In short. The EU long-term residence permit in Italy proves a permanent status, but the card itself expires: it is valid for ten years for adults and five years for minors, and renewal is automatic on request with new photos. You lose the status only in specific cases, such as twelve consecutive months outside the European Union or more than six years away from Italy. Article 9 of Italy’s Consolidated Immigration Act sets these rules.
The EU long-term residence permit in Italy proves a permanent status, but the card itself expires. It is valid for ten years for adults and five years for minors, and you renew it with a simple application and new photos. You lose the status only in specific cases, such as twelve consecutive months outside the European Union.
This guide is not about getting the permit for the first time. It is about keeping it: validity, renewal, time abroad and the risk of revocation.
How long is the EU long-term residence permit in Italy valid?
Until 2022 the card was issued “for an unlimited period”. Law 238/2021, in force since 1 February 2022, changed the rules.
Article 9 of the Italian Immigration Act now separates two things. Long-term resident status is permanent. The physical card lasts ten years for adults and five years for anyone under 18.
When it expires, the permit is renewed automatically on request, with new photographs. While valid, it also works as an identity document.
What happens to old “unlimited” permits?
Permits issued more than ten years before 1 February 2022 no longer prove legal residence. If you hold one, you need to update it.
At the first update request, the Police Headquarters (Questura) issues the new ten-year card. If you still have an old paper residence card or a very old permit, do not wait for a check or a trip to fix it.
How do you renew the permit and what documents do you need?
You apply with the postal kit at authorised post offices. A patronato or an authorised town hall can help you fill it in for free. After you send it, the Questura calls you in for fingerprints and photos.
You usually need:
- the completed kit form;
- a full copy of your valid passport;
- a copy of the EU permit you are renewing;
- four recent passport-size photos;
- a copy of your tax code (codice fiscale);
- payment receipts.
A renewal is not a new application. The law describes it as “automatic”, so the Questura should not recheck income and housing. Some offices still ask for extra documents, so get advice if in doubt. For the general renewal process, see our guide to residence permit renewal in Italy.
You can track the application online once it has been filed.
How much does renewal cost?
The usual costs are:
- EUR 30.46 by postal payment slip for the electronic card;
- a EUR 16 revenue stamp;
- EUR 30 paid at the post office for sending the kit.
A first-time EU permit also requires a EUR 100 fee. Amounts can change, so always check the current instructions before paying.
How long can you stay outside Italy without losing the permit?
This is the most common question, and the answer has two layers. The EU permit is revoked in case of:
- absence from the European Union for twelve consecutive months;
- absence from Italy for more than six years.
The first limit covers the whole EU, not just Italy. If you spend a year in France, you are not “absent from the Union”.
According to the EU Court of Justice (case C-432/20, 2022), even a short stay in the EU breaks the twelve months. You do not need stable residence: you simply must not stay outside the EU for a full year without interruption.
Always keep proof of your returns: passport stamps, boarding passes and tickets. If the absence is ever questioned, they are your main defence. Before travelling, also read our guide to the Italian re-entry visa.
Can you get the permit back after revocation for absence?
Yes. If you lose the permit because of absence, you can apply again after three years of legal residence in Italy, instead of the usual five.
In the meantime, unless you are expelled, the Questura issues another type of permit based on your situation. For example, a work or family permit.
In what other cases can the EU permit be revoked?
Besides absence, the law lists a closed set of grounds for revocation:
- a permit obtained with false documents or by fraud;
- expulsion for serious public order or security reasons;
- being a danger to public order or state security;
- obtaining long-term resident status in another EU country.
Losing your job or earning less is not, on its own, a reason for revocation. Italian courts, including the Council of State, have confirmed this several times.
Criminal convictions do not lead to automatic revocation. The Questura must assess whether the person is currently dangerous.
What mistakes put your EU permit at risk?
- Using a card that expired years ago as if it were still valid.
- Staying outside the EU for over a year without any return.
- Keeping no proof of trips and returns.
- Moving to another EU country and getting the same status there without weighing the consequences.
- Not reporting a change of address or passport.
For a general overview of the permit and how to obtain it, read our guide to the indefinite residence permit in Italy. Remember that the EU permit is not citizenship: to become an Italian citizen, see our guide to Italian citizenship.
Frequently asked questions
Is the EU long-term permit valid as an identity document?
Yes. While the card is valid, the EU long-term residence permit also works as an identity document. Remember that the card expires even though the status is permanent: ten years for adults and five years for minors. An expired card used as if it were still valid can cause problems at checks and borders.
Do I have to prove my income again when renewing?
In principle, no. The law describes the renewal of the EU long-term residence permit as automatic on request, with new photographs, so the Questura should not recheck income and housing. Some offices still ask for extra documents, so check the instructions of your Questura and get advice if in doubt.
If I live in another EU country for a year, do I lose my Italian permit?
Not because of the twelve-month rule, which covers absence from the whole European Union, not just Italy. However, the permit is revoked after more than six years away from Italy, and obtaining long-term resident status in another EU country is also a ground for revocation.
After losing the permit for absence, must I wait five years again?
No. If the permit is revoked because of absence, you can apply again after three years of legal residence in Italy instead of the usual five. In the meantime, unless you are expelled, the Questura issues another type of permit based on your situation, for example a work or family permit.
How long is the EU permit valid for a minor?
For anyone under 18 the card is valid for five years; for adults it is valid for ten years. These durations were introduced by Law 238/2021, in force since 1 February 2022. When the card expires, it is renewed on request with new photographs, while the long-term resident status itself remains permanent.
Official sources
- Consolidated Immigration Act, Article 9 – Normattiva (Italian legislation)
- Portale Immigrazione – official application procedures
Sources checked on 15 October 2026. Laws, procedures and fees can change: always check the latest instructions from the competent Questura before filing an application or planning a long stay abroad.
How can SH Immigration Specialists help?
The EU long-term permit is the most secure status a foreign national can hold in Italy, and losing it through a miscalculated absence or a poorly handled renewal can cost years. SH Immigration Specialists provides administrative and document assistance: checking whether an old “unlimited” card needs updating, preparing the renewal kit and documents, and reviewing the timeline of your stays abroad. Legal advice, appeals and representation must be handled by a qualified professional. 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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