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Residence permit

EU Citizens

If you are an EU citizen or come from EFTA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), you must not apply for a residence permit. However, if you are going to stay in Italy for over a 3 months period, you should register with the Anagrafe (Register office) of your municipality of residence.

Non-EU citizens

If you are a non-EU citizen, once in Italy you must apply for the residence permit in the city where you’ll be living within 8 working days after your arrival.

1. Residence permit application

You can apply at the post office of your city of residence in Italy. At the post office you will be provided with a kit containing the application form (Modulo 1) and a bollettino postale, which will allow you to perform the payment.

You will have to fill out both with your personal information. Check the instructions here: https://www.portaleimmigrazione.it/Download_Italiano.aspx 

Along with the application form, you must also attach the following documents:

  • Copy of your passport (personal details and entry stamp into Italy).
  • Copy of your entry visa.
  • Copy of your health insurance policy; health insurance bought abroad must be validated by the Italian Embassy in your country (if not already in English). You can also buy health insurance upon your arrival in Italy.
  • If already enrolled in a University course: the University Letter of acceptance or enrollment certificate.
  • If not yet enrolled in a University course: the summary of your pre-enrollment application submitted and validated through the Universitaly.it portal.

2. Purchasing the “Marca da bollo”

Purchase a €16 marca da bollo in any Tabaccheria: these are little shops that can be found in any city and that sell cigarettes, stamps and offer a variety of services.

3. Submitting the application

Return to a Post Office to submit your application.

You will have to hand in all the documents previously mentioned and to pay €70,46 (the production cost of your permit) and a service fee of €30.

At the Post Office you will receive:

  • a receipt that certifies your residence permit request: this is very important and you should have it with you at all times, as it will be a valid substitute until you will receive the actual permit of stay;
  • an appointment at the Ufficio Immigrazione (immigration office) at the local Questura (central police station) to go and collect your residence permit.

More information on residence permits and on offices authorized to provide them may be obtained at police headquarters (Questure) or by consulting the website www.portaleimmigrazione.it.

4. Obtaining your permit of stay

When you go to your appointment at the Questura make sure to bring with you:

  • your passport
  • 4 passport-size photographs (identical)
  • the original application receipt you received at the Post Office
  • the confirmation of your appointment at the Questura
  • the original copy of the documents you included in your application

To track the progress of your residence permit application after your appointment at the Questura, you may input either the code assigned to your file during the appointment or the tracking number from the registered mail (the password found on the receipt provided by the post office) on the State Police website.

When your residence permit is ready to be collected, you will receive an email and a text message.