If you are a non-EU citizen moving to Italy for study, work, family or another long-term purpose, you will normally need a permesso di soggiorno—an Italian residence permit.
In most cases, you must apply within eight working days of entering Italy. Sundays and public holidays are excluded when calculating this deadline.
A residence permit is different from a visa. Your visa allows you to enter Italy, while the permesso di soggiorno authorizes your stay after arrival. It is also different from registering your address with the local municipality, known as residenza anagrafica.
This guide covers the general procedure. Requirements vary according to the type of permit, so always check the Portale Immigrazione and the instructions issued by your local Questura before applying.
Who needs a permesso di soggiorno?
The permit generally applies to citizens of countries outside the European Union who plan to remain in Italy for longer than 90 days.
For most long-term stays, you should enter Italy with the correct Italian national visa—often called a Type D visa—matching the reason for your stay. A tourist or ordinary short-stay Schengen visa cannot normally be converted into a residence permit simply because you decide to remain in Italy.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not apply for a permesso di soggiorno. If staying for more than three months, they generally register with the municipality instead. Different rules also apply to certain non-EU family members of EU citizens.
Where do you apply?
The correct filing route depends on the type of permit.
Many common applications—including permits for study, employment and family reasons—are filed through an authorized Poste Italiane office displaying the Sportello Amico sign. These applications use the postal kit known as the kit a banda gialla or kit giallo.
Other types of residence permit must be requested directly from the Immigration Office of the Questura. Do not assume that every application can be submitted through the post office.
The official application procedure provides tables showing which permit categories use the post office and which must go directly to the Questura.
Documents you may need
The exact documents depend on your permit category. For a postal application, the basic documents normally include:
- The completed application forms
- A valid passport or equivalent travel document
- A copy of the passport pages containing your personal details and relevant visas or entry stamps
- Your Italian entry visa, when required
- Copies of the supporting documents required for your permit category
- Proof that the applicable permit-production fee and contribution have been paid
- A €16 revenue stamp, known as a marca da bollo
- For a renewal, conversion or update, a copy of your existing residence permit
Depending on the reason for your stay, you may also need:
- Study: proof of enrolment, financial means, accommodation and suitable health-insurance coverage
- Employment: documents relating to your employment authorization and contract
- Self-employment: evidence that you meet the legal and professional requirements for the activity
- Family: documents proving the family relationship and, where required, suitable accommodation and income
- Children: birth certificates or other civil-status documents, sometimes legalized or apostilled and translated into Italian
Bring originals when instructed, but place photocopies—not original passports or irreplaceable certificates—inside a postal application unless the authorities expressly require otherwise.
Because document lists differ considerably, consult the instructions for your specific permit on the Portale Immigrazione before submitting the application.
How to complete and submit the postal kit
1. Obtain the application
You can collect the yellow kit free of charge from a post office with a Sportello Amico.
You may complete it yourself, or ask an authorized patronato or participating municipality for help. This assistance is generally free. The organization can prepare the application electronically and give you the printed forms and envelope, but you must still submit the application through the appropriate post office.
Complete the forms in capital letters using a black pen and follow the official instructions carefully.
2. Pay the applicable fees
The standard charges currently listed by the Portale Immigrazione are:
- €16 for the marca da bollo
- €30.46 for production of the electronic residence permit
- €30 for the postal application service
- €40 for a permit lasting more than three months and up to one year
- €50 for a permit lasting more than one year and up to two years
- €100 for an EU long-term residence permit and certain permits for managers and specialized workers
The €40, €50 or €100 contribution is added to the €30.46 production charge where applicable. Some applicants and application types are exempt from the contribution, but other charges may still apply.
Always verify the amount using the official cost table. Fees and exemptions can change, and applications involving children may require additional payment slips.
3. Submit the application in person
Take the completed forms, open application envelope, passport and payment documents to an authorized Sportello Amico post office.
The applicant must normally attend in person so that the postal employee can confirm their identity. The post office does not take fingerprints.
If the application is accepted, you will receive:
- A secure postal receipt
- The codes needed to check the application’s progress online
- A Questura appointment letter, if an appointment is immediately available
If no appointment is available at that moment, the Questura will contact you later.
Keep the postal receipt and a copy of the complete application in a safe place. The receipt proves that an application is pending, but it is not identical to the final residence permit. Rights relating to employment, study and travel can depend on the permit category and whether the application is a first issue or renewal.
In particular, international travel with only a postal receipt is subject to restrictions. Check with the Questura or a qualified immigration adviser before leaving Italy.
The Questura appointment
The next stage takes place at the Immigration Office of the Questura, not at the post office.
At the appointment, the police will normally:
- Check your original documents
- Review any additional documents requested
- Take your fingerprints and other biometric data
- Collect four recent passport photographs with a white background
The official photograph dimensions are generally 35 × 45 mm.
Bring your passport, appointment notice, postal receipt, payment receipt and all requested original documents. Missing documents may delay the application.
Checking the application and collecting the permit
You can check a postal application through the Portale Immigrazione using the codes printed on your receipt. Local police services may also provide an online permit-status check.
Processing times vary substantially by province, permit type and workload. Although the law provides administrative timeframes, applicants should not assume that the permit will be ready within 60 days. In Milan and other large cities, the process can take considerably longer.
When the permit is ready, you may receive an SMS, letter or other notification from the Questura. Follow the instructions provided and bring your passport and application receipt when collecting it.
Renewing your residence permit
Official guidance recommends applying for renewal at least 60 days before the expiry date.
The filing method again depends on the permit category: some renewals use the postal kit, while others are handled directly by the Questura.
A renewal is not automatic. You must continue to satisfy the requirements for your permit and provide the relevant updated documents.
Applying for EU long-term resident status
Living legally in Italy for five years does not automatically turn a temporary permit into permanent residence.
After at least five years of qualifying lawful residence, an eligible non-EU citizen may apply for the EU residence permit for long-term residents. The applicant must satisfy additional conditions, which normally include:
- At least five years of qualifying lawful residence
- Sufficient income
- Italian-language knowledge at no less than A2 level, unless an exemption applies
- Any accommodation requirements applicable to accompanying family members
- Compliance with public-order and security requirements
Not every temporary permit or period of stay is treated in the same way for eligibility. Applicants should verify their individual position before applying.
The long-term status is permanent, but the physical card must still be renewed periodically. It can also be lost in circumstances established by law.
A permit is not the same as municipal residency
Receiving a permesso di soggiorno does not automatically register you as a resident of Milan—or any other Italian municipality.
If you live in Italy on a settled basis, you may also need to register your usual address with the municipality’s anagrafe. This separate process establishes your official municipal residence and may be needed for access to various local and administrative services.
In Milan, address registration is handled by the Comune di Milano, not the Questura or post office.
Before applying: a practical checklist
Before submitting your application:
- Confirm that your visa and requested permit have the same legal purpose
- Check whether your application goes through the post office or directly to the Questura
- Download the document list for your exact permit category
- Make A4 photocopies and keep a complete copy for yourself
- Verify the current fees and exemptions
- Get help from an authorized patronato if you are unsure about the forms
- Keep every receipt and appointment notice
- Avoid booking international travel while the application is pending without checking the applicable rules
Official resources
For current information, consult:
- Portale Immigrazione
- Official application procedure
- Official residence-permit costs
- Italian Ministry of the Interior: visas and residence permits
- Poste Italiane
- Your local Questura’s Immigration Office
Reviewed September 1, 2026. This article provides general information and is not a substitute for advice about an individual immigration case.
Article by Asmita Thareja for Easy Milano
First published in July 2024, Last Updated on 1 September 2026
