The residence permit is recognition by the administration of the right to stay temporarily in a country. He is defined by its legal nature, its reason for admission and its period of validity. To prove this right, a “residence card” is issued.
A residence permit is an official document issued under certain conditions by the administration of certain countries. The residence card documents the right to residence (usually temporary, sometimes renewable) of a foreign national. It can also serve or take the place of a work permit in certain countries.
Residence permit: definition of Italian residence permit
Foreigners wishing to stay in Italy for more than three months are required to apply for a residence permit. People entering Italy for the first time have 8 days to apply for a residence permit.
It is the document that authorizes citizens of countries that are not part of the European Union to legally reside in Italy and that, as a general rule, presupposes legal entry into the territory. You need a residence permit if you are staying in Italy for more than 90 days.
The residence permit is a document linked to the type of visa with which you enter Italy. For example, if you enter Italy with a work visa, you will have a residence permit for work or if you enter Italy with a study visa, you will have a residence permit for studies.
Residence permit: What is the Italian residence permit used for?
The residence permit allows you to carry out the activities for which it was issued. It is possible to carry out activities different from those for which it was granted, without the need for conversion and for the period of validity of the permit itself, in the following cases:
- the residence permit issued for self-employment, salaried work and for family reasons can be used for other authorized activities. Specifically:
- the residence permit issued for salaried work (non-seasonal) allows the exercise of self-employment and vice versa.
- the residence permit for family reasons, equal to the permit for humanitarian reasons and integration of minors, allows the exercise of work either salaried or self-employed.
- the residence permit for study or training reasons allows the exercise of salaried work activities for a period not exceeding 20 hours per week, with the annual limit of 1,040 hours being understood.
Residence permit: the different types of residence permit in Italy
In Italy there are many types of residence permit the most common are:
- Tourist residence permit.
- Residence permit visit.
- Business residence permit.
- Study or training residence permit.
- Seasonal work residence permit.
- Self-employed residence permit.
- Salaried work residence permit.
- Performing arts worker residence permit.
- Residence permit for family reasons.
- Social security residence permit.
- Medical care residence permit.
- Residence permit application for international protection.
Residence permit: the duration of the residence permit in Italy
If it is issued for work reasons, the duration is that of the work relationship and in any case, cannot be:
- more than 1 year for fixed-term salaried work.
- more than 2 years for permanent salaried work.
- more than 9 months for seasonal work. A multi-year permit, up to three annualities, can be issued to foreign citizens who demonstrate that they have come to Italy for at least two years in a row to carry out seasonal work, in the event that these are repetitive jobs. In said permit, the period of validity for each year must be indicated, which will be proportionate to the annual duration it has enjoyed in the last year of the two previous years.
- more than 2 years for self-employment.
If it is issued for various work reasons, the duration is that provided for by the entry visa, if provided for, and in any case, cannot be:
- more than 3 months for tourism, visits, business.
- more than 2 years for family reunification.
- less than the period of equally multi-annual frequency of a course of study or duly certified training (except the annual verification of profit), extendable for further twelve months beyond the end of the training course completed.
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Residence permit: submission of the application for an Italian residence permit
The request must be submitted by the foreign person within 8 working days from entering Italy:
- at authorized Post Offices on appropriate forms for the following types of residence permit:
Adoption, foster family, job expectation, citizenship pre-acquisition expectation, self-employment, salaried work, seasonal work, family reasons, religious reasons, mission, EU residence permit for long-term stayers, elective residence , scientific research, studies, internship, vocational training, tourism, residence permit conversion.
The instance must be presented in an open envelope. The postal employee checks that the envelope contains all the documentation specifically required and having identified the foreign person by the passport or another equivalent identity document gives him the acknowledgment of receipt which is presented with the passport or an equivalent document demonstrates the legitimacy of the stay. The foreign person who presented the instance through the Post Offices is summoned by registered letter to be submitted to the fingerprinting and for the delivery of the residence permit.
