How to Obtain Permanent Residency in Italy

Created: Nov 30, 2023 | Updated: Jan 12, 2024

Italy is a rather beautiful country, with its rich history, art, and architecture, captivating visitors with its timeless beauty. The warmth and passion of the Italian people create an inviting and friendly atmosphere, making travellers feel welcome in their vibrant communities. Hence, it rakes in over 120,000 immigrants a year. If you’re reading this, then you’re probably planning on becoming one soon. In today’s article, we’ll talk about the different types of Italian residence permits, the paperwork you need to obtain them and how you can become a permanent resident in the land of pasta.

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What is a Residence Permit?

A residence permit is an official document issued by a country's government that authorizes a foreigner to live in that country for a specific period. It grants the individual the legal right to reside within the country's borders and may also include permission to work, study, or engage in other specified activities. Residence permits are typically required for individuals who plan to stay in a foreign country for an extended duration, beyond what is allowed by a standard visitor visa. 

In Italy, non-EU nationals who want to stay longer than three months need to apply for an Italian long-stay visa and an Italian Residence Permit (Permesso di Soggiorno) within 8 days of arriving in the country. Regardless of what you want to do in Italy, you must apply for a residence permit.

There are two types of Italian residency permits. They include:

• The temporary residence permit
• The permanent residence permit
  
   

The Temporary Italian Residency Permit

As its name implies, the temporary residency permit gives you only a limited time in Italy, and your purpose will determine the length of your stay. 

• Work-related Permits: These permits are often tied to the duration of an employment contract or a specific work assignment. The Italian residency permit for seasonal work is valid for six months except in specific sectors which extends to nine months.
   
• Study Permits: Temporary residency permits for foreign students in Italy are typically granted for one year or the duration of the academic program and may include some additional time for students to find employment or make arrangements to leave the country after completing their studies. 
   
• Family Reunification: This permit is for reuniting separated family members, and is valid for two years.
  
  
   

Benefits of a Temporary Italian Residency Permit

• A person with a temporary Italian residency permit has the right to work in Italy. 
   
• Your permit also gives you the freedom to visit other European Union countries.
   
• It creates a clear path to getting a permanent residency permit. 
  
   

How to get a Temporary Italian Residency Permit
 

1. Pick an Italian Residence Permit Application Tool Kit: Italy has a tool kit that helps you with your temporary residence permit application. Once you arrive in Italy, you have eight days to pick up this kit and begin your application. Find a local post office near you with a Sportello Amico counter that offers this kit and get one. The Italian residence permit kit comes in the form of an envelope with the required forms that you have to fill out.
    
2. Complete the Forms in the Tool Kit: Fill each form with the correct information. They will be in Italian so if you can’t speak the language yet, find a professional translator in Italy to help you translate. 
   Next, you have to buy the Marca da Bollo stamp that is specified in your kit. This stamp is to be attached to your application before you can submit it. You can find this stamp at a tabaccheria and it costs about €16.
    
3. Submit the Forms With the Required Documentation: After you have completed the forms, you have to attach photocopies of a number of required documents to them.
   
   These documents include: 
   - Four passport photographs in line with the Italian visa photo requirements. 
   - Your valid passport.
   - Documents about your purpose in Italy i.e. proof of employment or enrollment.
   - Documents you submitted in your visa application in your home country.
   - Proof of private health insurance from an Italian licensed company.
   
   All documents must be legalised/apostilled and translated into Italian for them to be accepted in Italy. For this part of the process to be properly taken care of, You should employ the services of a  certified translation company in Italy
   
   After gathering all these, take them back to the Sportello Amico and submit them there. You don’t need to submit the originals of your documents, but you have to take them along in case the authorities need to see them.
   
   Do not sign the application or seal the envelope so that the officers handling your application can review it first. If everything is in order, you will be given a letter that includes your appointment date for when you have to appear at the local police headquarters (Questura) for the next phase of your application. Since the Questra appointment is usually 1-2 months away, you will be given a receipt, which will serve as a temporary residence permit. Do not lose this receipt and carry it with you everywhere so you can prove that you are in the process of getting your proper permit. 
    
