In short. A foreign national in Italy who has no passport and cannot obtain one can apply to the Questura for a travel document for foreigners (titolo di viaggio), which replaces the passport. Refugees and holders of subsidiary protection are entitled to it under Legislative Decree 251/2007, and case law has extended it to other residence permit holders who prove they cannot get a passport. The courts have also held that a residence permit can be renewed without a passport.
It often happens that a foreign national in Italy does not have a passport, because they fled their country or, more simply, because of problems renewing it at their home country’s Embassy in Italy.
If you are a foreigner without a passport, or you cannot renew it for any reason, this article is for you. We will explain how to obtain a travel document (titolo di viaggio) for foreigners, one of the identity documents that can replace an ordinary passport.
What should a foreigner without a passport do?
Let us start from the fact that, as provided for by Article 6(3) of the Testo Unico Immigrazione (Consolidated Immigration Act), foreign nationals are required to show, on request, both their passport (or another equivalent document) and their permesso di soggiorno (residence permit).
The documents equivalent to a passport are the following:
- Refugee travel document;
- Travel document for stateless persons and foreigners;
- Seaman’s book;
- Air crew document;
- United Nations laissez-passer;
- Document issued by a NATO Headquarters;
- Identity card for citizens of EU Member States;
- Laissez-passer.
If you already have registered residence in Italy, the Italian identity card and driving licence count as valid identity documents, as we will see in more detail shortly.
If, on the other hand, you have none of these documents, because you are a political refugee or for other reasons cannot obtain a passport from your country of origin, read the following sections. If you have no documents at all, see also our guide for undocumented foreigners in Italy.
What is the refugee travel document?
Foreign nationals holding refugee status are granted, under Article 24 of Legislative Decree 251/2007, a travel document for foreigners. The same article also protects holders of subsidiary protection status, even though this is a weaker form of international protection than refugee status, because in both cases the foreign national is unable to deal with the authorities of their country of origin.
You apply at the Questura (police immigration office), booking an appointment via the PrenotaFacile website where available and paying a fee of €42.22 by postal payment slip.
The refugee travel document fully replaces the passport, allowing you to travel freely, except, for obvious reasons, to your country of origin, as this would lead to the revocation of refugee status.
What is the travel document for foreigners and stateless persons in Italy?
We now come to the heart of the matter: can a foreigner with a valid residence permit who is unable to renew their passport for other reasons apply for a travel document?
The answer is a clear yes! The question was settled definitively by the Consiglio di Stato (Council of State) with order no. 3552 of 2018, which established the right of foreign nationals to obtain a travel document even where it is not possible to obtain a passport from the consular authorities of their own country.
This right exists not only when the impossibility arises from the risk of contact with the authorities of the country of origin, but also when it is objective in nature, for example because of practices or domestic rules that make it impossible to issue the document.
As a result, the travel document can be requested directly from the Questore if you have a written statement from the Embassy certifying that it cannot issue the passport, or where there are subjective or objective reasons preventing you from obtaining one, such as a well-founded fear of approaching the diplomatic mission, the impossibility of providing the required documents or the lack of a consulate in Italy.
In any case, you must provide adequate documentation that fully demonstrates the reasons why your country’s diplomatic or consular mission cannot issue a passport.
The TAR of Naples (Regional Administrative Court) has ruled along the same lines, in judgment no. 1669 of 19/02/2021, recognising the right to a travel document for an adult foreign national holding a residence permit not linked to any form of protection.
The TAR points out that all foreign nationals are entitled to a travel document if they cannot obtain a passport, and that this impossibility must be understood broadly, including cases of practical impossibility linked to how the consulate is organised.
Finally, the TAR notes that proof of this impossibility can be provided through evidence of any kind: reminders sent to the consulate, unanswered appointment requests, train tickets, and so on.
How much does the travel document cost?
The travel document for foreigners, which is valid for 5 years, costs a little more than the refugee travel document, because in addition to the €42.22 you must also pay a government licence fee (tassa di concessione governativa) of €73.50.
The application procedure is the same as for the refugee travel document: you simply select the “titolo di viaggio per stranieri” (travel document for foreigners) option on the application form to be submitted to the Questura.
Can you renew your residence permit without a passport?
In an ideal Italy, a foreigner without a passport would only need to visit the Questura to obtain a travel document quickly.
Unfortunately, reality is quite different. Even assuming that the Questura does not resist issuing a travel document to a foreigner who does not hold refugee status, waiting times for an appointment can exceed six months.
It is therefore reasonable to ask whether a passport is mandatory for a residence permit renewal. Once again, the answer comes from the Tribunale di Roma (Court of Rome) with an order of 10 March 2022, which clarifies that in any case, under Article 9(3)(a) of DPR no. 394/1999 (Presidential Decree implementing the Consolidated Immigration Act), issuing a residence permit does not necessarily require a passport, as this identity document can be replaced by “another equivalent document” showing “the nationality, the date (even if only the year) and the place of birth of the persons concerned”.
The Court applied common sense, recognising that, once the foreigner has been registered for the first time, has been issued a residence permit and even an identity card (which is a fully valid identity document), it would be absurd to keep insisting on a passport.
In the specific case decided by the Court, the applicant did not even have any identity document at all, only a dichiarazione sostitutiva (self-certification) of her personal details made in the presence of two witnesses before the Comune (municipality) of Rome. According to the judge, even this declaration is sufficient to identify the person as regards the details needed to issue and renew the residence permit, since these can be self-certified by law.
Frequently asked questions
Who can get a travel document for foreigners in Italy?
Refugees and holders of subsidiary protection are entitled to it under Article 24 of Legislative Decree 251/2007. Following Council of State order no. 3552 of 2018 and TAR Naples judgment no. 1669 of 2021, other residence permit holders can also obtain it if they document that they cannot get a passport from their consulate.
How do I prove that I cannot obtain a passport?
You can provide a written statement from your Embassy certifying that it cannot issue the passport. According to the TAR of Naples, evidence of any kind is acceptable, such as reminders sent to the consulate, unanswered appointment requests or train tickets. You must fully document why the consular mission cannot issue the passport.
How much does the travel document cost and how long is it valid?
The refugee travel document requires a fee of €42.22 paid by postal payment slip. The travel document for foreigners, valid for 5 years, also requires a government licence fee (tassa di concessione governativa) of €73.50. You apply at the Questura, booking via PrenotaFacile where available.
Can I travel to my country of origin with a refugee travel document?
No. The refugee travel document fully replaces the passport and allows you to travel freely, except to your country of origin. Travelling there would lead to the revocation of refugee status, because it suggests that you are no longer unable to deal with the authorities of that country.
Is a passport mandatory to renew a residence permit?
Not necessarily. In an order of 10 March 2022, the Court of Rome held that under Article 9(3)(a) of DPR 394/1999 the passport can be replaced by an equivalent document showing nationality, date and place of birth, and even by a self-certification made before the Comune with two witnesses.
Official sources
- Legislative Decree 286/1998 (Consolidated Immigration Act) — Normattiva
- Legislative Decree 251/2007, Art. 24 — Normattiva
- Presidential Decree 394/1999 — Normattiva
- PrenotaFacile — Polizia di Stato
Sources were consulted on 15 October 2026. Fees and procedures may change: always check the latest instructions of the competent office.
How can SH Immigration Specialists help?
SH Immigration Specialists helps you collect the evidence that you cannot obtain a passport, prepare the travel document application for the Questura and plan the renewal of your residence permit. For legal matters such as appeals and legal advice, for example after a refusal, SH Immigration Specialists works with qualified lawyers. 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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