Permesso di soggiorno (Italian residence permit)

The Polizia di Stato explains that the permesso di soggiorno allows foreign and stateless people to stay in Italy on the conditions set by law. Since 2006 it has been an electronic card showing your personal details, photo, document number, type, issue and expiry dates, your codice fiscale and the reason for your stay, with your fingerprints stored.

Visitors for business, tourism or study of up to three months do not need one.

• Recognition first. Article 49 of DPR 394/1999 says entry to Italy to work in a health profession depends on recognition of your qualification by the competent ministry. See decreto di riconoscimento.
• Nurses have a special category. Article 27(1)(r-bis) of the immigration law lists professional nurses hired by public and private health facilities among workers whose entry follows special rules outside the ordinary quota system.
• A temporary derogation. Until 31 December 2029, Decree-law 34/2023 allows temporary work in Italy in derogation from the normal recognition and registration rules, through procedures run by the regions.

1. Apply within eight working days of entering Italy to the Questura of the province where you will live; in some cases you apply through authorised post offices.
2. Submit the application form, your passport with the entry visa and a copy, four identical recent passport photos and the documents for your type of permit.
3. Pay the contribution: €40 for permits longer than three months and up to one year, €50 for more than one and up to two years, and €100 for EU long-term residence and certain managers and specialists.
4. Keep the receipt. For a first permit for employment, it gives you the same rights as the permit itself, and you may start work unless the authorities notify you and your employer of a reason to refuse.
5. Give fingerprints at the Questura when called.

If you apply for a permit of at least one year you also sign an integration agreement with the state.

The Polizia di Stato says electronic permits are issued or renewed in about 60 days on average. A permit lasts as long as the entry visa allows: up to three years for open-ended employment, under a 2023 police circular. The immigration law requires you to apply for renewal at least 90 days before expiry, and a renewal cannot be longer than the first permit.

• Missing the eight-day window after arrival.
• Ignoring the integration agreement. For permits of at least one year you commit to integration objectives to be reached while the permit is valid.
• Expecting a longer renewal. The law says a renewal cannot last longer than the first permit.
• Forgetting the health card. Your tessera sanitaria normally expires with your permit, so renew both.
• Thinking the permit is a licence. To practise you still need registration with your Ordine. See iscrizione all'albo.