4. Visit the Questura: On your appointment day, bring the originals of all the documents you submitted a few months earlier at the post office as well as the temporary receipt and the letter with your appointment date. You will submit the original copies here. 
   
   At the Questra, your fingerprints will be taken and you may be asked some questions, then you will be told when you can come back for your temporary Italian residency permit or have it mailed to you.  
    

What is the Cost of a Temporary Italian Residency Permit?

Getting a temporary Italian residence permit will cost €40 for stays between 3 and 12 months and €50 for stays between 12 and 24 months. Additionally, the cost of the electronic card is €30.46, the application stamp is €16.00 and the mailing fee is €30.00.

 

Renewing Your Temporary Italian Residency Permit

Renewing your temporary Italian residence permit follows the same approach as when you initially applied. You will pick up a new kit at the post office, fill and submit the documents there, visit the police station and submit the necessary original documents along with your receipt for your permit application and your expiring or expired permit. 

When this is done, all you have to do is wait for your new permit to be processed. You can track the progress of your permit renewal. You will receive a text message informing you to pick it up when it is ready. Take your passport, receipts and expired permit as identification when going to pick it up.

 

 

The Permanent (Long-Term) Italian Residency Permit 

The permanent Italian residency permit, also known as the long-term permit or the EU  long-term Residence Permit gives you a long-term stay in Italy. Any non-EU foreign national can get a permanent Italian residency permit (soggiorno permanente) if they have legally lived in the country for at least five years and have met all other requirements. The family members of the main applicant can also apply for this permit. 

 

Benefits of a Permanent Italian Residency Permit

• You get more time to explore a variety of landscapes, including lakes, mountains, seas, and vineyards.
   
• You will experience the Italian way of life where people are generally easygoing.
   
• Families will benefit from a family-first mentality, emphasizing the importance of family bonds and relationships.
   
• You can enroll young children in state schools for free, ensuring access to quality education.
   
• Access to public healthcare services, contributing to the well-being of you and your family.
   
• Eligibility for state benefits like maternity and disability benefits, providing financial support during specific life events.
   
• If you earn money from outside Italy, you can benefit from a flat tax of €100,000 per year, offering a simplified and predictable tax structure.
   
• Italy's strategic location and connectivity make it easy to travel to other European countries, enhancing your ability to explore neighbouring regions.
   
• A permanent Italian residency permit grants you similar rights to Italian citizens. This includes the ability to live and work in other EU countries without a visa or work permit.
  
   

How to get a Permanent Italian Residency Permit as a Non-EU National

As we said earlier, residents who have continuously lived in Italy with a temporary permit for at least 5 years can apply for a Long-Term Permit. Applying for this permit is not mandatory, however, it allows you to live in Italy without having to always renew your regular residence card (permesso di soggiorno provvisorio).

The documents  you will need to submit include:

• A Valid identification or passport.
• Your Italian tax number.
• Proof of suitable residence for the qualifying period.
• Proof of sufficient income no lower than the annual amount of the welfare allowance.
• Police clearance certificates.
• Proof you passed the Italian language test (A2 level equivalent).
• Proof of health insurance.
• Proof of fee payment.
   

1. The first step is to apply at any of these locations:
   - Local post offices. 
   - Local police headquarters. 
   - Selected municipalities.
   - Selected patronage institutes. 
    
2. If you choose to apply at the local post office, you’ll need to collect the “yellow kit” there, fill out the forms in the kit and file it at the post office.
    
3. The post office will process your application and book an appointment for you with the Italy immigration office (Ufficio Immigrazione). At the police station, you need to provide your photo and fingerprints. Children from 12 and under do not need to give their prints.
   
    
4. The application usually takes between 60 days to 6 months to process, depending on the situation at hand. If your application is successful, book an appointment to collect your Electronic Identity Card.

