How to get a “Permit to Stay” in Italy
For non EU citizens:
- You need a visa first. You apply for that at the Italian Consulate in your jurisdiction in your home country. See the website for the consulate in your jurisdiction for more info.
- Upon arrival in Italy apply for a permit to stay. (permesso di soggiorno)
- Within 20 days of receiving the permit, go to the Anagrafe (vital statistics bureau) where you reside, to apply for a “certificate of residency.” This is different from permanent residency which we’ll talk about in later posts.
My process and what you can learn from it:
Back in February I was granted a visa to reside in Italy. Obtaining this was no easy feat. I gathered documents for months, and struggled to get clear information about what the Italian Consulate would need from me as they did not grant me responses to my emails. Using the expat forums for information, I managed to be well-prepared and the consulate granted me the visa.
But my slog through the process of becoming a legal resident in Italy had only just begun.
The next step was to present myself at Lucca’s police office within 8 days of my arrival.
I dutifully presented myself at the questura (police station) to a man in uniform who had exceptionally deep green eyes. I tried not to be mesmerized as he explained to me that I needed to go around the corner to the immigration office.
In the small immigration office (which seemed too small to deal with the amount of hopeful African immigrants in there) I repeated my objective to a man behind a window. He went to his computer, typed out a sentence, printed it, and handed it to me.
“deve fare richiesta di permesso di soggiorno utilizzando kit postale da ritirare negli uffici postali.”
(Go to the post office and ask for a “kit”)
He told me there was nothing else I needed to do, and just to be sure to apply for the permesso before my 3 months was up. (The 3 months that Americans are granted in Italy via the Schengen Agreement.)
As is often the case, the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing because in fact you are supposed to apply for the permit to stay within 8 days of arrival.
Now, a word about filling out this “kit” which is only in Italian:
I had looked at blog posts that provide instructions for filling it out, and even watched a YouTube video about how to fill it out. But still, I was unsure what answer to give on some of it, like what was the port of entry? I had landed in Zurich before flying on to Firenze and it was in Zurich where my passport was stamped, not in Firenze, so which was the port of entry? A few particulars like this were not answered by the blog posts and the video.
Then were was a pesky receipt attached to the kit where I was supposed to fill in an amount. But I had no idea what the amount might be.
The kit was supposed to be turned in at the post office so I went there, and after waiting in line, I explained that my kit was almost all filled out but… I did not get very far as the woman immediately told me she could only accept a completed kit and could not provide any answers, nor could she tell me what amount I needed to write on the receipt.
She then said something that turned out to be extremely useful.
“Go to INAC and get help from them.”
“Huh? What’s INAC?”
“A place that helps immigrants.”
I found an INAC location and despite my lack of appointment, I was seen, and helped.
WOW.
This guy took one look at my “filled-in-by-hand” kit and said, “I’m going re-do all this on the computer.”
He proceeded to copy of all it into an online form, and he knew the right answer for the port of entry and he knew the amount to write on the receipt. Yay!
He told me when I turned in the kit at the post, I’d be given a date for my permesso appointment at the questura. He warned me to keep the appointment receipt as I’d need to present it at the appointment. He went over the documents I’d need to bring with me to the questura and told me to bring 4 passport sized photos.
This service is brilliant! Not only is it free, it takes all the worry out of your hands.
I was stumped as to how I had not heard of INAC– no blog post I’d read about the mystifying process of the permesso di soggiorno and the filling out of the forms had mentioned this service.
I’m telling you, once you get the kit, google INAC, find your local office, and use their services! It takes a ton of stress out of the process!
When I turned in my kit at the post office, they asked for 30.50 Euro (the amount on the receipt that goes to the ministry of economy and finance) and an additional 30 Euro as payment for the kit.
The appointment I got for the permesso was only 3 weeks away. In a larger city it WILL be longer– probably many months out. There is something to be said for moving to a smaller town– the questura will be less inundated, and the people working there will probably be more friendly.
The take away from this post:
INAC is your friend and you should use them for filling out the “kit”
For more info on becoming legal in Italy go to post #2
Pat S Conti says
Most helpful, thanks! I collected forms for years in order to submit my citizenship application. Now I’m waiting for the italian embassy in DC to kindly acknowledge my three email requests for an appointment to present my application. They don’t even acknowledge receipt! A little infuriating.
Shani says
Consulates are under contracted timelines. After hearing a recording stating they will return messages within three business days. After waiting two weeks for a reply, I politely reminded my local consulate office of the timeline and I received a response the following day. I can’t say it will work every time, but it is worth noting in your communications.
Chandi Wyant says
Shani, how did you remind them? By email?
Chandi Wyant says
Yes, in my experience too I found that the consulate did not reply to emails even though their site says that they do. It is unfortunate as it adds stress to the process.
Ilene says
We applied Nov. 2015 for dual citizenship after Years Of Getting Our Papers IN order. We are still waiting.
Chandi Wyant says
Oh gosh, that’s a long wait. I’ve been envious of people who qualify for Italian citizenship, but in the end I wonder if your wait will be about the same as mine. Now that I have a visa and I’m on the permesso process, I can get residency after renewing my permesso for 5 years. I guess that’s not as good though as citizenship.
