In short. The residence permit for job seekers in Italy (permesso di soggiorno per attesa occupazione) protects a non-EU employee who loses a job: under Article 22(11) of Legislative Decree 286/1998, losing the job is not a ground for revoking the permit, and even if you resigned you may file a declaration of immediate availability for work (DID). The effects of the DID last for the rest of the permit and, unless it is a seasonal-work permit, for at least one year, or for longer while income support lasts. Students and researchers have similar permits of 9 to 12 months.
Losing your job does not, in itself, mean losing your residence permit. This guide covers duration, the application, costs, renewal and similar permits for graduates and researchers.
Reviewed 19 October 2026. This guide describes the general rules from official sources. It is not personalised advice: your case should be checked with the questura (the local police headquarters that issues permits) or a professional.
What is the residence permit for job seekers in Italy?
It lets a non-EU worker stay lawfully in Italy while looking for new work after losing the previous job. Its legal basis is Article 22(11) of the Consolidated Immigration Act (Legislative Decree 286/1998, the “TUI”); the Interior Ministry’s Immigration Portal lists it as “Codice 05 – Attesa occupazione”.
It is not a visa and cannot be requested from abroad: it concerns people already in Italy on a permit for employment. The Portal asks for neither a new nulla osta (the work authorisation issued by the one-stop immigration desk, the Sportello Unico) nor a new contract. For the permit you start from, see our guide to the Italian residence permit for employment; to compare permit types, go to Types of Italian residence permit.
Who can get it, and for how long?
The main case is an employee holding a permit for subordinate work who loses the job; the law says expressly that resignation counts. In outline:
- losing the job is not a ground for revoking the permit, either yours or that of your lawfully resident family members;
- you may file a DID with the unified labour-policy information system (Article 19 of Legislative Decree 150/2015);
- the effects of the DID last for the remaining validity of the permit and, unless it is a seasonal-work permit, for at least one year, or for as long as any income support you receive lasts if that is longer;
- after that, the income requirements of Article 29(3)(b) TUI apply.
According to the Interior Ministry circular of 3 October 2016, the one-year minimum does not limit later renewals. The law also provides for priority over newly arriving non-EU workers, on terms set by the implementing regulation.
What is the DID, and how do you prove you are unemployed?
The DID is your declaration that you are unemployed and available for work; the Ministry of Labour says it formally marks the start of unemployment status. You can file it online on the Portal for active labour policies (the “Servizi Lavoro” page, service “Did online”), on regional portals where they exist, or in person at the employment centre (centro per l’impiego, the public office that helps people find work). An online DID is accepted “with reservation”: at your first contact with the employment centre you confirm your status and identity.
With the permit application you attach the certificate of the declaration made at the employment centre or, if you receive income support, the INPS communication confirming it. One example is NASpI, which the INPS page describes as being for people who lose their job involuntarily: its conditions are separate from those of the permit, which also covers resignation.
How and where do you apply?
For this permit the Portal provides for issue, renewal, conversion, update and duplicate requests, lodged at Sportello Amico post offices with the yellow-banded postal kit (kit postale), a pack of forms. In practice:
- you complete Forms 1 and 2 and attach a photocopy of the whole passport, the DID certificate or INPS communication and, for a renewal, update or conversion, a copy of your current permit;
- you buy the revenue stamp and pay the postal slips;
- you hand the kit in at the counter (in person, with your passport) and receive a receipt with codes for tracking the case online;
- you go to the questura on the date given for fingerprinting, with four passport-size photographs on a white background.
Not every application goes through the post office: the Portal lists a “permit expired for more than 60 days” among those lodged at the questura. For help with the paperwork, see our residence permit page.
When must you apply, and what changed in 2026?
Legislative Decree 83/2026, which implements the EU single permit directive (Directive (EU) 2024/1233), appeared in Official Gazette no. 115 of 20 May 2026 and applies from 22 May 2026. For this permit:
- Article 22(11) was not amended: the text reproduced in the Gazette speaks of the DID, not of “placement lists”, as some older texts still do;
- Article 5(4) TUI now says renewal must be requested at least 90 days before expiry, instead of 60;
- the time limit for issuing, renewing or converting a permit is 90 days from the application, instead of 60, if the requirements are met (unless special rules apply, such as the 30 days from the completed application for the single permit).
The information pages we consulted (the Portal, July 2024, and its general information sheet, ed. 10/20) pre-date the change and give limits of 30 to 90 days depending on the permit, so apply as early as you can and ask the questura which limit it applies. With the receipt you can generally stay and work on certain conditions (Article 5(9-bis)): see our guide to working with your residence permit receipt.
What does it cost?
The Portal’s cost table (last updated 22 July 2024) lists a €16 revenue stamp, €30.46 for the electronic permit, €30 for Poste Italiane’s service and a contribution of €40 (duration over 3 months up to 1 year) or €50 (over 1 year up to 2 years). For an update, conversion or duplicate the postal slip is €30.46, with no contribution. Amounts can change, so check the current table before paying.
