This page is for non-EU citizens who live in Italy, or plan to, and need to know which residence permit to apply for, renew or convert: you will find the complete list and our guides. SH Immigration Specialists provides administrative assistance with residence permits, and the firm’s lawyers handle legal advice and appeals (about the law firm).
In short. The types of residence permit in Italy are distinguished by reason: work, family, study and research, protection and special cases, health and long-term residence. The Ministry of the Interior’s Immigration Portal sorts them by reason and by office: some applications go to the post office with the postal kit, others only to the Questura. Legislative Decree 83/2026, which applies from 22 May 2026, changed art. 5 of the Consolidated Act: renewal at least 90 days before expiry and a decision within 90 days (30 for the single work permit).
Page updated in October 2026 using the official sources listed at the bottom. Rules change, so we always check the latest instructions.
What is a residence permit and who needs one?
A residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) is the document that lets a non-EU citizen stay in Italy. The questore, meaning the Questura (the local police headquarters), issues it for a specific reason: work, family, study, protection and others. If you enter to stay for more than three months, you must apply within eight working days of arriving (Consolidated Immigration Act, or Testo unico, Legislative Decree 286/1998, art. 5(2)).
The official sources we read give no total number of permit “types”: the Ministry of the Interior’s Immigration Portal sorts applications by office (post office or Questura) and, at the post office, by reason (work, study or research, family). The table below brings together the Portal’s entries and those provided for by law. Do not confuse a permit with other documents:
- Visa. It authorises entry and is issued by embassies and consulates: see the types of Italian visa. For stays of up to three months you normally need a declaration of presence, not a permit.
- EU citizens and family. EU citizens do not apply for a permit: after three months they register with the town hall (Legislative Decree 30/2007, art. 9). Their non-EU family members apply to the Questura for a carta di soggiorno (residence card for family members of EU citizens), valid for five years (art. 10).
- EU long-term residence permit. As a rule, after at least five years on a valid permit, with a minimum income, suitable housing and an Italian test (Consolidated Act, art. 9): the most stable status. For citizenship, see the types of Italian citizenship.
What are all the types of residence permit in Italy?
One row for each permit, grouped by reason. For work and family permits you normally need a nulla osta (authorisation) from the Sportello Unico per l’immigrazione, the one-stop immigration desk at the Prefecture, before the visa. “TU” is the Consolidated Immigration Act. “Post office” means the postal kit (Sportello Amico counter) and “Questura” the Immigration Office. Durations appear only where officially verified.
| Permit | What it is for | Legal basis | Where to apply | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment (as an employee) Work | Working as an employee, normally after a nulla osta and a visa. Up to 1 year (fixed-term) or 2 (open-ended); each renewal up to 3 years. | Arts. 5, 5-bis, 22 TU | Post office | Employment permit |
| Seasonal work Work | Seasonal jobs: 20 days to 9 months. A multi-year permit exists for people who came as seasonal workers in the last 5 years. | Art. 24 TU | Post office (multi-year: Questura) | Seasonal work |
| Self-employment Work | Working as a professional or business owner; renewal needs an income at least equal to the social allowance. Up to 2 years, each renewal up to 3 years. | Arts. 5 and 26 TU | Post office | Self-employment |
| Work in special cases (Art. 27) Work | Special categories, for example highly specialised staff, university lecturers, translators, artists, sportspeople, journalists and nurses. | Art. 27 TU | Post office | Work, Art. 27 |
| EU Blue Card Work | Highly qualified work, with a nulla osta. The qualification and salary required are in the guide. | Art. 27-quater TU | See the guide | EU Blue Card |
| Intra-corporate transfer (ICT) Work | Workers of a group of companies outside the EU transferred to Italy for a limited period; there is also a permit for mobility between EU States. | Arts. 27-quinquies and 27-sexies TU | Questura | ICT transfer · ICT mobility |
