Series of articles about permesso
Timelines at the questura by city
Permesso renewal
Residence permits in Italy: all types
Flights with the ricevuta
Contents
- What is permesso di soggiorno
- Types of permesso di soggiorno in 2026
- Before arrival: visa D and documents for permesso
- KIT by mail: how to apply for permesso in Italy
- Fingerprints at the questura: how to get permesso in Italy
- Ricevuta: what it gives and what it doesn't
- Documents for permesso: full list 2026
- Timeline: from KIT submission to the card
- Collecting the plastic card
- Common problems and how to solve them
- Conclusions
What is permesso di soggiorno in 2026
This guide is about permesso. For all types of residence permits see here.
What is a permesso di soggiorno (permesso di soggiorno), how does it differ from a visa D, and what form does the document take?
Permesso di soggiorno (permesso di soggiorno) is a residence permit in Italy — a plastic biometric card that gives you the right to legally live, work and move within the Schengen area. If you are looking for information on how to obtain a permesso in Italy for the first time — this article is for you. It contains a complete step-by-step guide: from preparing documents for the permesso to receiving the physical card.
The most common question for newcomers is: how is a visa D different from a permesso di soggiorno? Visa D is an entry permit issued as a sticker in your passport at the consulate. Permesso is the residence permit, a separate card issued in Italy by the questura. The visa is valid for 90 days — during that time you must submit permesso documents to the questura.
Visa D (visto d'ingresso)
Stuck in the passport
Issued by the consulate abroad
Valid up to 90 days
Gives the right to enter Italy
Permesso (permesso di soggiorno)
Plastic card with a chip
Issued by the questura in Italy
Valid 1–2 years (depends on the type)
Gives the right to reside and work
Since the 2020s permesso di soggiorno is issued only in electronic format — permesso elettronico. It is a plastic card the size of a bank card, with a photo, a biometric chip and fingerprints. The old paper format (cartaceo) is no longer issued to new applicants — you may only encounter it with those who received residence permits before the switch to electronic format.
Community member, Milan
"I received my first permesso for one year, after 10 months in Italy. It had an error in the codice. I didn’t change it because I already needed to apply for renewal."
Experience of first-time permesso application
On the plastic card the following are indicated: your name, date of birth, citizenship, permesso type (reason — e.g., lavoro autonomo or studio), validity period, work rights and the questura code. The card contains a chip with fingerprints — that is why the process includes a visit to the questura for fingerprinting.
Elettronico vs cartaceo
In 2026 all primary permesso di soggiorno are issued electronically (permesso elettronico). You may encounter the paper format (cartaceo) only in old documents. If someone you know tells you about a paper permesso — they received it before the electronic format was introduced.
Types of permesso di soggiorno in 2026: which one fits you
What types of permesso di soggiorno exist in 2026 and how do they differ?
The permesso type is determined by the ground for residing in Italy. Each type has its own document requirements, durations and rights. Here are the main types of permesso di soggiorno relevant in 2026:
Employed work for an Italian employer. The most common type for labor migrants. The employer arranges the nulla osta, then you obtain visa D and apply for permesso.
- Duration: 1–2 years
- Work rights: only for the specified employer
Self-employment and entrepreneurship. Requires nulla osta from the prefecture and an active Partita IVA. Detailed instructions in the article about lavoro autonomo.
- Duration: 1–2 years
- Work rights: self-employment
For remote workers with income from foreign clients or employers. Introduced in 2024. Details in the article on DN visa.
- Duration: 1 year (renewable)
- Minimum income: three times the social benefit amount
For university students, master’s students, language schools (long programs). Requires enrollment in an accredited institution.
- Duration: for the study period (usually 1 year)
- Work rights: up to 20 hours per week
Family reunification with an Italian resident. Requires nulla osta from the questura and sufficient income of the main applicant. More in the article on family reunification.
- Duration: matches the main applicant’s permesso
- Work rights: full
For wealthy foreigners with no employment in Italy. Requires proof of sufficient passive income or savings and accommodation.
- Duration: 1–2 years
- Work rights: none
International protection (asylum). Separate procedure via the territorial commission, not through the standard KIT. Processing times are significantly longer.
- Duration: 5 years (if approved)
- Work rights: full
Waiting for employment — if you lost your job but want to stay in Italy. Issued for 1 year during which you must find a new job.