What happens when it expires, or when you find work?
Once the period set by law ends, renewal needs annual income from lawful sources at least equal to the assegno sociale (the INPS social allowance) under Article 29(3)(b); the 2016 circular allows the income of cohabiting family members to be added. With a new contract, the questura assesses whether it will produce that income (hours, fixed-term or permanent) and examines each case individually, including social integration.
If you find new work, ask the questura how to update the permit: the Portal provides for conversion and update requests but does not list the documents. See our guides to permits that allow work and can be converted and to residence permit renewal.
Are there other job-seeking permits?
Besides the permit for workers who lose a job, the TUI provides two others, for looking for work or starting a business after studies or research.
| Point | Worker who loses a job | Graduate (when the study permit expires) | Researcher (when the research permit expires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | Art. 22(11) (Codice 05) | Art. 39-bis.1 (Codice 30) | Art. 27-ter(9-bis) (Codice 28) |
| Duration | Remaining validity and at least 1 year (not seasonal workers); longer while income support lasts | 9 to 12 months | 9 to 12 months |
| Conditions | DID; then the income test of Art. 29(3)(b) | Qualification obtained in Italy; income; health cover; DID | Research completed; income; health cover; DID |
| Afterwards | Renewal if the requirements are met | Conversion into a work permit, if the requirements are met | As for graduates; family members’ permits renewed for the same period |
For graduates, a qualification obtained in Italy counts (doctorate, master’s, bachelor’s or specialist degree, academic diploma or higher technical diploma); researchers attach the research institution’s certificate of completion. See Student residence permit in Italy, Convert a Study Permit to a Work Permit in Italy and Research visa Italy and residence permit official guide.
For self-employment and family permits, the Portal pages we consulted show no dedicated job-seeking permit: check your case with the questura or a professional. For family members, the law only extends the protection against revocation. On self-employment, see Self-Employment Visa and Residence Permit in Italy.
What problems can come up?
- Permit already expired. According to the Integrazione Migranti portal, a renewal request can still be filed within 60 days after expiry (with an exception for force majeure); after that, with no request, the person is regarded as irregular. See our guide to an expired residence permit.
- Different practices. Documents requested, length granted and time limits can differ between questure.
- Refusal or notice of intent to refuse. Legal time limits apply to replying to a notice and to any appeal: read our guide to the notice of refusal under Article 10-bis. For legal help, see Immigration Lawyer in Italy.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the residence permit for job seekers in Italy last?
The effects of the DID last for the remaining validity of the permit and, apart from seasonal work, at least one year, or for longer while income support such as NASpI lasts. The length shown on the permit depends on the case: ask the questura.
Do I lose my permit if I resign?
Not automatically. Losing the job is not a ground for revoking the permit, and even if you resigned you can file the DID. When the protected period ends, the income requirements of Article 29(3)(b) apply. NASpI is different: INPS applies its own rules and reserves it for people who lose their job involuntarily.
How do I prove to the questura that I am unemployed?
Attach the certificate of the declaration made at the employment centre or, if you receive income support, the INPS communication confirming it. The DID can be filed online on the Ministry of Labour portal, on some regional portals or at the employment centre.
How much does the permit cost?
According to the Immigration Portal’s table of 22 July 2024: a €16 revenue stamp, €30.46 for the electronic permit, €30 for Poste Italiane and a contribution of €40 or €50. Amounts can change, so check the current table.
Official sources
- Codice 05 – Attesa occupazione – Immigration Portal, Ministry of the Interior (Italian text)
- Codice 30 – Student, job search (Art. 39-bis.1) – Immigration Portal, Ministry of the Interior (Italian text)
- Codice 28 – Researcher, job search (Art. 27-ter) – Immigration Portal, Ministry of the Interior (Italian text)
- Cost tables – Immigration Portal, Ministry of the Interior (Italian text)
- Legislative Decree no. 83 of 16 April 2026 – Gazzetta Ufficiale (Italian text)
- Legislative Decree no. 71 of 11 May 2018 – Gazzetta Ufficiale (Italian text)
- Interior Ministry circular no. 4084 of 3 October 2016 – Ministry of Labour (Italian text)
- Declaration of immediate availability for work (DID) – Ministry of Labour (Italian text)
The sources were consulted on 19 October 2026, as were the INPS and Integrazione Migranti pages cited in the text. The Immigration Portal pages date from 2024 and may not reflect the 2026 changes, so always check the latest instructions of the competent office.
How can SH Immigration Specialists help?
We can help you check the requirements, prepare the DID and the postal kit documents, and follow the application through to the questura appointments. Legal advice, appeals and representation are handled by the lawyers of the SH Immigration Specialists law firm. 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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Which other guides may help you?
- Italian residence permit for employment: requirements, duration and costs
- Residence Permit Renewal in Italy: When, Costs and Documents
- Expired residence permit in Italy: what to do, late renewal and risks
- Which residence permits allow work and can be converted
- Convert a Study Permit to a Work Permit in Italy
