The Questura and the residence permit in Italy

For paid employment (lavoro subordinato) and self-employment (lavoro autonomo) via a nulla osta under the decreto flussi or for qualified professionals and the EU Blue Card.

• For study (studio) through the university, for vocational training, and for scientific research.
• For family reunion (ricongiungimento familiare) for the spouse, minor children and parents under income and housing conditions.
• For family with an Italian or EU citizen.
• For international protection: asylum (asilo), subsidiary protection and special protection.
• And residence for humanitarian or health reasons or for victims of exploitation, trafficking and violence.
• And elective residence for pensioners under income conditions.
• Each category regulates its procedures, duration and fees, so check the suitable route and ask a specialised organisation.
• And rules change under recent laws.

After obtaining the entry visa for work, study or family reunion, you arrive in Italy and apply within eight working days.

• You take the kit postale from a post office (Sportello Amico) and fill it in and put in the documents: passport and its copy, photos, proof of purpose (work contract or university admission or family documents), proof of housing (rental contract or declaration), the fee payment slip (such as a 16-euro tax stamp), the permit fee and the fee for the electronic card (about 30 euros) and it is sent by post.
• The post office gives you a receipt (ricevuta) with the application number and the Questura appointment for fingerprints.
• Keep the receipt well since it proves that you are in a legal position while waiting.
• Check the document list for your category precisely.

At the Questura appointment you hand in the documents and your fingerprints and photo are taken, and the clerk verifies your application.

• Processing of the application takes months that may reach six or more depending on the city.
• While waiting the receipt with the passport is enough to prove your status, and for work and travel within Schengen for a short time under conditions.
• You follow the status of your application through the Portale Immigrazione or Stato pratica by entering the application number.
• On approval you are notified to collect the permit card (electronic permesso di soggiorno) at the Questura.
• It contains your data, the type of residence, its duration and whether it allows work.
• Check the accuracy of its data at once and report any error.
• And always keep a copy of it.

Submit the renewal application sixty days before your permit expires via the kit postale (between sixty days and two weeks before expiry depending on type), and do not be late.

• An application submitted in time keeps you in a legal position during processing.
• After five years of continuous legal residence you can apply for the EU long-term residence permit (permesso di soggiorno UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo) under conditions: sufficient income, suitable housing, a clean criminal record and passing the Italian language test at level A2.
• For Italian citizenship by residence ten years (four for Europeans, five for refugees and three for those born to Italians) with proof of level B1 in Italian, income and a clean record, and the application is submitted electronically.
• Check the current conditions.

If your application is refused you will receive a written decision with the reasons and a deadline for appeal, often sixty days before the regional administrative court (TAR) or thirty days in other cases before the ordinary court, so do not ignore it and seek legal help at once.

• The lawyer may request a stay of execution.
• The patrocinio a spese dello Stato provides free legal aid for those with limited income.
• Organisations such as ASGI, Caritas, ARCI, ACLI, CIR and the foreigners' centres in unions (CGIL, CISL and UIL) offer free advice to migrants.
• Avoid unlicensed intermediaries who sell appointments or promise acceptance for money, which is fraud.
• And keep all your application documents.
• And if your circumstances change (work, marriage, housing) inform the Questura in the stated time.

How many working days to apply for the permit after entry?