| Researcher Work | Research at an institute, with a hosting agreement and a nulla osta; mobility from another EU State is also provided for. | Art. 27-ter TU | Post office | Research |
| Working holiday Work | A temporary stay, with limits on work, for citizens of countries that have an agreement with Italy. | Agreements with individual countries | Questura | Working holiday |
| Digital nomads and remote workers Work | Working remotely or on your own account with digital tools: a dedicated visa, then the permit at the Questura within eight working days. | Art. 27 TU; interministerial decree of 29 February 2024 | Questura | Digital nomads |
| Investors and innovative start-ups Work | Investors: first the clearance of the Investor Visa for Italy committee, then the visa. Innovative start-up: the Portal lists it among the applications made at the Questura. | Art. 26-bis TU (investors) | Questura | Investor visa |
| Mission Work | For people sent to Italy by public or private bodies or international organisations on an official assignment. | Not stated by the Portal | Post office | — |
| Job-seeking (attesa occupazione) Work | To look for work after losing a job (art. 22(11)) or, for students and researchers, after their studies or research (9–12 months). | Arts. 22, 39-bis.1 and 27-ter TU | Post office | Job-seeking permit |
| Family reasons, including minor children Family | Living in Italy with a family member who is lawfully resident (family reunification). Same duration as theirs, within 2 years on issue and 3 on renewal. | Arts. 29, 30 and 31 TU | Post office | Family reunification · Accompanying family |
| Family member of an Italian citizen Family | For the non-EU family member of an Italian citizen who has not exercised free movement: 5 years, renewable and convertible into work. | Art. 23(1-bis), Leg. Decree 30/2007 | Post office | Italian citizens |
| Residence card for family of an EU citizen Family | For the non-EU family member of an EU citizen living in Italy: apply after three months from entry; valid for 5 years, then a permanent card exists. | Arts. 10 and 17, Leg. Decree 30/2007 | Questura or post office | EU family card |
| Cohabitation with an Italian relative Family | For people who live with an Italian spouse or an Italian relative within the degree of kinship set by law and cannot be expelled. The Portal: “Famiglia ex art. 19 TUI”. | Art. 19(2)(c) TU | Questura | Cohabitation |
| Minor age and integration Family | Unaccompanied foreign minors can apply themselves for the minor-age permit, which lasts until 18. Then, with a Juvenile Court decree, an integration permit until 21. | Art. 10, Law 47/2017; art. 11(1)(c-sexies), DPR 394/1999 | Questura | — |
| Care of minors and foster care Family | For minors in foster care and for a relative the Juvenile Court allows to stay for serious reasons linked to the child’s development. | Art. 31 TU | Questura (issue); post office (renewal) | Article 31 permit |
| Study and training Study | Student, pupil, trainee: courses, vocational training and traineeships. Part-time work up to 20 hours a week and 1,040 hours a year (Portal). | Arts. 39 and 39-bis TU | Post office | Student permit |
| Volunteering Study | Volunteering for young people aged 25 to 35, up to one year, with a nulla osta from the one-stop desk. | Art. 27-bis TU | See the guide | Volunteering |
| Asylum and international protection Protection | From 12 June 2026 the new EU asylum rules apply: applicants’ documents change and the wait before they can work rises to 90 days from the formalisation of the application. Refugees and subsidiary protection holders get a permit, renewable at the post office. | Leg. Decrees 251/2007 and 25/2008; Decree-Law 100/2026 | Questura (issue); post office (renewal) | New asylum rules · International protection |
| Special protection Protection | For people who cannot be expelled or returned (risk of persecution or torture). Normally obtained at the end of the international protection procedure; it lasts 2 years. | Art. 19 TU; art. 32(3), Leg. Decree 25/2008 | Questura | Special protection |
| Special cases Protection | Victims of trafficking, violence or serious exploitation (art. 18), of domestic violence (18-bis) and of labour exploitation (18-ter). Other permits in the Consolidated Act: disasters (20-bis) and acts of particular civic value (42-bis). | Arts. 18, 18-bis, 18-ter, 20-bis, 42-bis TU | Questura | Special cases |
| Temporary protection Protection | For people displaced en masse from a non-EU country, at present mainly from Ukraine; it lasts as long as the protection, decided at EU level. | Directive 2001/55/EC; art. 20 TU | Questura | Temporary protection |