 

Cost of a Permanent Italian Residency Permit

The cost of applying for a permanent Italian residence permit is €176.46; €100 for the application, an additional charge of €30.46 for the electronic card, €16.00 for the application stamp and €30.00 for the mailing fee.

In some cases, you are exempt from paying the additional fee if you’re:

• A minor.
• A refugee, asylum seeker, or stateless person.
• A beneficiary of special protection.
• Receiving medical treatment.
• A holder of an existing EU long-term permit.

The Electronic card (CIE) has a fixed cost of €16.79, although certain municipalities have additional administration charges. 

 

Renewing Your Permanent Italian Residency Permit

A permanent Italian residence permit does not expire. As long as you don’t break the rules of your permit, you can stay in Italy. However, your Electronic residence card will have a best-before date, depending on your age: 

• A minor child before the age of 3: Valid for three years
• A minor aged between three and 18: Valid for five years
• An adult over the age of 18: Valid for 10 years

In these situations, your card needs to be replaced 3–6 months before it expires. To do this, you will follow a  procedure similar to when you first applied. Submit an application at the local post office or police headquarters, fill in the needed documentation and pay the expected fees of about €76.

 

Italian Permanent Residence for Family Members

If you are an EU/EFTA national or you have a permanent residence permit, you can invite relatives from selected third countries to join you in Italy. If you have family members from the EU/EFTA they do not need a visa and can move to Italy without any hindrance. 

Non-EU/EFTA relatives, on the other hand, need to apply for a family visa. They can apply for a permanent residence permit in their own right, as soon as the five-year residency requirement has passed.

 

Losing Your Permanent Residence Rights in Italy

Although not impossible, it is quite difficult to lose a permanent residence status in Italy. Your permanent residency can be taken away when you:

• Leave the country for more than six continuous years.
• Leave the EU region for 12 consecutive months.
• Have a similar residence permit in another EU member state.
• Commit a crime.
• Have personal prevention measures taken against you.

In some cases such as having a similar residence permit in another EU member state, leaving the country for more than six continuous years or leaving the EU region for 12 consecutive months, you can still apply for your Italian permanent residence permit again but you would have to start the process from the beginning. This means you will need to wait five years again as a temporary resident. 

 

Reasons why you may be Refused an Italian Permanent Residence Permit

Reasons that could disqualify you from getting an Italian Permanent Residence permit include:

• Your application is considered fraudulent or inaccurate.
• You are in Italy for study or vocational training. Although, you can apply for permanent residency once you have finished your studies.
• You are under temporary special protection.
• You are considered a danger to public order or state security.
• Previous violations of Italian immigration laws, such as overstaying a visa or working illegally, may result in a refusal.
• Posing a threat to public health, particularly if suffering from a contagious disease.
• You have a short-term temporary residence permit.
• You don’t meet the Italian residency requirements to gain the permit.
  
   

How Can Translayte Simplify the Process?

The road to securing permanent residency in Italy is filled with both challenges and rewards. Understanding the immigration process can be made smoother with the right guidance and support. At Translayte, we understand the stakes involved in obtaining a residence permit, and we are committed to assisting you every step of the way. Our team of experts is well-versed in the nuances of Italian immigration policies as it concerns official and sworn translations in Italy, offering personalized assistance to make your transition seamless.

With Translayte, you will have access to sworn translators in Italy that are qualified and enrolled with Italian courts. Our services are easy to order and delivered quickly, with 100% guaranteed acceptance within Italy.

Sworn translations provided by us are accepted by the Ministero degli Affari Esteri (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Ministero dell'Interno (Ministry of the Interior), Agenzia delle Entrate (Revenue Agency) and other Italian institutions, such as Universities, Banks, and Courts. We accept documents online in PDF, JPEG and Word formats.

Let Translayte be your trusted partner in realizing your dream of calling Italy your permanent home.

 

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