Entry visa and residence permit

Entry visa: what it is

An entry visa is the authorisation needed to enter Italy. It can be requested for tourism, work (employed, seasonal, self-employed), family reasons, study, internship, vocational training and other reasons. There are two types, depending on the length of stay:

• uniform Schengen visa (VSU): for transit or short stays of less than 3 months (for some countries it is not required for tourism);
• national visa (VN): for long stays of more than 3 months.

The visa must be requested from the Italian consular authority in your country of origin or residence.

Residence permit: what it is and how to apply

The residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) is the document proving that a foreign national is legally present in Italy. It is issued, on presentation of the entry visa and other documents, for the reasons stated in the visa, and the holder has the rights provided for that reason of stay.

For stays of more than 3 months, the permit must be requested from the competent Questura within 8 working days of entering Italy. Foreign minors (0-18) also receive their own electronic residence permit. The application is sent with the postal kit (through a Patronato such as CCL or an authorised post office); the Questura then calls the applicant in to take fingerprints.

Residence permit fee

For every issue or renewal application a fee must be paid, which varies with the length of the permit, in addition to the cost of the electronic permit (30.46 euros), postage and a revenue stamp (marca da bollo):

• from 3 months to 1 year: 40 euros;
• from 1 to 2 years: 50 euros;
• EU long-term residence permit, highly skilled work and intra-company transfers: 100 euros.

Minors under 18, asylum seekers, holders of international protection and those requesting conversion, update or a duplicate of the permit do not pay the fee. Amounts may change: always check the current ones with our staff.

Duration and renewal

The duration of the permit depends on the reason for the stay: for example on the length of the employment contract or of the permit of the family member who supports the foreign national. Renewal must be requested at least 60 days before expiry; exceptionally it is allowed up to 60 days after expiry.

The integration agreement: what it is

Foreign nationals over 16 who apply for a residence permit of at least one year must sign the integration agreement (accordo di integrazione). It commits them to respect the Charter of citizenship values and to take part in integration activities to learn Italian, the principles of the Constitution and civic life in Italy. For this purpose you can attend a free civic training session at the Prefecture’s Single Desk for Immigration (Sportello unico per l’immigrazione, SUI).

The agreement works on credits and lasts 1 or 2 years depending on the permit requested; 16 credits are assigned on signing. The following do not have to sign it:

• foreign nationals with illnesses or disabilities that severely limit their self-sufficiency or with serious language and cultural learning difficulties;
• unaccompanied minors or minors under guardianship, and victims of trafficking, violence or serious exploitation (who must complete their own social integration programme);
• holders of permits for asylum, asylum application, subsidiary protection, family reasons, EU long-term residence and the other categories provided by law.

The information on this page is general and the rules change often: to check your situation and the current requirements, speak to our staff.