PRACTICAL INFO
Entry & Stay
Departure and stay formalities
before and upon arrival
Entry & Stay
Visa application can be made at the Italian Diplomatic and Consular Authorities in your country of residence.
The documentation required depends on the reasons and length of your stay. Availability of economic means, travel and accommodation arrangements will be asked.
Duration vs Validity of a visa
There are two timeframes for an entry visa:
- Duration is the actual maximum period of stay permitted
- Validity is the time within which the visa can be used.
Up to 90 days “Uniform Schengen Visa” (VSU) or Visa type C allows to enter Italy for transit or for short term stay and to access for a limited period of time any other Schengen countries. Likewise, a VSU issued by the diplomatic mission of another Schengen country allows access to Italian territory.
Longer than 90 days “National Visa” (NV) or Visa type D allows long-term stay in Italy provided that the request for a permit of stay is performed by 8 days from the arrival.
As long as it is valid, Visa type D allows free circulation for a period of no more than 90 days in any 180 day period in any other Member State.
Pay attention of the duration of visa type D: according to that, the first permit of stay will be issued accordingly.
Query the database Visa for Italy to get information about the visa you may need and the specif requirements for the application.
Contact the Italian Embassy or Consulates in your country of residence and cross-check the information with the local officer.
If possible, book an appointment at the Italian Embassy or Consulates well in advance to save time. Any missing documentation on the day of the appointment can be submitted later.
Passport validity must cover the entire period of stay in Italy and at least the 3 following months after your visa’s expiry date.
Things to know
Entry & Stay
Non EU citizens who stay in Italy for less than 90 days for study, research, tourism, business or visit purposes may be required to declare their presence.
For less than 90 days it is not requested to apply for a residence permit.
When is it required?
If you travel from a Schengen State and you stay by family members, relatives or friends, you must report your presence within 8 days after you have entered Italy by submitting the declaration of presence form (Dichiarazione di presenza) and the communication of the property disposal (Dichiarazione di ospitalità) to the local Police headquarter (Questura).
When is it NOT required?
When you stay in a hotel since there is a registration form you are asked to sign upon arrival. Please keep this always with you and show it to any police officer who should request it.
When you travel from a Non-Schengen State since your presence is registered by the border authorities.
Attention:
The Declaration is asked for family reunion when the request is processed in Italy (Family cohesion).
Schengen area countries are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Iceland, Norway, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Malta and Switzerland.
Declaration of presence must be made at the local Questura.
Things to know
Entry & Stay
Non EU/EEA citizen willing to stay in Italy for more than 90 days, must apply for a permit of stay.
The request for the residence permit must be done WITHIN 8 DAYS from the arrival in Italy. The permit will be issued by the local Questura – Ufficio immigrazione (Police headquarter – Immigration office) of the applicant’s place of residence.
The permit will be issued according to the duration and purpose of the visa (study, research, work, family, etc.).
How to apply for first issue/renewal?
The request kit ‘Richiesta di rilascio/rinnovo del permesso/carta di soggiorno per cittadini stranieri’ needs to be filled out. It is available at the post office for free. Documentation about proof of accommodation, means of subsistence, health coverage and any other papers according to the purpose of the stay (i.e. enrollment letter, work contract, research grant, etc.).
To fill out the request kit you can also get assistance at Patronato office.
Please contact us to get a list of Patronati providing assistance in english.
Where to apply?
The request kit has to be sent at the Post office by taking the number at the ticket system.
1. Application (at the Post Office)
- Fill out Mod 209 Form 1 and Form 2 (when requested) and add the revenue stamp. The kit can be fill out by yourself (you need first to collect it at the Post office) or by a Patronato – Welfare agency (the kit will be provided by Patronato);
- Enclose the documentation needed according to the type of permit in the open envelope (yellow strip) because you need to hand it in personally. Do NOT submit original documents in the post office application/kit, only copies.
- Bring your passport and visa with you, the revenure stamp and enough money to pay the application (if you pay cash).
- Go to a post office to send the kit and to make the payment by postal giro slip envisaging the cost of the electronic permit (€30,46 and the contribution fee according to the duration of the permit requested €40 or €50 or €100 (eg. click here to see a fac simile for one year permit filled out by e.g. Mrs Lucy Hu). For sending the kit you will be asked to pay €30 as postal fee.
- The post office will give you a communication receipt with date and time for the fingerprinting appointment at the local police headquarter (Questura).
Attention: Keep the receipt together with your passport, as this replaces your permit of stay until the original arrives.
2. Fingerprinting appointment (at Questura – Ufficio Immigrazione)
The appointment will be automatically taken by the Post office at the submission. On that day you need to have with you:
- 2 passport-size photographs on white background;
- the communication stating the appointment at Questura;
- your passport;
- the original documents that you have enclosed in the application kit
- any other papers you have missed to add with the application (e.g. italian codice fiscale, tenancy agreement).
If the documentation submitted was incomplete or wrongly filled out, you have 30 days time to bring or send by e-mail the missing documents.
3. Collect the permit (at Questura)
The request will be processed only when the documentation is fully completed.