Nancy says
Good, clear informative post. I’m sure it will be used often. I’m going to link to you from my blog. I’ve been in Umbria for three years. If you’d like to link back to my blog it’s nancygoestoitaly.com
I try to post things helpful to non-EU folks coming here. Plus my everyday activities. Funny how people want to know what we folks living here do everyday!????
Nancy
Chandi Wyant says
Thanks Nancy for linking to this. I will be happy to link to your blog too–I don’t currently have a blog roll on this site but I can mention your site on my Facebook page.
Leslie says
Hi
What did you end up using for you point of entry – Zurich or Firenze?
And what did you end up putting as the amount?
thanks
Chandi Wyant says
Hi Leslie,
Point of entry was Florence and the amount was Euro 30.46 — that was just one fee among many!
But fees change so I encourage you to get help from INAC for filling out the forms and they’ll know what the current amount is. Then after your visit to INAC, you can go to a Tabacchi to pay the amount and get the marca da bolo.
Leslie says
Thanks Chandi. I was stumbling over the port of entry question also – Amsterdam or Rome. Glad to now know the answer.
Chandi Wyant says
Sure, happy to help. Keep in mind that in some cases, each questura will have a mind of its own…they won’t always be in sync with one another…
A dig says
Hi I googled INAC but couldn’t find anything relevant. What does INAC stand for?
Chandi Wyant says
INAC means instituto nazionale assistenza cittadini. It is a social service that helps with unemployment and things like that and also is committed to helping all foreigners with immigration. It is also known as Patronato, so you can try googling that too.
virginia Mastroianni says
Hello!
What does INAC stand for??? I googled it and nothing definitive came up.
I am moving to Rome from the US November 16, 2017. I will be in a small town Gerano, RM. Do all post offices have these kits? I already have my Codice Fiscale.
My second appointment with the Italian Consulate in Los Angeles is September 8.
I have a one year lease in English and Italian signed by the owner of the place I will be renting. And updated letters from bank accounts showing direct monthly deposits. Is there a way to obtain a permesso kit in advance so my friends who actually speak Italian can help me fill it out? Thank you!!
Chandi Wyant says
Hi Virginia,
Congrats on your planned move to Italia!
INAC means instituto nazionale assistenza cittadini. It is a social service that helps with unemployment and things like that and also is committed to helping all foreigners with immigration.
If Gerano is in the comune of Roma, which I think is what you’re indicating, then you would go here:
VIA EDOARDO D’ONOFRIO 57 00155 ROMA
UFFICIO REGIONALE
0640500653
inaclazio@cia.it
Or here:
VIA E. D’ONOFRIO 67 00155 ROMA
UFFICIO PROVINCIALE
0640800610
inacroma.direttore@cia.it
If it’s in a different comune, let me know and I’ll get you the INAC office for that comune.
Most post offices have kits. For example, I am in the countryside outside of Lucca and my local post is tiny, but they had the kit. There isn’t really a way to get the kit in advance unless you have someone in Italy mail one to you. However, the people at INAC are going to be more well-versed in filling it out than your friends. Before I learned about INAC I had my Italian landlord help me fill it out, thinking he’d somehow know how to do it and he was just guessing. Once I showed the filled out forms to the guy at INAC I saw that my landlord had got things wrong.
So, my best recommendation is to go to an INAC office once you arrive.
Are you aware that your lease must be registered with the Agenzia delle Entrate? Your landlord/lady must do that, and send you a copy of the registration. Your consulate will ask for it. (I mean it would be very unusual if the consulate did ask for it!)
It’s great that you already have the codice fiscale, as your landlord/lady will need that number when he/she registers the lease.
Stay in touch and let me know how it goes. 🙂
Deb says
Fyi, I also needed to provid a copy (front and back) of my lanlord’s Italian Identity Card to the Consolato. If the
And lord was not Italian, I would have has to provide a copy of his passport and Residencey permit.
Chandi Wyant says
Hi Deb, that is interesting. My consulate did not ask for that.
Teresa Schmidt says
What consulate did you get your visa at?
Deb says
I can’t find the NIAC office in Lucca. Can you give me specifics?
Chandi Wyant says
Deb, google Patronato INAC and you’ll see them. There is one on Via delle Tagliate,and one across from Via Cimitero on Via Statale 12.
Mat says
Chandi, you are a legend. Your information stream is great and your responses patient and a bullseye.
My girlfriend now has residency and I am applying for it to. I’m Australian with no ties to Italy, so I imagine I’ll be trafficking your site often! ????
Chandi Wyant says
Ciao Mat, Glad you are finding the posts helpful! Were are you guys living?
Alon says
Hi,
Great article.
I should be getting my self-employed visa in 2 days, and I have 1 question:
Do I have some control over my appointment date at the Questura?
Because after i return to Italy and send the kit postale, about 10 days later I need to leave italy for 5 days. And I need to know now if i can buy my plane tickets or if the appointment could fall on these dates…
Chandi Wyant says
When you are at the post office is when you will be given your appointment day/time, and if it doesn’t suit you, they won’t be able to do anything about changing it there at the post but you can then go to the questura (try to go toward the time they close which should be after their “rush”) and you can try asking them about changing it. But overall I’d say that you don’t have much control.