The indefinite EU residence permit (the EU long-term residence permit, sometimes wrongly called the carta di soggiorno (residence card)) is one of the most important documents for a foreign national, because it is valid for 10 years and frees you from constant renewals at the Questura (police immigration office).
This is the most complete guide, updated for 2026 (and explained clearly), to what the indefinite EU residence permit is and which requirements and documents you need for the first issue and for renewal (or rather, as I will explain below, the update).
What is the indefinite residence permit?
First of all, it is worth clarifying that this is a permesso di soggiorno (residence permit) with European validity, which allows holders to move and work freely in every Member State of the European Union.
Its great advantage is that it is open-ended, which is why it has no expiry date and does not need to be renewed.
The difference between renewing and updating the indefinite residence permit is that with a renewal you have to prove that you still meet the requirements, whereas the update, which must be done every 10 years, concerns only the document, and the person’s requirements are not checked again.
Since 2007, the indefinite EU residence permit has replaced the carta di soggiorno, which is why people still wrongly call it a “carta di soggiorno”.
What are the requirements for the indefinite residence permit?
To obtain this document, you must meet a number of requirements. In particular:
- Residence permit for at least 5 years: short stays (such as tourism, business and study) are not counted, and the requirement also applies to minor children.
- Residence in Italy: you must be registered as resident in an Italian municipality, and the competent Questura will handle your application.
- Minimum income: if the applicant has no dependent family members, it is equal to the annual amount of the assegno sociale (social allowance) (€6,542.51 for 2023). This is increased by half (€3,271.26) for each dependent family member.
- Suitable accommodation: it must meet the minimum standards set by law for public housing.
- No danger: the applicant must not be considered a danger to public order and state security.
- Knowledge of Italian: an A2-level certificate issued by a recognised body.
Who cannot apply?
Under Art. 9, paragraph 3 of the TUI (Testo Unico Immigrazione, the Consolidated Immigration Act), the long-term residence permit cannot be issued to holders of the following types of residence permit:
- study or vocational training (Art. 9, paragraph 3(a) TUI);
- asylum application;
- medical treatment (Art. 36 TUI);
- social protection (Art. 18 TUI);
- natural disasters (Art. 20-bis TUI);
- victims of domestic violence (Art. 18-bis TUI);
- labour exploitation (Art. 22, paragraph 12-quater TUI);
- acts of particular civic merit (Art. 42-bis TUI);
- special protection (Art. 32, paragraph 3, Legislative Decree no. 25/08).
- Consequently, anyone holding a permit other than those listed can apply for the EU permit.
Let’s clear up, once and for all, a doubt that many people have: time spent holding these permits can be counted towards the 5 years of residence, because they are not short stays but genuine long stays. You simply have to convert them into another type of permit before you can apply for the long-term residence permit (absurd? Yes, but those are the rules).
If you want to go deeper, Art. 9, paragraph 5 of the TUI provides that periods of stay for the reasons listed in letters (d) and (e) of paragraph 3 are not counted when calculating the period referred to in paragraph 1. Therefore, the following cannot be counted towards the 5 years:
- periods of short stay (tourism, business, short study courses);
- periods of stay as the holder of a legal status provided for by the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, the 1969 Convention on Special Missions or the 1975 Vienna Convention on the Representation of States in their Relations with International Organisations of a Universal Character.
What income is required for the long-term residence permit in 2026?
- Applicants for the indefinite residence permit must have a gross annual income no lower than the annual amount of the assegno sociale, which for 2026 is €7,002.97 per year over 13 monthly payments (€538.69 per month).
- To prove the income requirement, you must provide your latest tax return or CU form (annual income certificate).
If you have dependent family members, including children under 14, the EU permit applicant must have an income no lower than the annual amount of the assegno sociale increased by half for each family member.
So:
- €10,504.45 for 1 family member (even if under 14);
- €14,005.94 for 2 family members;
- €17,507.43 for 3 family members.
