Expert Advice

Congratulations on receiving your elective residency visa for Italy! While the hardest part is behind you, there are still several important steps to complete, the most crucial being your application for a permesso di soggiorno, or residence permit. You must apply for your residence permit within eight days of arriving in Italy. Begin by visiting your local post office, where you can obtain the application form that needs to be sent to the questura, or police headquarters, which also serves as Italy’s immigration office. Head straight to the post office’s sportello amico counter. If your local post office doesn’t have this counter, you’ll need to find one that does. Here, you will receive the residency permit application packet, also known as the busta gialla or kit giallo (‘yellow packet’). The form is approximately eight pages long and in Italian, so you might prefer to take it home to complete. If you need help, a patronato, a government-appointed organization, offers free assistance with bureaucratic tasks, including residency permits for foreigners. You can locate your nearest patronato through the official website’s sidebar. Once you’ve filled out the forms, return to the sportello amico counter with four passport-sized photos, photocopies of your passport (including the photo page and pages with your ERV), a €16 marca da bollo tax stamp (available at a tabaccheria), and your original passport for verification. You’ll also need to include copies of the supporting documents submitted with your ERV application, such as proof of accommodation in Italy, health insurance, and financial documents demonstrating you meet the passive income threshold for the ERV. There are fees associated with this process: €30 to send the application, €40 for the permit itself (valid for one year initially), and €30.46 for the permesso di soggiorno elettronico card (PSE). After submitting your application, the post office will provide you with a ricevuta (receipt slip) and the details of your appointment at the questura police headquarters, including any additional documentation required. Keep this slip safe, as it serves as proof of your right to stay in Italy until your residence permit is issued. Be prepared for potentially long waits for your initial questura appointment, with some reports of delays extending several months. When your questura appointment arrives, expect further waiting. You’ll eventually be called to a counter and directed for fingerprinting. After your fingerprints are taken, you’ll receive an alphanumeric reference code to check the status of your application online via the Polizia di Stato’s portal. When the portal indicates that your permit is ready with a green checkmark, you will need to make one final trip to collect your permesso di soggiorno elettronico. The questura aims to issue your permit within 60 days of your appointment. As an ERV holder, remember that your permit needs to be renewed within one year of applying. Start the renewal process at least a month before it expires to avoid any overlap. Though this process may seem lengthy, there is a reward at the end: after five years of living in Italy, you can apply for permanent residency, which requires renewal only every ten years.