| Statelessness and acquiring citizenship Protection | Statelessness: for people who have applied for stateless status. Citizenship: for permit holders who have started the procedure; it lasts as long as the procedure and is convertible into work in the cases set by law. | Art. 11(1)(c), DPR 394/1999; Law 92/1991 | Post office (statelessness: issue at the Questura) | Types of citizenship |
| Reasons of justice Protection | At the request of the judicial authority, if your presence is needed for certain criminal proceedings: up to 3 months, extendable by another 3. | Art. 11(1)(c-bis), DPR 394/1999 | Questura | — |
| Medical treatment Health | Planned treatment on a visa (art. 36); particularly serious illness that cannot be adequately treated in the country of origin (art. 19, letter d-bis); pregnancy and six months after birth (letter d); parent of a minor (art. 31(3)). | Arts. 36, 19 and 31 TU | Questura | Medical treatment |
| EU long-term residence permit Long term | As a rule after 5 years on a valid permit (study and medical-treatment permits, for example, are excluded), with a minimum income, suitable housing and an Italian test (with exemptions). Valid for 10 years (5 for minors), renewed automatically on request. | Art. 9 TU | Post office | Residence card · Indefinite permit |
| Elective residence Long term | For people who want to settle in Italy without working, with a home and stable, independent means, for example a pension. Convertible into work. | Art. 11(1)(c-quater), DPR 394/1999 | Post office | Elective residence |
| Religious reasons Long term | For people carrying out religious activity: a declaration from the community (covering board and lodging) and health insurance are needed. Convertible into work. | Art. 5 TU; interministerial decree of 12 July 2000 | Post office | Religious reasons |
| Brexit withdrawal card Long term | For British citizens and their family members protected by the UK’s withdrawal agreement from the EU. | Not stated by the Portal | Questura | — |
Scroll the table sideways to see all the columns.
“Where to apply” follows the Immigration Portal (index of 4 November 2024, permit pages of 22 July 2024): check the latest instructions. DPR 394/1999 also provides a permit for emigration to another country (art. 11(1)(b)), which the Portal does not list.
Which permit is right for you? Guides by purpose
Start from what you want to do in Italy: each card points to the detailed guides on our site.
Employment, self-employment and seasonal work
You normally need a nulla osta, a visa and then the permit, with a duration tied to the contract.
- Residence permit for employment
- Self-employment visa and permit
- Seasonal work permit
- Work in special cases (Article 27)
- EU Blue Card
- Decreto Flussi 2027 application
- Job-seeking permit
Family, and family of Italian or EU citizens
From reunification to cohabitation, up to the residence card for family members of EU citizens.
Study, research and volunteering
You usually need enrolment or an invitation from the host body, means of support and health insurance.
- Student residence permit in Italy
- Study visa for Italy
- From study to work
- Research visa and permit
- Volunteering visa and permit
Asylum, protection and special cases
For people who apply for asylum, cannot be removed, or are victims of violence or exploitation.
- International protection in Italy
- Asylum: what changes with Decree-Law 100/2026
- Special protection
- Special cases
- Temporary protection
- End of reception measures
Medical treatment and healthcare
The medical-treatment permit covers several situations with different requirements.
- Medical treatment
- Health card and SSN registration
- Health insurance
Settled residence and other permits
After five years you can apply for the EU long-term residence permit; other permits cover elective residence, investment and remote work.
How do you apply for and renew a residence permit, step by step?
The steps vary by permit, but this is the Immigration Portal’s outline. For your case, read your permit’s guide and the latest Questura instructions.
- Find out which procedure applies to you. Some applications go to the post office with the kit postale (postal application kit), others only to the Questura (see “Where to apply”). For employment, research and family permits the first form is completed at the one-stop desk. If you enter to stay for more than three months, ask the questore for the permit within eight working days of arrival (art. 5(2)); see also declaration of presence in Italy.