- Duration: 1 year
- Work rights: yes, must find an employer
Which permesso type to choose?
The permesso di soggiorno type depends on the reason stated in your visa D. You cannot freely "choose" — the type is determined by what you specified when applying for the visa at the consulate. If you obtained a visa D for employment, you will apply for lavoro subordinato. If for study, for studio. A detailed overview of all residence permit types is in the separate article.
Before arrival: visa D and preparing documents for permesso
What should you do before arriving in Italy to ensure the permesso process goes smoothly?
How to get a permesso in Italy — the process starts long before arrival. The first step is obtaining a visa D at the Italian consulate in your country. Without visa D it is impossible to apply for permesso di soggiorno (exception — EU citizens, who do not need a permesso).
Getting visa D at the consulate
Documents for the permesso begin to be collected already at the visa stage. Many of them will be used twice: at the consulate and at the questura. The document list depends on the visa type (lavoro, studio, famiglia, etc.), but the basic set is the same.
Book an appointment at the consulate
Appointments through the Prenota Online system. Depending on the consulate, waiting for an appointment can take from 2 weeks to 3 months. Some consulates open slots once a week.
Collect documents for visa D
Passport (valid for at least 18 months), completed application form, photos, proof of the basis (contract, enrollment, nulla osta), financial guarantees, insurance.
Apostille and translation
Documents issued outside Italy require an apostille and a sworn translation (traduzione giurata). The apostille is placed in the issuing country. The translation must be done by a sworn translator registered at an Italian court.
Obtain the visa and enter Italy
After visa D approval you have 90 days to enter. But a more important deadline is 8 working days after entry to submit the KIT at the post office (explained below).
Immigration consultant
"The most common mistake is people arrive in Italy and relax. Yet they have 8 working days to send the KIT. In that time you must find housing, buy the envelope, fill it out and send it. If you are late — you’ve technically violated the law."
On the first days after arrival in Italy
8 working days — strict deadline
By law (TU Immigrazione, art. 5), a foreigner must submit an application for permesso di soggiorno within 8 working days after entering Italy. In practice small delays are usually not fined, but it’s better to meet the deadline — the questura may ask questions during the application if you’re late.
KIT by mail: the first step to obtaining a permesso in Italy
How to obtain a permesso in Italy via the post office — what is the KIT, where to buy the envelope and how to fill it out correctly?
KIT (Kit giallo) is a special yellow postal envelope sold only at Poste Italiane branches. The application for permesso di soggiorno is submitted through it. This is the first real procedural step — without it you cannot move forward.
Where to buy and how much it costs
KIT is sold at any Poste Italiane office that provides the “Sportello Amico” service. Not all post offices offer this — look for larger branches. The envelope itself is free, but upon submission you must pay:
-
✓Marca da bollo elettronica — €16
Stamp duty, paid at the post office
-
✓Bollettino postale (fee) — from €40 to €100
Depends on permesso type. For initial issuance usually around €70–100. For students — €40
-
✓Postal service fee — €30
Fee for processing and sending the envelope via Sportello Amico
-
✓Total: from €86 to €146
Plus photos (4 pcs) — from €5 in a photo booth
How to fill out the KIT
Inside the envelope there is a booklet with instructions and forms to fill out. Fill in block letters with a black pen.
Module 1 — personal details
Name, surname, date of birth, citizenship, passport number. All data must exactly match the passport — any mistake can cause delays.
Module 2 — reason for stay
Indicate the permesso di soggiorno type you are applying for: lavoro subordinato, lavoro autonomo, studio, motivi familiari, etc. The reason code is listed in the KIT instructions.
Module 3 — residence address
The address in Italy where you will be registered. Must match the rental contract or dichiarazione di ospitalita.
Enclose documents
Copies of passport, visa D, contract, insurance and all supporting documents. Originals will be needed at the fingerprint appointment at the questura — do not put originals in the envelope.
From community experience
"At the post office the operator only checks for completeness — not content. If photos or the marca are missing, they’ll wrap it back. But if you made a mistake in the passport number — that will surface later at the questura after several months."
Community member, Turin
Sending the KIT
After filling out and checking, the post office operator accepts the envelope, issues a ricevuta with the case number and assigns a date for fingerprinting (appuntamento). In some cities the date is sent later by SMS, in others it’s given immediately at the post office.