- At the Immigration Office of the Questura of the province where the foreign person is located for the following types of residence permit:
Business, medical care, humanitarian reasons, application for international protection, minority, legal reasons, issuance of stateless person status, integration of minors, cohesion with foreign citizens;
- At the Single Window of the Immigration Office of the province where the foreign person is located, in the event of entry for family reunification and self-employment; said office predisposes the application for the issuance of the first residence permit which must then be sent to the person concerned through the postal office.
Residence permit: Italian residence permit application file
When applying for the issuance of the residence permit the following documents must be presented:
- the passport or other equivalent identity document mentioning the nationality, date and place of birth of the person concerned.
- the tax code.
- the entry visa if required.
- the documentation certifying the current residence (the certificate of residence or the declaration of hospitality).
- documentation certifying the availability of means for returning to the country of origin, with the exception of a residence permit for family and work reasons.
- four passport size photographs.
- the necessary documents in relation to the specific residence permit.
The application is subject to the payment of a contribution established to the extent between a minimum of 40 euros and a maximum of 100 euros depending on the type of residence permit, except that for the issuance of the residence permit for the application for international protection , and humanitarian protection.
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The documents provided for in numbers 1) 2) and 3 are not required to be presented:
- applicants for international protection.
- beneficiaries of social protection.
- foreigners admitted for residence for extraordinary reception measures for exceptional events.
- applicants Italian citizenship or statelessness status.
Residence permit: Italian residence permit renewal
The renewal request must be submitted before and not later than 60 days after its expiry:
- at authorized Post Offices on appropriate forms for the following types of residence permit: adoption, foster family, waiting for employment, waiting for citizenship pre-acquisition, self-employment, salaried work, seasonal work, family reasons, reasons religious, mission, EU residence permit for long-term stayers, elective residence, scientific research, stateless status, studies, internship, vocational training, tourism, international protection, family, residence permit conversion.
- At the Immigration Office of the Questura of the province where the foreign person is located for all other types of residence permit.
The renewal of the residence permit is subject to the verification of the conditions which had allowed its original issue.
The renewal application is also subject to the payment of a contribution established to the extent between a minimum of 40 euros and a maximum of 100 euros depending on the type of residence permit, except that for the issue of the residence permit for application for international protection, international protection and humanitarian protection.
The residence permit is renewed for a period not exceeding the period established with the initial issue, with the exception of a few cases (for example: duration of the residence permit for salaried work according to the duration of the employment contract).
Residence permit: documents for the renewal application
When applying for the renewal of the residence permit, the following documents must be presented:
- expired residence permit.
- the passport or other equivalent identity document mentioning the nationality, date and place of birth of the person concerned.
- the tax code.
- the documentation certifying the current domicile (the certificate of residence or the declaration.
- documentation certifying the availability of means of support and their sufficiency for the stay and for the return to the country of origin with the exception of the residence permit for family and work reasons.
- three passport photographs.
- the necessary documents related to the specific residence permit (for tourism, work, family reunification, etc.).
Who cannot renew the residence permit
The residence permit cannot be renewed if it has been:
- issued for tourism reasons, having expired the original expiry date (ninety days) and in the absence of serious reasons, of a humanitarian nature.
- issued for university studies in addition to the third year outside the course.
- issued for any reason, when the foreign person has interrupted the stay in Italy:
- for a period exceeding 6 months, in the case of an annual residence permit.
- for a period exceeding half of the period of validity of the permit, in the event that the original residence permit has a duration of at least two years, except that the interruption of the stay depends on the need to fulfill military obligations or to other serious and proven reasons.
- issued for any reason, when the conditions required for legal residence in the territory of the Country have returned due to the absence of the required conditions of income when the foreign person has become the recipient of criminal convictions for having perpetrated offenses which prevent his entry in Italy and that elements justifying the renewal arise.
1Residence permit: how to obtain a residence permit in Italy