for EU citizens. Applying is a multi-step procedure that forces the applicant to wait hours, days, weeks and even months for a response.

How to get a permesso di soggiorno in Italy? We tell.

What is a permesso di soggiorno (Italian residence permit)?

An expat who plans to stay in Italy for more than 90 days must obtain a permesso di soggiorno, or residence permit, as well as an ID card that confirms the holder's residence and legal basis for stay. It is this document that allows law enforcement officers and other interested parties to quickly access a person's passport and biometric data to check their migration status.

The procedure for employment in Italy for expats in 2024 in this article.

Types of Italian residence permits

The type of permesso di soggiorno depends on the reasons for staying in Italy:

- investment ("golden visa" to Italy)

- for conducting business

- upon employment

- educational

- for seasonal work

- for getting married

- for conducting research

- reunification with family.

To obtain a permesso di soggiorno, it is necessary to prepare a unique list of accompanying documents, which depends on the reasons for moving.

An approximate list of documents for obtaining an Italian residence permit

- Four passport-sized photographs that meet the requirements for a visa to Italy.

- Valid passport.

- Documents related to the reasons for your stay in Italy, such as a work permit or school enrollment.

- All the documents you provided when you applied for an Italian long-term visa in your home country – for an Italian work visa, self-employment visa, study visa, family reunification visa, etc.

- Confirmation of purchased Italian health insurance.

A detailed package of documents for each type of permit can be found on the official website of the Italian State Police (Italian: Polizia di Stato).

You will need health insurance to safely move and find employment in a new country. You can issue an extended policy on our website using the link.

How to apply for an Italian residence permit?

An application for an Italian residence permit must be submitted within 8 working days of arrival in Italy. In practice, you can apply after the deadline. But it is better to start as early as possible, because the process of issuing a permit can take more than 6 months. And if the visa used for arrival expires by the time you apply for a residence permit, there may be problems.

Importantly! As practice shows, the duration and stages of the procedure for obtaining a residence permit may differ depending on the provincial immigration office (Italian: Questura) chosen to submit the application. Therefore, it is better for the applicant to find out the exact requirements, taking into account the selected category of permesso di soggiorno, current in the immigration office at the place of application submission.

Issuing a residence permit in Italy - step-by-step instructions

Step 1 – Get a set of documents for obtaining a residence permit in Italy

Within eight days of your arrival in Italy, you should receive a package of documents to apply for a residence permit in the country at the local post office. However, not all post offices offer application kits for obtaining a residence permit in Italy. You should find a post office with a Sportello Amico counter. 

The application package is an envelope with the necessary forms to be filled out.

Step 2 – Complete and submit the application package for a residence permit in Italy

Fill out the necessary forms. As a rule, basic information is required from the applicant: passport number, date of entry, previous addresses of residence and information about dependents.

Next, you need to buy the Marca da Bollo stamp, which you must add to your application before submitting. This is a "duty stamp" that can be found in a tobacconist's shop. It costs about 16 euros.

Step 3 – Submit the completed package of documents 

After filling in all the necessary forms and having prepared a complete package of documents, you must submit it to the post office with a counter (Sportello Amico), in the same place where you purchased the package of documents.

It is not necessary to submit original documents, but take them in case you need to check them with photocopies. 

Do not sign the application or seal the envelope as the staff reviewing your application must check it first. If all goes well, you will receive information about the date and time when you need to appear at the Questura (local immigration office) for the second stage of your application for a residence permit in Italy.

You will also be issued a receipt, which will serve as a temporary residence permit, because you can wait 1-2 months for an appointment at the Questura. You must carry this receipt with you in case someone asks to show your residence permit. It will confirm that you are in the registration process.

Stage 4 – interview at the Questura (provincial immigration office)

On the day of the appointment, go to the reception at the Questura and bring the original documents, as well as the receipt and the letter with the date of your appointment that you received in the post.

Here you will be fingerprinted and may be asked a few questions.

Finally, the applicant for an Italian residence permit will receive an alphanumeric number that can be used to check the progress of the application on the Polizia di Stato website. This will relieve you of the need to visit the office of the immigration service until the moment when there is an opportunity to pick up the ready-made resident card.

Waiting takes 4-5 months. During the waiting period, some applicants for a residence permit in Italy are visited by the police. The police want to make sure that a particular applicant really lives at the given address.

If during the regular check of the status of the application through the Polizia di Stato website, its designation changes from a yellow cross to a green checkmark, you can go to the Questura for a resident card.

Validity of residence permits in Italy

Residence permits in Italy are issued for a period of six months, one year or two years, depending on the type of permit you have, for example:

- Italian residence permit for seasonal work is valid for six months.

- Italian residence permit for studies is valid for one year.

- A residence permit in Italy for family reunification, employment or self-employment is valid for two years.

Extension of residence permit in Italy 

The process for renewing a residence permit in Italy is the same as for the first application. So you have to get the application kit from the post office, fill it in, send it in and then wait for an appointment at the Questur where you will get your new Permesso di soggiorno card.

Permanent residence permit in Italy

After living in Italy for more than five years with a temporary residence permit, you can apply for a permanent residence permit in Italy.

This gives you the same rights as an Italian citizen, such as the ability to live and work in other EU countries without a visa or work permit. You also become eligible for government benefits such as maternity or disability benefits.

In addition, after ten years of residence with a permanent residence permit in Italy, you can apply for Italian citizenship. 

We will remind you! Italy is a country with a high quality of life and a rich culture. Friendly population, developed transport infrastructure and high level of health care attract more and more expats here. Is it expensive to live in Spain? We have already told what the prices for housing, food, entertainment, etc. will be in Italy in 2024.

Igor Usyk - Head of Migration department at VisitWorld

To ensure a safe move to a new country, I advise you to consult a specialist. My colleagues, qualified specialists with a legal education, will help you avoid unpleasant situations during migration.