How to apply for permesso di soggiorno

To apply for a permesso di soggiorno (residence permit), you must go to the Questura or at a post office of Poste Italiane, depending on the type of permesso you are applying for. In this article you will find all the rules to follow and other information about the documents you need to apply.

After your arrival in Italy you have 8 days to apply for a permesso di soggiorno. Some types of permesso must be requested at the Questura of your city. Other types of permesso must instead be requested at the Sportello Amico di Poste Italiane. The permesso to be requested at the Questura (Prenotafacile.it) are:
  • Release/Update/Duplicate Carta di soggiorno per i familiari del cittadino comunitario non aventi la cittadinanza di uno stato membro dell'U.E.
  • Release/Update/Duplicate Carta di soggiorno permanente per i familiari del cittadino comunitario non aventi la cittadinanza di uno stato membro dell’U.E.
  • Release/Update/Duplicate Permesso di soggiorno per Cure Mediche/Gravidanza
  • Release/Update/Duplicate Permesso di soggiorno per Cure Mediche
  • Release/Update/Duplicate permesso di soggiorno per assistenza minori
  • Update/Duplicate permesso di soggiorno cartaceo per Richiesta asilo;
  • First release permesso di soggiorno elettronico following a positive decision by the Territorial Commission or the Court;
The immigration officers of the Questura will give you the forms that you will need to fill out to request the permesso. Find here the Questura closest to you. Instead the permesso that must be requested at the Sportello Amico di Poste Italiane are:
  • affidamento;
  • attesa occupazione;
  • attesa cittadinanza;
  • rinnovo asilo;
  • permesso di soggiorno UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo;
  • motivi familiari
  • lavoro autonomo;
  • lavoro subordinato;
  • lavoro casi particolari;
  • lavoro subordinato-stagionale;
  • missione, motivi religiosi;
  • residenza elettiva;
  • status apolidia e rinnovo;
  • permesso per studio, tirocinio/formazione professionale;
  • ricercatore
You must apply to the Sportello Amico also in cases of:
  • Update of the carta di soggiorno (change of address, change of passport or other important changes)
  • Conversion of the permesso di soggiorno (into other types of permesso)
  • Duplicate (if you need a copy of your permesso)
At the Sportello Amico you will have to fill out the kit, which is a large envelope with a yellow stripe with forms inside, and send it. You can fill out the kit yourself and send it immediately afterwards, or you can pick it up and go to a patronato or to the Comune’s immigration office to get free help in filling out the forms.

To send your request you need:

  • passport and visa with which you entered Italy (and a copy of both)
  • request form
  • documents specific for the permesso you are applying for (click on your type of permit to find out what they are)
  • 4 recent passport-sized photos
  • a € 16.00 marca da bollo (stamp), which you buy in tabaccheria
  • a payment (bollettino) whose amount to be paid varies according to your permit;
  • payment of € 30 for sending your request (only if you apply at the post office)

Please note that only €30.46 will be charged for:

  • Minors under 18 years old
  • Duplication and update of the permesso di soggiorno
  • Permesso di soggiorno per cure mediche (residence permit for medical treatment)
  • Issuance and renewal of asilo politico (political asylum), protezione sussidiaria (subsidiary protection)
  • Carta di soggiorno (residence card) for the family members of EU citizens

At the end of your application procedure you will be given a receipt, which everyone calls a “cedolino“. The cedolino is the document that will allow you to stay regularly in Italy until the day of your appointment at the Questura to collect your real permesso di soggiorno. Always carry it with you all.

On the cedolino you will find:

– your request number. If you want to check the status of your request, enter the request number in this portal.

– the date of the appointment at the Questura for your identification (photos and fingerprints). It is an important step in your application because the Questura, by law, must have your photos and fingerprints in order to issue your permesso di soggiorno.

After identification, you will receive an SMS and a raccomandata with the date of your appointment at the Questura to collect your permesso di soggiorno.

Useful link

  • Website of Sportello Amico- Poste Italiane to apply for permesso

    On this website you find the address of Sportello Amico in your city.

    Go to the link

  • Website of Polizia di Stato- permesso application status

    On this page you can check the status of your permesso di soggiorno application.

    Go to the link

  • Website of Polizia di Stato- Questura

    On this page you find the address of the Questura in your city.

    Go to the link

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