Submission deadline — 8 working days
KIT must be sent within 8 working days after entering Italy. Only working days count — weekends and public holidays are not included. In practice a small delay (up to 2 weeks) usually does not cause issues, but it’s better not to risk it.
Fingerprints at the questura: how to get a permesso in Italy in practice
What happens at the fingerprint appointment at the questura, what to bring and how long to wait for the appuntamento?
After sending the KIT you wait. The questura appoints you an appuntamento — the date to visit for giving fingerprints (impronte digitali). This is a key stage of permesso di soggiorno processing — here they check your documents and capture biometric data.
How long to wait for the appuntamento
Waiting times depend on the city and the questura’s workload. In 2026 the variation is huge:
| City | Waiting for fingerprints | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pescara | 20 days | Record among large cities |
| Asti | ~50 days | Small city, fast |
| Bresso (Milan suburb) | 4–5 months | Suburbs are also busy |
| Milan | 1–6 months | Depends on the questura (Via Falck is faster) |
| Genoa | 4–5 months | Consistently long |
| Turin | 5–6 months | Long queue |
| Rome | 5–6 months | Depends on the district questura |
For the full table by city with real community cases see the article on questura timelines.
What to bring to the fingerprint appointment
-
✓Passport
Original + copy of all pages with data and stamps, including visa D
-
✓Ricevuta from the post office
Yellow Poste Italiane receipt received when sending the KIT
-
✓Codice fiscale
Original plastic card. More — article on codice fiscale
-
✓4 photos
Passport format, recent
-
✓Rental contract or dichiarazione di ospitalita
Proof of accommodation
-
✓Health insurance or SSN
Private policy or registration with SSN. More — article on healthcare in Italy
-
✓Documents related to the reason
Employment contract, enrollment certificate, nulla osta, etc. — depends on permesso type
What happens at the fingerprint appointment
The procedure typically takes from 10 minutes to an hour. Previously fingerprints of all fingers were taken in a separate room, but the process has been simplified.
From community experience
"I gave my fingerprints today — they no longer take everything in a separate room, just the index fingers at the window. It took 10 minutes."
Community member, 2026
At the appointment the questura officer checks your documents, cross-checks data with the KIT, takes fingerprints and photographs. After this you receive an updated ricevuta or confirmation that the application has been accepted. From that moment there is only waiting for the card to be produced.
Can they request additional documents?
Yes. At the fingerprint appointment the officer may request additional papers that were not in the KIT. This is normal — especially for lavoro autonomo and DN, where in 2026 questure often ask for an active P.IVA and proof of income right on the spot.
Ricevuta: what it gives and what it doesn’t while waiting for permesso di soggiorno
Can you work and travel with the ricevuta while waiting for the permesso di soggiorno?
Ricevuta is the receipt the post office issues when you send the KIT. This document confirms you submitted an application for permesso di soggiorno and that you are legally in Italy. The ricevuta is your main document for the entire waiting period, which can last months.
What the ricevuta gives
- Legal stay — you are legally present in Italy
- Right to work — you can be registered with an employer (with some limitations)
- Access to SSN — you can register with the national health system
- Opening a bank account — most banks accept the ricevuta
- Signing a rental contract — for official housing
What the ricevuta DOES NOT give
- Free exit from Italy — you cannot freely travel around the Schengen area with a ricevuta
- Guaranteed re-entry to Italy — if you leave, return is not guaranteed
- Passport replacement — some consulates require a valid permesso
From flight experience
"For the record: yesterday there was a Yerevan–Milan flight with an expired residence permit. I showed the ricevuta, they asked for an A4 paper. In Italy, zero questions."
Community member, flight experience
Flights with the ricevuta — a risky area
Formally you can exit Italy with a ricevuta, but re-entry is not guaranteed. Airlines and border officers interpret the rules differently. A detailed analysis is in the article on flights with the ricevuta.
Validity period of the ricevuta
Important nuance
"The ricevuta is valid only for 9 months and needs to be renewed if the residence permit hasn’t been issued within 9 months."
Immigration consultant
Ricevuta is legally valid for 60 days, but in practice its validity is automatically extended while the application is being processed. However some organizations (banks, employers) may refuse if the ricevuta is older than a certain period. In such cases you need to contact the questura for renewal.
How to renew the ricevuta
If the ricevuta becomes "stale" and organizations refuse to accept it — contact the questura with a request to renew (rinnovo ricevuta). The procedure usually requires 1–2 visits. In some questure showing the original ricevuta and your passport is enough.
