The preavviso di cessazione delle misure di accoglienza (notice of termination of reception measures) is the letter by which the Prefettura (Prefecture, the local office of the Ministry of the Interior) informs an applicant for international protection that their reception in the centre is about to end. It usually arrives when the protection application has been decided, for example with the issue of a permesso di soggiorno (residence permit), or when the Prefettura considers that there are grounds for revocation. The letter sets a deadline for submitting observations: it is important to meet it.
Guide updated in October 2026 in line with Legislative Decree no. 142 of 2015, as amended by Decree-Law no. 20 of 2023.
What are reception measures?
They are the food, accommodation and services that the State guarantees to applicants for international protection who lack means of support, in first-reception centres, in centri di accoglienza straordinaria (CAS – emergency reception centres) and in the Sistema di accoglienza e integrazione (SAI – Reception and Integration System).
Reception for applicants is linked to the length of the asylum procedure. For this reason, when the application is decided or the person’s circumstances change, the Prefettura can order it to end.
Why do you receive a notice of termination?
The protection procedure has ended
When the application for international protection has been decided and the person obtains a residence permit, reception as an applicant ends. People granted refugee status or subsidiary protection may have access to SAI projects, subject to available places.
Revocation on the grounds provided by law
Article 23 of Legislative Decree no. 142 of 2015 lists the cases in which the Prefect can revoke reception, including:
- failing to report to the assigned facility, or leaving it without informing the Prefettura;
- failing to attend the interview before the Commissione territoriale (Territorial Commission for international protection);
- a protection application already submitted previously in Italy;
- availability of sufficient financial means, as established by the Prefettura;
- serious or repeated breaches of the facility’s rules, or seriously violent behaviour.
Since 2023, for breaches of the facility’s rules, the Prefettura can also reduce reception measures instead of revoking them, by means of an individual and proportionate decision.
What should you do when you receive the letter?
- Read carefully the reason given and the deadline for replying.
- If there are errors or particular circumstances, such as health problems, a job you have just started, minor children or having nowhere to live, submit written observations to the Prefettura within the deadline, together with documents proving them.
- If the letter concerns the issue of your residence permit, go to the Questura (police immigration office) on the date indicated to collect it.
- Look for housing straight away and ask the social services of your Comune (municipality) for information.
Is the notice already the final decision?
No. The notice is meant to let you submit observations before the decision is taken. The decision comes with the Prefect’s decree, which takes effect from the moment it is communicated to the person.
Can you appeal against the revocation?
Yes. An appeal against the decree of revocation or termination can be lodged with the Tribunale Amministrativo Regionale (TAR – Regional Administrative Court) within a short time limit from the communication. In some cases you can ask the judge to suspend the decision immediately. An appeal requires a lawyer: it is best to contact a professional as soon as you receive the notice, without waiting for the decree.
Frequently asked questions
If I get a residence permit, do I lose my place in the centre immediately?
Not immediately: the Prefettura first sends the notice and then the decree. The time allowed to leave the facility is stated in the decision.
What should I write in my observations to the Prefettura?
Concrete, documented facts: errors in the reason given in the letter, health conditions, work, minor children, lack of alternative housing. The observations must be sent within the deadline stated in the letter.
Can I join the SAI after getting my permit?
Holders of international protection can access SAI projects if places are available. For other types of permit, access is more limited: it is best to check case by case.
What are the official sources?
- Legislative Decree no. 142 of 18 August 2015, on the reception of applicants for international protection.
- Decree-Law no. 20 of 10 March 2023, converted by Law no. 50 of 2023.
How can SH Immigration Specialists help?
SH Immigration Specialists helps you understand the letter you have received and prepare your observations with the right documents before the deadline. Appeals to the TAR are handled by the qualified lawyers on the team. Write to us now, before the deadline stated in the letter expires.
This content provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.