- Get the kit and fill it in. The “yellow band” kit is available at every post office, but applications are accepted only at authorised counters (the Sportello Amico network), and a patronato (advice centre) or an authorised town hall will fill it in for free. Write in block capitals with a black pen, sign it and attach your passport and, for a renewal or conversion, a copy of your current permit.
- Pay the stamp duty and fees. According to the Portal (table dated 22 July 2024): a €16 revenue stamp; €30.46 to produce the permit; a contribution of €40 (over 3 months and up to 1 year), €50 (over 1 year and up to 2) or €100 (EU long-term residents, executives and specialised workers); and €30 for the Poste Italiane service. For an update, conversion or duplicate the payment slip is €30.46, with no contribution.
- Hand in the application, then go to the Questura. You hand in the open envelope yourself at the counter, with your passport, and receive a receipt with the codes to follow your case online. You are then called to the Questura for fingerprints and a photo: bring four passport photos on a white background and the second payment receipt.
- Wait for the decision. If you meet the requirements, the permit must be issued, renewed or converted within 90 days of the application (art. 5(9), as amended by Legislative Decree 83/2026, which applies from 22 May 2026; it used to be 60); for the new single work permit, within 30 days of a complete application. Meanwhile the receipt counts: see below.
- To renew, start early. Ask for renewal at least 90 days before expiry (art. 5(4), from Legislative Decree 83/2026; it used to be 60). The Portal and Integrazione Migranti pages predate the reform and still say 60, so apply as early as you can. See documents, costs, kit and timing for renewal.
What can you do with your residence permit receipt?
The receipt is the document you are given when you submit your application for issue, renewal or conversion. Meanwhile, art. 5(9-bis) of the Consolidated Act allows you to stay and work temporarily, provided the competent office has issued the receipt and the other conditions are met. This also applies if the 90-day deadline for the decision is not met, until the public security authority communicates the grounds that prevent the permit, which must also be given to the employer.
It is not a general authorisation: the type of permit, the date of the application and any communications from the authorities all matter. For workers and employers, read Working with your residence permit receipt. Travelling abroad with the receipt is subject to conditions and limits that depend on the case: first read Travelling with a residence permit receipt.
Can you change or convert a residence permit?
Sometimes you can. A conversione (conversion) turns one permit into another (for example from study to work) if the requirements are met, and is requested while the permit is still valid; the procedure depends on the permit you start from. Art. 6 of the Consolidated Act lets permits for employment, self-employment and family reasons be used for other permitted activities too, and study and training permits become work permits under the conditions set by law; paragraph 1-bis lists other permits convertible into work, including elective residence, acquiring citizenship or statelessness, sport, artistic work, religious reasons and care of minors.
Others, such as special protection, are normally not convertible. Read Which Italian residence permits allow work and which can be converted and, for students, Convert a study permit to a work permit. Family permits have their own rules (art. 30).
Expired permit, notice of refusal and appeals: what should you know?
Expired permit. Renewal must be requested before expiry. Integrazione Migranti says that up to 60 days after expiry you can still ask for renewal or conversion, unless there is force majeure; beyond that, with no application, you are treated as irregular. That page predates Legislative Decree 83/2026, so check the deadlines with our guide Expired residence permit in Italy.
Notice of refusal. Before rejecting your application, the administration must tell you the grounds that stand in the way. You have 10 days to submit written observations and documents (art. 10-bis, Law 241/1990), and the procedure’s deadline is suspended. Read Notice of Refusal under Article 10-bis.
Refusal and appeal. A questore’s decision is challenged before a court: as a rule the TAR (regional administrative court); for family-reason permits (art. 30(6)) and international-protection matters the ordinary court. Time limits are short and you will usually need a lawyer: the firm’s lawyers can assess your case. The outcome depends on the competent authorities.
Frequently asked questions about types of residence permit in Italy
How many types of residence permit are there in Italy?
The official sources we read give no total number. The Ministry of the Interior’s Immigration Portal sorts applications by office (post office or Questura) and, at the post office, by reason: work, study or research, family. The table on this page brings together its entries and those provided for by law.
Who needs a residence permit?