Documents for permesso: full list by residence permit type in 2026
Which documents are needed for permesso di soggiorno in 2026 — and does the list differ by permit type?
The document list depends on the permesso type, but the basic package is the same for all. Below is a full checklist broken down by reasons.
Basic package (for all permesso types)
-
✓Passport
Valid, with at least the duration of the requested permesso. Copy of all pages with data and stamps
-
✓Visa D
Copy of visa D in the passport. The visa type must correspond to the permesso reason requested
-
✓Photos — 4 pcs
Passport format (35x45 mm), white background, recent
-
✓Marca da bollo — €16
Stamp duty, purchased at the post office or tobacconist
-
✓Codice fiscale
Tax code. Can be obtained at the Agenzia delle Entrate — details in the article on codice fiscale
-
✓Health insurance or SSN
Private insurance with coverage of at least €30,000 or registration with the national SSN
-
✓Proof of accommodation
Registered rental contract, dichiarazione di ospitalita or property deed
-
✓Proof of income
Bank statement, contract, income declaration — depends on permesso type
Additional documents by permesso type
| Permesso type | Additional documents | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lavoro subordinato | Nulla osta, employment contract, comunicazione obbligatoria | Employer provides most documents |
| Lavoro autonomo | Nulla osta from the prefecture, Partita IVA, business plan, proof of income | Minimum income depends on the province |
| Digital Nomad | Contract with foreign employer/clients, proof of income (3x social benefit amount) | Relatively new type, requirements are being clarified |
| Studio | Enrollment certificate, proof of tuition payment, financial guarantees (€6,000+) | For language courses — at least 20 hours per week |
| Motivi familiari | Nulla osta from the questura, marriage/birth certificates (apostille + translation), income of main applicant | Minimum income depends on family composition |
| Residenza elettiva | Proof of passive income or savings, purchase/rental agreement for accommodation | Minimum ~€31,000/year for one person |
The exact list of documents for permesso depends on the questura — some cities request additional papers. Always bring all available documents to the fingerprint appointment.
Practical advice
"Bring to the appointment every document you have. Literally everything. Rental contract, insurance, codice fiscale, bank statement, declaration, P.IVA if you have one. The officer can ask for anything — better to have it than to come a second time."
Community member, Genoa
Timeline for obtaining permesso di soggiorno in 2026: from KIT to the card
How long to wait for permesso di soggiorno in 2026 — and which city is faster?
Overall time from submitting the KIT at the post office to receiving the plastic card in 2026 ranges from 2 to 12 months. The spread is huge and mainly depends on the city.
| City | KIT — fingerprints | Fingerprints — card | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pescara | 20 days | 2–3 months | ~3 months |
| Asti | ~50 days | 1–2 months | ~3–4 months |
| Milan (Via Falck) | 1–2 months | ~1 month | ~2–3 months |
| Milan (main) | 3–6 months | 2–6 months | 5–12 months |
| Genoa | 4–5 months | 2–3 months | 6–8 months |
| Turin | 5–6 months | 1–2 months | 6–8 months |
| Rome | 5–6 months | 1–2 months | 6–8 months |
In small towns (Pescara, Asti, provinces) everything goes significantly faster. Milan is a lottery: from 2 months (Via Falck) to a year or more. Real cases by city — in the detailed article on timelines.
Renewal after the first permesso
"They renewed mine for 1 year from the expiry date of the first residence permit. I paid for a 2-year receipt — didn’t work. Milan."
Community member, Milan
Milan vs small town
The city you choose directly affects the speed of receiving a permesso. If you can choose, consider small towns.
Small towns (Pescara, Asti, provinces)
KIT to card: 2–4 months
Fingerprints in 2–4 weeks
Fewer queues
More lenient officers
Large cities (Milan, Rome, Turin)
KIT to card: 5–12 months
Fingerprints in 3–6 months
Overloaded questure
May request more documents
How to speed up the process
The only legal way to speed up getting a permesso di soggiorno is to choose the right city. Moving to a small town for a faster questura is a common strategy. Another option is to apply through a suburban questura (for example, Bresso instead of Milan), but that’s not always faster.
Collecting the plastic permesso di soggiorno card
How to know the permesso is ready and what to check when collecting the card?
