In short. The declaration of hospitality in Italy must be filed by anyone who, for any reason, hosts or provides accommodation to a foreign national or stateless person: a written notice goes to the local public security authority within 48 hours. It states the host’s and guest’s details, the guest’s identity document, the address of the property and the reason for the hospitality. It is not always the same as the cessione di fabbricato (property transfer notice), which applies in different circumstances.
To find out where to hand in the form, check the instructions of the Questura (police immigration office) or of the Comune (municipality) responsible for the address of the accommodation.
Last updated: 21 September 2026. Main legal source: Article 7 of Legislative Decree 286/1998.
Often overlooked by people who welcome a foreign national into their home, the declaration of hospitality is an essential document that protects the host as well as the foreign guest, and it also gives the guest access to all the procedures relating to their legal stay in Italy, such as renewing the permesso di soggiorno (residence permit).
What is the declaration of hospitality in Italy and what is it for?
Italian law requires anyone hosting a foreign national to notify the local public security authority promptly, within 48 hours.
The declaration of hospitality is required by Article 7 of Legislative Decree no. 286 of 25 July 1998 – the Testo Unico Immigrazione (Consolidated Immigration Act) – which states:
“Anyone who, for any reason, provides accommodation to or hosts a foreign national or stateless person, even if a relative by blood or marriage, or transfers to them the ownership or use of rural or urban real estate located in the territory of the State, must give written notice thereof, within forty-eight hours, to the local public security authority.”
“In addition to the personal details of the person making the notice, the notice shall include those of the foreign national or stateless person, the details of their passport or identification document, the exact location of the property transferred or in which the person is accommodated, hosted or works, and the title under which the notice is due.”
“Breaches of the provisions of this article are subject to an administrative fine of between 500 and 3,500 euros.”
The free hospitality declaration must be made in every case in which you host a foreign national, even if they are a member of your family. Accommodation businesses (hotels, B&Bs, hostels) always do this, in fact, through other dedicated channels.
What is the cessione di fabbricato (property transfer notice)?
The comunicazione di cessione di fabbricato (property transfer notice), on the other hand, is an obligation that applies to anyone who transfers ownership or use of a property or part of it, or allows its exclusive use on any other basis, including to Italian citizens.
However, it has largely been absorbed by the registration of contracts relating to the property (sale, lease, etc.). The law has kept the notification obligation only where use is granted under a contract, even a verbal one, that is not subject to registration.
This explains why Questure and Prefetture (Prefectures) ask for the cessione di fabbricato: hospitality is in fact verbal and not subject to registration, unlike a lease agreement, which is registered with the Agenzia delle Entrate (Italian Revenue Agency).
When the foreign national has not yet entered Italy, a self-declaration undertaking to provide the cessione di fabbricato is required, needed for all applications made by an applicant in Italy, such as family reunification, the Decreto Flussi (Italy’s annual decree setting quotas for foreign workers), etc.
You can download the cessione di fabbricato form from the State Police website.
Who must make the declaration of hospitality?
Completing the free hospitality declaration form and sending it to the authorities is the responsibility of the person who has the right to use the home and is hosting a foreign national.
For example, if you rent a house under a lease and host your non-EU husband, it is up to you, not the landlord, to send the declaration of hospitality (you do not even need the landlord’s consent). The situation is different when applying for residence registration, which requires the consent of the owner of the property.
How is the declaration of hospitality linked to residence?
The declaration of hospitality for non-EU nationals is an administrative document of primary importance, because it officially certifies that accommodation is available in Italy.
This document is not a mere formality: it is an essential prerequisite for several procedures relating to the foreign national’s legal stay. In particular, the declaration of hospitality for a residence permit is required to apply for the first permit, to renew it and to convert it into other types of permit, and it also plays a central role in family reunification procedures.
Its function is therefore not limited to certifying that the guest is present at a given address; it is directly linked to protecting the fundamental rights of the non-EU national and to the proper handling of the administrative procedures governing their stay in Italy. That is why the declaration of hospitality for residence purposes is a very useful alternative if you do not have an actual registered lease agreement.
How do you fill in the free hospitality declaration form?
If you are wondering how to fill in the declaration of hospitality, here are the instructions (you can find the declaration of hospitality form in PDF here).
- In the first section, enter the details of the host.
- Select the date from which you have provided accommodation (no more than 2 days before the date of completion) and the date until which you guarantee hospitality (it can also be open-ended). Select the hospitality option.
- Enter the details of the non-EU national and, finally, the location details of the property.
- Sign the form and remember to attach both your identity documents and your title to the property (deed of ownership, lease agreement, etc.).
Where do you send the declaration of hospitality for foreign nationals?
The declaration of hospitality must be sent within 48 hours to the local public security authority. But who is that, and how should it be sent?
Can you file the declaration of hospitality at the Questura?
Normally, the local public security authority is the Questura of the Polizia di Stato (State Police). You can go to the immigration office of your local Questura to have the declaration of hospitality form for non-EU nationals stamped.
Can you file the declaration of hospitality at the Comune?
Where there is no Questura, the local public security authority is the Mayor. You can therefore go to the Comune (town hall) to have the free hospitality declaration form stamped.
Can you send the declaration of hospitality online?
In large cities it can be difficult to find the right office, or you may have to queue for a long time. In both cases, however, you can send it directly online to the relevant offices by PEC (certified email), not by ordinary email. PEC is certified and lets you print the sending and delivery receipts, which are useful to prove that the authority actually received the documents and to keep the procedure in order.
Frequently asked questions
What is the deadline for the declaration of hospitality?
The written notice must reach the local public security authority within 48 hours of starting to host the foreign national. On the form, the start date of the hospitality can be no more than 2 days before the date of completion. Breaches are punished with an administrative fine set by Article 7 of the Consolidated Immigration Act.
Do I need to file it if the guest is a family member?
Yes. The declaration of hospitality must be made in every case in which you host a foreign national or stateless person, even if they are a relative by blood or marriage. Only accommodation businesses such as hotels, B&Bs and hostels use other dedicated channels.
Who files the declaration if I rent the home?
The person who has the right to use the home and is hosting the foreign national files it. If you rent a house and host your non-EU spouse, it is up to you, not the landlord, and you do not need the landlord’s consent. Residence registration, however, requires the owner’s consent.
Where do I send the declaration of hospitality?
Normally to the immigration office of the Questura, which is the local public security authority. Where there is no Questura, the authority is the Mayor, so you go to the Comune. In both cases you can also send it online by PEC, which provides sending and delivery receipts.
Is the declaration of hospitality the same as the cessione di fabbricato?
Not always. The cessione di fabbricato applies to anyone who transfers ownership or use of a property under a contract, even a verbal one, that is not registered. Questure and Prefetture often ask for it because hospitality is verbal and, unlike a lease, is not registered with the Agenzia delle Entrate.
Official sources
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Article 7 (Normattiva, Italian)
- Declaration of hospitality form (Polizia di Stato, Italian)
- Cessione di fabbricato form (Polizia di Stato, Italian)
Sources were consulted on 15 October 2026. Forms and filing methods can vary locally: always check the latest instructions of the competent Questura or Comune.
How can SH Immigration Specialists help?
SH Immigration Specialists helps hosts and guests fill in the declaration of hospitality or the cessione di fabbricato correctly, checks the attached identity and property documents, and prepares the self-declaration needed for family reunification or Decreto Flussi applications and for residence permit procedures. For legal matters such as appeals and legal advice, SH Immigration Specialists works with qualified lawyers. The outcome depends on the competent authorities. For an assessment, contact us.
This content provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.
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