THE NEW PROCEDURE

How to apply for Residence Permits/Permanent Residence Cards

As the result of an agreement between Ministero dell’Interno and Poste Italiane SPA, in compliance with art. 39, comma 4 bis, Legge 16.1.2003, n. 3 , as modified by art.1 quinquies, Legge12.11.2004, n.271, applications for residence permits and permanent residence cards may be handed over by the person concerned to the Post Offices qualified for acceptance ( Search of Structures ) by using the kit available at any designated Post Offices, Patronati and Municipalities. On submitting the application, the foreigner must pay the fee of € 30,00, pursuant to the Decree issued by Ministro dell’Interno on 14 October 2005.

In conformity with the EU Regulation no. 1030/13.2.2002, which requires a uniform format for residence permits to be introduced, as from 1 January 2006 an electronic (machine readable) residence permit would replace the old paper-made document. By a decree of the Ministro dell’Economia e delle Finanze (Italian Secretary of the Treasury, hereafter referred as Ministro dell’Economia e delle Finanze, translator’s note), in agreement with the Ministro dell’Interno, the sum of €27,50 is set to be paid for the release of the electronic residence permit. The payment must be made at any Post office by using the pre-printed postal paying-in slip (PDF) which is available at the Post offices qualified for collecting the applications;

Applications relating to the types of residence permit/permanent residence cards, which are listed below (see also Section 6), may be handed over to the qualified Post offices and Municipalities counters:

• Adoption
• Fostering
• Residence Cards Updating
• Stay permits updating (change of domicile, civil status, integration of children, change of passport)
• Seeking employment
• Awaiting repossession of citizenship
• Renewal of Asylum
• Cards reserved for E.U. Citizens
• Cards reserved for non E.U. Citizens
• Conversion of stay permit
• Duplicate of Residence Cards
• Duplicate of stay permit
• Family Reunion
• Family reunion for children aged under 14-18
• Self-Employment
• Employment
• Work particular cases
• Employment- Seasonal Employment
• Mission
• Religious reasons
• Elective residence
• Scientific research
• Renewal of stateless status
• Study
• Vocational training
• Tourism

Applications for issue and renewal of residence permits/permanent residence cards, which are not included in the above mentioned list, will continue to be submitted to Immigration Offices at Questure that are competent by territory.

In completing the forms, the foreigner may be supported, free of charge, by a Patronato or a qualified municipal body.

When submitting his/her application at the Post office, the foreign citizen will be identified by means of his/her passport or equivalent identity document.

Applications must be handed over in an unsealed envelope and failing the signature of the person concerned it will not be taken into consideration;

On sending in his/her application, the foreigner will be given the return receipt (acknowledgement card) to be filled in. Said receipt is provided with security requisites such as codes (Insured Letter Code and Hologram Code) to enter a reserved area reserved area in order to check the progress stage of his/her own application.
Should the foreigner apply for the renewal of his/her residence permit/permanent residence card, è necessario a photocopy of the document which is to renew or to update must be enclosed.

In caso di richiesta di rilascio/rinnovo del Permesso-Carta di soggiorno per cittadini extracomunitari, è necessario inserire nella busta una delle due ricevute di avvenuto pagamento del bollettino postale premarcato (PDF), di importo pari a €27,50, disponibile presso gli uffici postali "Sportello Amico" Ricerca Strutture abilitati alla ricezione delle istanze.

How to submit the application

•  Kits (to be used) to apply for issue/renewal of residence permit can be found at all the qualified Post offices, Patronati and Municipalities and handed over to the Post offices and Municipalities that are entitled to collect the applications (Search references).

•  Kits to be used by nationals from any of the EU member Statesto apply for issue/renewal of permanent residence card can be found at all the qualified Post offices, Patronati and Municipalities and handed over to the post offices and Municipalities that are qualified to collect  the applications (Search references) or submitted directly to the Questura Immigration Office ,that is competent by territory.

•  Applications for issue/renewal of residence permits/permanent residence cards, of such types as are not listed in the link The new procedure, will continue to be submitted to the Immigration Offices at each Questura.

•  Pre-printed postal paying-in slip to be used to pay the fee for the issue/renewal of electronic residence permits can be found at the Post offices that are qualified to collect the applications (Search references).

General information

A leave to stay in Italy is granted to the foreign nationals who entered the Italian territory legally, that is to say by holding a passport (or an equivalent identity document) with an entry visa stamped on it, except for such cases as established under international agreements.

The residence permit must be applied for within eight working days effective from the foreigner’s date of entry into the national territory.