When the card is ready, the questura sends an SMS to the number specified in the KIT. In some cases a letter arrives by mail. In about 30% of cases no notification arrives at all — you have to check yourself.
How to check readiness
- SMS — arrives in 70% of cases. Text: "Il suo permesso di soggiorno è pronto per il ritiro"
- Polizia di Stato website — questure.poliziadistato.it, the status check section by case number
- Personal visit — you can go to the questura and ask. Some questure allow this without an appointment
What to check when collecting
When collecting the plastic card, check all data on the spot:
-
✓Name and surname
Must match the passport — check transliteration
-
✓Date of birth
Errors are more common than you might think
-
✓Citizenship code (135 or 154)
For former USSR citizens: code 154 (USSR) can cause problems. Correct code for Russia is 135
-
✓Permesso type (reason)
Must correspond to your visa D type
-
✓Validity period
Usually 1 or 2 years from the visa issuance date (not from the card pickup date)
-
✓Work rights
The "Lavoro" field must contain the correct authorization
Problem with citizenship code
"In the Rome commune the database changed — the SUN code for USSR appeared; when the questura sees 154 it blocks issuing the permesso and asks the commune to update it to the correct one."
Community member, Rome
Code 135 vs 154 — a common problem
Code 154 corresponds to the USSR (SUN/URSS) in the commune database. If during registration at the anagrafe you are assigned code 154, the questura may block issuing the permesso di soggiorno until it is corrected to code 135 (Russia) or the appropriate code for your country. Check the code when registering at the commune.
Common problems when obtaining permesso di soggiorno and how to solve them
What problems most often arise when applying for the first permesso di soggiorno and how to solve them?
The permesso di soggiorno process rarely goes perfectly. Here are the most common problems from community experience in 2026.
The questura takes fingerprints but the data is not saved in the system. You are summoned again — sometimes twice. Solution: record the date and time of every visit, keep all papers and receipts.
Transliteration of name differs from the passport, incorrect citizenship code, wrong date of birth. Often detected only when collecting the card.
Fingerprints taken but the card not ready for months. There’s no official way to speed this up — you can write a PEC letter to the questura or contact a lawyer to file a diffida.
Rare for initial issuance but possible — for example, if the basis for the visa has ceased (fired, expelled). A rejection can be appealed to the TAR within 60 days.
The officer asks you to provide documents, come again, wait. Some complete the process in 1–2 visits, others go 5–8 times.
Experience of multiple visits
"For my wife, who reunited with me, they issued the residence permit without problems. For me — I went to the questura 8 times."
Community member, family reunification experience
How to appeal a rejection
If the questura rejected your permesso di soggiorno, you have two paths:
Through TAR (tribunal)
Deadline: 60 days from the rejection
Need a lawyer (avvocato)
Cost: from €1,500
Processing time: 3–12 months
More — article on appeals
Through diffida
Pre-litigation letter via PEC
You can write it yourself or with a lawyer
Cost: from €0 (self) to €500
Sometimes helps speed up the process
Does not replace going to court
What to do if the card has an error
If the plastic permesso di soggiorno contains an error — contact the questura for a replacement. The procedure is free but can take several months. Some people choose not to replace a minor error if they will soon apply for renewal. The choice is yours — but correct citizenship code and permesso type should be fixed immediately.
Conclusions: how to get a permesso in Italy in 2026
What are the main takeaways about the permesso di soggiorno process in 2026?
Apostille, translations, insurance — it’s better to arrange all this in your country of residence. In Italy you will be busy — you have only 8 working days to submit the KIT.
The difference between Pescara (3 months) and Milan (up to 12 months) is huge. If you have a choice, consider small towns.
With it you can work, obtain SSN, open a bank account. But traveling outside Italy is at your own risk. Keep the ricevuta with you at all times.
The officer can ask for anything. Better to have extra papers than to return to the questura multiple times.
Errors in name, citizenship code (135/154), reason — all occur. Fixing them later can mean months more waiting.
Some receive the permesso di soggiorno in 2 months, others in 12. But if documents are in order — rejection is very rare. Patience is key.
Related articles
Permesso di soggiorno 2026: timelines at the questura by city
Permesso di soggiorno renewal 2026
Residence permits in Italy 2026: all types
Flights with the ricevuta 2026
Codice Fiscale 2026
Banking in Italy 2026
Healthcare in Italy 2026: SSN
Permanent residence in Italy 2026
Italian citizenship 2026