In 2007, Italy updated and simplified the process of applying for residency. Comprehensive information on "The New Procedure" (applicable to both EU and non-EU citizens) is available in English on the immigration website, Portale Immigrazione: Click here

Below you will find information on:

Legal Requirements to Enter Italy

The legal requirements for visiting or staying in Italy depend on citizenship - European Union (EU) or non-European Union (EU) citizen - reason for entry into Italy and intended duration of the stay.

• The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministerio degli Affari Esteri) website gives information for all non-Italian citizens travelling to Italy for long or short term, on visa (visto) and documentation requirements (and the cost) appropriate to the purpose of the stay: Click here

EU-citizens do not require a visa to enter in Italy, regardless of the planned duration of the stay. 

All non-EU citizens require a visa for a stay of longer than three months (90 days). The home country Italian Embassy can provide guidance on the type of visa required and the documents needed for the application. The visa must be inserted into the passport before leaving for Italy. 

Tourists & Residents

Under Italian law, every foreigner in Italy is considered to be either a tourist or a resident. As a rule, a tourist is a foreigner staying in Italy for less than three months. People coming on a business trip, students enrolled in short courses, people doing research on their own, for example, are considered to be tourists, as long as the stay does not exceed three months.

Note: As of May 28, 2007, all non-residents from non-Schengen countries (including Canada and the United States) are required to complete a Declaration of Presence (Dichiarazione di Presenza). Obtain and complete the Declaration of Presence at the airport on the day of arrival. Tourists arriving from a Schengen-country can request the form from a local police station (commissariato di zona or questura) and submit it to the police within eight business days of arrival. It is important to keep a copy of the receipt issued by the Italian authorities. Failure to submit a Declaration of Presence within eight days is punishable by expulsion from Italy. 

• Additional information can be found (in Italian only) at the Italian Immigration website: Click here 
• And, at the Italian State Police website: Click here 

Residents

A resident is anyone who plans to stay in Italy for more than three months. Foreigners working in Italy, seasonal workers, students enrolled in full-time education for a full academic year, or those who wish to live in Italy are considered to be residents. Residents require a permit.

• Permesso di Soggiorno (permit to stay): required by non-EU citizens, has an expiry date, is renewable, and is issued (with varying durations of validity) for the first six years of residence in Italy
• Carta di Soggiorno (Non-EU permanent residence card): issued for an indefinite period, after the sixth year of residence in Italy 
• Carta di Soggiorno Cittadini U.E. (EU citizens permanent residence card): issued to EU citizens and their immediate family and dependents who intend to stay in Italy longer than three months

The Italian Immigration authority (Portale Immigrazione) provides comprehensive information in English for EU and non-EU citizens and their family members.

• To access this information: Click here
• Call Centre
  Tel: 800 309 309 (for general information) 
  Open: 24 hours (information in English)

EU Nationals Moving to Italy

European Union citizens (cittadini comunitari) may enter Italy with a national identity card or valid passport. EU nationals who move to Italy to live, work or study for longer than three months have the right to residency and may apply for a permanent residence card, the Carta di Soggiorno Cittadini U.E. from their commune. This card will be necessary for several important transactions including buying a car in Italy.

The family members (spouse, children, parents and dependents) of an EU citizen in employment in Italy are automatically entitled to residency. Non-working EU citizens and their family are entitled to residence cards if they register with the national health service or have independent health insurance and can show sufficient economic resources. 

The Carta di Soggiorno 

The process has recently been simplified. Once the application has been filed and approved the municipality will issue the certificate for the right to reside. In future this certificate may be replaced by a microchip on the ID card.

In most circumstances, applications for the issue of a residence card may be made at a post office with a Sportello Amico counter using the blue kit. Otherwise, apply at the local municipality or trade union office. 

• Use the "Search Structure" menu on the left hand column to find a local office: Click here

• Details in English from Poste Italiane: Click here (PDF)

EU citizens applications 

The following documents are required when applying for a residence card:

• valid passport
• date of arrival in Italy and reason for stay
• details of spouse and dependant family members if residence cards is needed for them

People in employment need also supply: 

• Employee: declaration from the employer or a copy of the job contract
• Self-employed person: authorisation from the Chamber of Commerce
• Four recent, passport photographs

Further documentation may be required for students.

The Carta di Soggiorno is issued by the Commune of residence.

• Detailed information from the State Police: Click here (in Italian)
• To view the application form: Click here (PDF in Italian)

Non-EU Citizens' Visa

Many non-EU citizens (cittadini extracomunitari) require a visa to enter Italy and all non-EU citizens intending to stay in the country longer than 90 days need one. There are many different types of visa depending on what the applicant wishes to do in Italy. The application must be made in the country of origin or residence. Applications can be submitted at the Italian Embassy in the applicant's home country:

• United States of America

• Canada

• Australia

• New Zealand

• South Africa 

Entry requirements vary depending on the person's country of origin and residence.

• Use the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministerio degli Affari Esteri) interactive website to determine individual visa requirement and information: Click here
• To find where to apply for a visa for Italy: Click here 

For non-EU/EEA citizens, a Schengen Visa simplifies travel throughout Europe. This visa allows for travel throughout the 15 countries in the Schengen Area, without the need to obtain separate visas for each country. The Schengen Visa allows the holder freedom of movement between the Schengen countries, but does not allow for a stay of over 90 days.

• For more information: Click here 

Note: Non-EU nationals who are married to an Italian citizen generally do not need a visa; the Police Headquarters will issue a stay permit valid also for work, based on proof of marriage.