The application is to be addressed to Questore competent for the district where the foreign national lives. Nationals from any of the EU Member States may submit the application for permanent residence card either at the Post offices or at the Immigration Offices of the Questure.

Foreign Nationals who sent in their application at the Post Offices will receive a registered letter of notification to attend by the Immigration Office, in order to be solely identified by fingerprinting and photo taking, in such cases as provided by law in force, and to get his/her residence permit/permanent residence card.

The first time the foreign national is summoned to the Immigration Office, he/she must produce 4 passport-size photographs taken against a white background, one of which will be put on the residence permit/permanent residence card.

I cittadini di uno stato membro dell'Unione Europea saranno convocati presso l'Ufficio Immigrazione solo per la consegna della carta di soggiorno e dovranno esibire 4 fotografie, delle quali una sarà apposta nella carta di soggiorno.

Should the foreign national apply for both his/her own permanent residence permit and for his/her relatives, such an application must be submitted by using one kit , only, containing as many Module 1 and Module 2 and – this latter in case the applicant’s relative collects an income - as the number of his/her relatives, on behalf of whom he/she is applying.

Il rinnovo del permesso di soggiorno è richiesto dallo straniero al Questore della provincia in cui dimora, nel termine di novanta giorni dalla scadenza, per i permessi di soggiorno per lavoro e famiglia di durata biennale, entro sessanta giorni per quelli per lavoro annuale, entro trenta giorni per le restanti tipologie di permesso di soggiorno.

The foreign national must submit the application for the renewal of his/her the residence permit to the Questore competent for the district where the foreign national lives, within the following time limits:

1. three months, as for permits issued on business and tourism grounds;
2. one year, relating to the attendance of a course of study or vocational training. Such permit may be renewed from year to year in case of long term courses;
3. two years, as for permits issued on the ground of self-employment, indefinite subordinate employment or family reunion.

To complete correctly the applications to be submitted at the Post office, see facsimile forms at home page.

To complete correctly the pre-printed postal paying-in-slip to be used to pay the fee for the issue of the electronic residence permit (PDF) , see facsimile forms at home page.

To seek assistance in completing the application, the foreign national may contact a qualified Municipality or a local Patronato. search Structure See the home page list under Search Offices.

Said assistance is free of charge

Guidance notes on completing form “MOD.209 – Module 1 and Module 2”

Please complete the form in block letters, by using black ink. Ensure you only write inside the white boxed areas;

a) Enter personal details as shown on passport or equivalent document;
b) Check out table for Province Abbreviation Codes
c) Tick the type of permit you are applying for (i.e.:.X)
d) Check out table for Residence Permit/Permanent Residence Card Application Codes to find the relevant code matching the proper type of permit;
e) Enter number and series of residence Permit/Permanent residence Card the applicant holds or refers to;
f) Complete Section 2 only after fully completing Module 1, Module 2 the latter to be enclosed should any income be received - , and after photocopying in A4 format all documents needed for the permit the foreign national intends to apply for. Failing the signature of the person concerned, the application will be not considered;

g) Indicate the total number of pages the application consists of (forms and photocopies of documents enclosed);
h) Indicate the total number of children entered at Section 12 of Module 1;
i) Enter letter as follows:
• A Single,
• B Married;

j) Enter letter as follows:
• F Female,
• M Male;

k) Enter the proper Country Code as listed in the Country Codes table;
l) To be completed only if the Identification document differs from passport. See Documents Equivalent to Passport table;
m) Check out Authorities that issue Documents Equivalent to Passport table, for the code corresponding to the Authority that issued the document other than the passport;
n) To be completed only in case of first application for Residence Permit/Permanent Residence Card. Enter personal details as shown on visa ;
o) The validity of a travel document/title, which has been renewed, can not exceed the expiry date of the residence permit;
p) Space reserved for any notice by Questura relating to the application;
q) Not to be completed if it is the same as the previous one;
r) Enter Full Name or Company Name, Body or Association Name, at which the applicant wishes otherwise to receive a registered letter of notification to attend that was sent by Questura;
s) To be completed only in case of application for a Permanent Residence Card and for changing a Residence Permit, already issued for any other reasons, into a Residence Permit on family grounds
t) To be completed in case of application for Residence Card only
u) Minors being adopted by, either in foster care or placed under guardianship of applicant, are considered equal to his/her children aged under 18;
v) To be completed in case of subordinate employment only;
w) Enter the professional category the applicant belongs to (i.e.: physician, street vendor, architect, etc.);
x) To be completed only by the foreign nationals who have been hired in the current year – a photocopy of the most recent pay envelope must be enclosed;
y) To be completed only in case of self-employment which has (been) started in the current year.