You may check the status of your permit on Polizia di Stato website or on the Poste Italiane website.
Once you get the permit, it is possible to register at Ufficio Anagrafe (Registry Office) of the city you live in. For more information click here.
When to renew?
When the conditions are still met, the request should be madestarting from 60 days before the expiry date.
In the application kit remember to add also copy of the expiring permit.
Travelling conditions while waiting the permit
Please be aware of the travelling conditions in and out Italy and Schengen area while waiting for the first issue or the renewal.
Carta di soggiorno per familiari di cittadini Italiani o Eu
Cost of the residence permit:
€16 for the revenue stamp
€30.46 for the electronic permit
€30.00 for the postal fee
And an administrative contribution fee of:
- €40 for request of permit from 3 months up to one year
- €50 for request of permit from one year up to two years
- €100 for request of permit for more than 2 years and for managers
The total cost of the electronic permit (€30.46) and the administrative contribution fee have to be paid together by postal giro slip (the one provided in the kit).
Download the instructions on how to fill out the forms for the permit.
Check the status of your permit on Polizia di Stato website or on the Poste Italiane website.
Residence permit renewal should be made starting from 60 days before the expiry date.
Integration agreement
Foreigners entering Italy for the first time and applying fa permit of stay of one year or more must sign the Integration Agreement (Accordo di Integrazione). For more information please click here.
Things to know
Comune Municipality
Ufficio anagrafe
Registry Office
Poste italiane
Post Office
Travelling in and out Italy
and the Schengen area
In general when travelling in and out Italy you should check to have with you a valid passport and your residence permit (or the post office receipt if you are waiting for the first issue).
You will be asked to show them to the police officers at the Italian borders.
In general Non EU citizen can stay outside of Italy for a continuous period provided that it does not exceed half the duration of the residence permit.
The EU calculator tool works out when to enter again the Schengen area and how many days you are allowed to stay there.
Transits/Flight connections or Visiting other Schengen countries for a short stay when:
A. Waiting for the first issue (with a valid entry Visa):
- you are allowed to make flight connections or transit in the Schengen area provided that the entry visa (type D) is still valid.
- you are allowed to travel in the Schengen area for no more than 90 days in any 180 day period (the 180-day period considered always runs prior to the control date) provided that the entry visa (type D) is still valid.
Once in the country you may be asked to report the presence to the local police.
B. Waiting for the renewal or in case of conversion of the permit (when the Visa, type D, is expired):
- neither transits nor flight connections in the Schengen Area are allowed.
- you are allowed to travel directly from Italy to your country of origin/residence with the post office receipt by crossing different national borders (for example you can fly from Rome and enter Italy in Milan). Make sure to have with you the expiring permit of stay and the post office receipt.
C. Holding a valid residence permit
- you are allowed to make transit/flight connections or travel to any Schengen country and stay there for short visits no more than 90 days in any 180 day period (the 180-day period considered always runs prior to the control date) with the residence permit and the passport. Once in the country you may be asked to report the presence to the local police.
Schengen area countries
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Iceland, Norway, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Malta and Switzerland.
Things to know
Entry & Stay
Tax identification number (codice fiscale) is a unique 16-character alphanumeric code which identifies a citizen’s personal data.
E.g. this is the tax identification number of Mr Mario Rossi born in 1998: RSSMRA98S08H501H
It is required in Italy for all sort of procedures, e.g. opening a bank account, applying for the national health service, renting a flat etc.
It is valid only when issued and certified by Agenzia delle Entrate (Italian Inland Revenue) and does not expire. If you have already lived, worked or studied in Italy you should have already received it!
How much does it cost?
It is free of charge.
How to apply?
If you are a student, PhD student or a researcher, please get in touch with your host institution.
Documentation required:
- Eu citizens must show a valid Passport or another ID document (for verification).
- Non Eu citizens must show a valid Passport and Visa (for verification), Copy of passport (with the personal data and copy of the visa).
The tax number may be issued also by Italian Consulates abroad. Please check the Consulate website in the country you reside to get more information.
To be valid the tax number must be issued by Agenzia delle Entrate or by Italian Embassy/Consulate.
If you are coming with family members (minors) and they need to apply for tax identification code, please make sure to have with you also documents issued by the competent authority about you family status that should be translated in Italian (this can be done also in Italy at the local Courthouse) or in original language provided that it shows the apostillae.
Things to know
Entry & Stay
When to register
Registering your residence in Italy is asked when staying more than 90 days. All citizens (Eu and Non Eu) are advised to register if they are going to stay more than 1 year.
Please note that tenants have to inform landlord before moving their residence!
When is the permanent registration required?
It is required for several formalities such as registering (on a voluntary basis) with the National Health System (SSN), applying for family reunion (only Non EU citizen), exchanging driving license, enrolling children at school, claiming for family benefit, applying for ISEE certificate, applying for the EU long-term residence permit (Non EU citizen only) or for Italian citizenship.
If you register, remember to write your name on your door bell and on your mail-box!
When moving from Italy, all citizens (EU and Non UE) are required to inform the Registry office about and cancel from the Registry office (permanent or temporary) before they leave.