If you do not reach these income levels, remember that the income of family members living with you can also be taken into account.
Which documents are needed for the indefinite residence permit?
Here is a complete list of the documents required for the long-term residence permit:
- Form 1 (personal details, residence and marital status) and Form 2 (income details) of the kit postale (post office application kit), filled in;
- copies of your identity documents (passport, codice fiscale (Italian tax code), residence permit);
- proof of income (employment contract and last three payslips);
- certificate of the casellario giudiziale (criminal record) and of carichi pendenti (pending criminal charges), to be requested from the court;
- certificate of suitable accommodation issued by the municipality;
- copy of the residence certificate and family status certificate;
- proof of knowledge of the Italian language (Italian lower or upper secondary school diploma, university degree or A2 language certificate);
- Marca da bollo (revenue stamp) of €16;
- postal payment slip of €130.46 (€30.46 for the card and €100 contribution).
On the day of your appointment at the Questura you will also need to show the original post office receipt for sending the kit, 4 passport-size photos (and the same number for each minor child), your original passport and the originals of all the documents listed above.
How much does the long-term residence permit cost?
The cost of the indefinite residence permit is €130.46, paid by postal payment slip, + €30 for postage + €16 for the marca da bollo, for a total of €176.46.
There are some exceptions:
- when updating the permit, you do not pay the €100 contribution, so the postal payment slip is only €30.46;
- holders of a political asylum permit also do not have to pay the €100 contribution.
How can SH Immigration Specialists help?
If you want to apply for the indefinite residence permit (in Italian) online from the comfort of your home, without risking a notice of intended refusal or making mistakes, you can rely on our specialists.
We will collect and check the necessary documents together and prepare the kit for you to send at the post office, so you will only need to go to the Questura for your fingerprints and to collect the finished residence permit.
This content provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.
What happens if the indefinite residence permit is refused?
It often happens that, after months of waiting, a refusal decision is issued. It is important to know that, in all administrative procedures, a refusal must be justified and notified to the foreign national through a preavviso di rigetto (notice of intended refusal, Art. 10-bis).
You must submit appropriate documents within 10 days for the procedure to resume.
If you have received a refusal decision, you can appeal to the Tribunale Amministrativo Regionale (TAR – Regional Administrative Court) within 60 days of the date the decision was notified.
When does the indefinite residence permit expire?
As I explained above, the indefinite EU residence permit is valid for 10 years from issue.
The expiry date is often not shown on the document, so you need to remember yourself that, after 10 years, you must prepare the kit postale to update your EU long-term residence permit.
How do you update the indefinite residence permit online?
As explained above, all residence permits marked “durata illimitata” (unlimited duration) are not really unlimited but must be updated.
The update application is submitted using the kit postale, attaching a photocopy of your valid passport and of the residence permit you currently hold.
An update is also needed when:
- you need to apply for the EU permit for a child under 14 born in Italy or who entered Italy with a family reunification or accompanying family member visa;
- your passport or personal details need to be changed.
Which documents are needed to update the indefinite residence permit?
Since holders of the indefinite residence permit do not have to renew their right of residence but only update the permit itself, the procedure is much simpler.
The documents for updating the indefinite residence permit are:
- Form 1 (personal details, residence and marital status) of the kit, filled in;
- copies of your identity documents (passport, codice fiscale, residence permit);
- Marca da bollo of €16;
- postal payment slip of €30.46 (for issuing the physical card).
On the day of your appointment at the Questura you will need to bring new photos, and also state your residence and domicile address if it has changed (otherwise you will have to start all over again).
When can the long-term residence permit be revoked?
The long-term residence permit can be revoked in the following cases:
- it was obtained fraudulently;
- the foreign national is a danger to public order and state security;
- absence from the EU for 12 consecutive months;
- expulsion from Italy.
Only when the permit is revoked because of absence from the country is it possible to obtain the long-term residence permit again after 3 years.
In the meantime, you can apply for another type of residence permit if you meet the conditions.