Non-EU Citizens' Permit To Stay (Permesso di Soggiorno)

Non-EU citizens in Italy for over 90 days require a "stay permit" (Permesso di Soggiorno). This is a permit to stay in the country and not a residence card; it is not obligatory for a foreigner to have residency in Italy provided they have a valid stay permit and are therefore registered in the commune.

There are a variety of permits, each specific to individual circumstances. It is important that the permit type correlates with the intentions of the permit holder; if the applicant has a visa, the two must correlate (student, not working, employed and so on). The Permesso di Soggiorno has a limited period of validity which matches the purpose for stay. Permits can be renewed.

The following are the most commonly-issued stay permits:

• Permesso di Soggiorno per coesione familiare: permit for the foreign spouse and children of an Italian citizen
• Permesso di Soggiorno per lavore: work permit for employees
• Permesso di Soggiorno per lavoro autonomo/indipendente: permit for self-employed workers
• Permesso di Soggiorno per turismo: permit for tourists (anyone visiting for more than a week, who isn't staying in a hotel, official campsite or boarding house) 
• Permesso di Soggiorno per studio: student permit
• Permesso di Soggiorno per ricongiungimento familiare: permit for the family and dependent parents of foreigners married to Italian citizens
• Permesso di Soggiorno per dimora: for foreigners who are establishing residence in Italy and who are not planning on working

Application for the Permesso di Soggiorno can be made at the local post office, trade union or municipality office (until mid-2007 this was done at the local Police Headquarters, or Questura) in person, within eight days of arriving in Italy. The application can take up to three months to process.

• To find the local police headquarters: Click here
• Full details from the state police: Click here (in Italian)

Stay permit application

The following are generally required to make the application:

• Completed application form (form is available from the Police Headquarters)
• Valid passport, plus photocopy of the photograph page and visa page if applicable
• Four, identical, recent passport photographs 
• Tax stamp (marca da bollo), available at tobacconists and post offices

In addition to the above, the applicant should supply further documents specific to the reason for stay:

• Tourism (retired, not active):
  • Proof of health insurance
  • Proof of financial resources 
• Job seeker:
  • Proof of registration with the employment centre
• Study:
  • Proof of health insurance
  • Acceptance letter from the school or university
• Employed: 
  • Declaration from a prospective employer/current employer
  • Detailed information from the State Police: Click here (in Italian)
• Self-employed:
  • VAT registration number
  • Authorisation from the Chamber of Commerce (proof of appropriate licence and registration if it's a regulated profession or proof of commercial registration if appropriate)
  • Detailed information from the State Police: Click here (in Italian)
• Family reasons:
  • Details of spouse and dependents (marriage certificate, birth certificates)
  • Detailed information from the State Police: Click here (in Italian)

Official translations may be required for certain documents, confirm this in advance.

Renewing stay permits

The permit to stay should be renewed at least a month in advance of expiry. The documents required may be the same as for the initial application including a new batch of recent photographs. Renewal is made at the Police Headquarters of the place of residence. 

Renewals may be valid for different lengths of time depending on how long the person has been in Italy. After the sixth year of residence the foreigner may request a Carta di Soggiorno which is a permit allowing the holder to stay for an indefinite period.

Applying for a permanent residence card

The Permesso di Soggiorno CE is a permanent residence card (Carta di Soggiorno) for non-EU citizens. 

In order to obtain the residence card the foreigner must possess a valid stay permit, proof of financial independence (salary or savings) sufficient for all dependents and proof of accommodation. The card must be applied for at a Sportello Amico counter at a post office, using the yellow kit, or at a municipal office or trade union office. 

• Use the "Search Structure" menu on the left hand column to find a local office: Click here

The following documents are required when applying for a Residence Card:

• Valid passport (with copies)
• Copy of the income tax return or the form 101 issued by the employer, relating to the previous year, to prove that the income is not less than the annual amount of the welfare payments
• Certificate from the criminal records office 
• Proof of living in the country during the six year period (attestation from employers or proof of accommodation)
• Four recent, passport-size photographs

If the application is to include a spouse and dependent children (under the age of 18 years) further documents must be produced:

• Proof of marriage and birth certificates (officially translated if not in Italian)
• Proof of "healthy" accommodation (a certificate of inspection from commune health authorities)

The applicant will receive a receipt for documents submitted. If all conditions are met, the residence card will be issued within 90 days; the immigration office will schedule a time for collection. The permit is valid for an unlimited period although the card will be subject to renewal after six years. This is a formality - the existing Carta di Soggiorno is simply stamped.

Frontier Workers

Frontier workers (those working in Italy but living outside of the country) do not need a stay permit but must apply for a frontier worker's card at the police headquarters nearest their work place. 

Necessary documents: 

• proof of employment status 
• proof of residence abroad

Paperwork Assistance

"Document agencies", or certificati, agenzie in the yellow pages (Pagine Gialle), are companies who deal with obtaining and completing documents and will make applications for newcomers.

Further Information

• Detailed information from the Polizia de Stato: Click here
• Article on the Carta di Soggiorno from Stranieri in Italia: Click here (in Italian)
• Poliza del Stato, immigration pages 
• Immigrazioni Oggi (Immigration Today)
• Poste Italiane brochure Guide for the Issue and Renewal of Residence cards (PDF) 
• The EU website, Europa, provides a general guide for EU citizens moving between EU countries and gives a checklist of things to do: Click here 
• Information on the Permesso di Soggiorno from the AngloINFO EU Factsheets
• UK citizens and those living in the UK can find advice from the Italian Embassy in London
• American nationals can apply for visas and information at the Italian Embassy in Washington 
• Canadian citizens can get help and advice from the Italian Embassy in Ottawa
• Australian citizens can contact the Italian Embassy to Australia

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