Non-EU citizens who stay in Italy for more than three months, normally applying within eight working days of arrival. EU citizens do not apply: after three months they register with the town hall. Their non-EU family members apply to the Questura for the carta di soggiorno.
What is the difference between a visa, a permit and a carta di soggiorno?
A visa authorises entry and is issued by embassies and consulates. A permit authorises you to stay and is requested in Italy. The carta di soggiorno is the document of non-EU family members of EU citizens. The EU long-term residence permit can be requested after at least five years on a valid permit, if you meet the requirements.
How long does it take to get or renew a permit?
If you meet the requirements, the permit must be issued, renewed or converted within 90 days of the application (art. 5(9), Consolidated Act, from 22 May 2026; it used to be 60); for the single work permit, within 30 days of a complete application. In practice, timing varies from one Questura to another.
Can I work with my residence permit receipt?
Under certain conditions, yes. Art. 5(9-bis) allows you to stay and work while waiting for issue, renewal or conversion, if the office has issued the receipt, until any communication of the grounds preventing the permit. It is not a general authorisation: check your case in the dedicated guide.
What happens if my residence permit has expired?
Renewal must be requested before expiry. According to Integrazione Migranti, you can still apply up to 60 days afterwards, unless there is force majeure; beyond that, with no application, you are treated as irregular. That page predates the 2026 reform, so check the deadlines.
Can I convert one permit into another without leaving Italy?
In many cases yes, if you meet the requirements and apply while the permit is still valid. The Consolidated Act provides for conversion into work from, for example, study and training, elective residence, religious reasons and care of minors. Some permits, such as special protection, are normally not convertible.
What should I do if I receive a notice of refusal?
You have 10 days from receipt to submit written observations and documents (art. 10-bis, Law 241/1990), and the procedure’s deadline is suspended. If the application is rejected, you can appeal to a court, normally with a lawyer and within short time limits. The outcome depends on the competent authorities.
Official sources
- Residence permit applications for non-EU citizens (index; Italian text) – Immigration Portal, Ministry of the Interior
- The procedure: postal kit, post office and Questura (Italian text) – Immigration Portal, Ministry of the Interior
- Cost tables for residence permits (Italian text) – Immigration Portal, Ministry of the Interior
- Legislative Decree no. 83 of 16 April 2026 (Official Gazette no. 115 of 20 May 2026; Italian text) – Gazzetta Ufficiale
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Consolidated Immigration Act (text in force on 5 February 2025; Italian text) – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- DPR 394/1999, implementing regulation of the Consolidated Act (art. 11; Italian text) – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Legislative Decree 30/2007, free movement of EU citizens and their families (Italian text) – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Expiring or expired residence permits: what to do (Italian text) – Integrazione Migranti
- Administrative procedure and art. 10-bis of Law 241/1990 (Italian text) – Chamber of Deputies
- Decree-Law 100/2026 converted into law: first phase of the Asylum and Migration Pact (Italian text) – Integrazione Migranti
- Inclusion Allowance (ADI) for holders of “special cases” residence permits (arts. 18, 18-bis, 18-ter; Italian text) – Ministry of Labour
- Temporary protection – European Commission
Sources consulted on 19 October 2026. The Immigration Portal’s information pages date from 2024 and may not reflect Legislative Decree 83/2026; fees, deadlines and procedures change and vary from one Questura to another, so always check the latest instructions. The outcome depends on the competent authorities. This content provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.
Useful guides
- Residence permit renewal
- Expired residence permit
- Working with the receipt
- Travelling with the receipt
- Permits convertible to work
- From study to work
- Notice of refusal, Article 10-bis
- Residence permit for employment
- Student residence permit in Italy
- Special protection permit
- Job-seeking permit
- Family reunification
- Permanent residence card
- Types of Italian visa
- Types of Italian citizenship
Not sure which residence permit you need?
Write to us through the contact page or WhatsApp: we can help you understand which permit fits your situation and prepare your application, renewal or conversion. Legal advice, notices of refusal and appeals are handled by the firm’s lawyers. The outcome depends on the competent authorities.