Guide to Italy 2026: all cluster articles
Permesso: first obtainment - Renewing the permesso - Permanent residence and citizenship - Timelines at the questura - Codice Fiscale (tax code) - Digital Nomad visa
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Visas and residence permits in Italy
All types of residence permits - Permesso: how to obtain - Timelines at the questura - Renewal - Permanent residence - Citizenship
Contents
In short: Timelines for obtaining the permesso di soggiorno (residence permit) in 2026: Milan 3–6 months, Rome 4–8 months, small towns 1–3 months. After fingerprinting you receive an SMS when the card is ready. Check status: on the Polizia di Stato website or via the immigration portal.
Timelines by Italian cities in 2026: real data
How long do you really wait for the permesso di soggiorno in 2026 — and which questura is fastest?
Permesso di soggiorno (permesso di soggiorno — residence permit) is the residence permit in Italy without which legal life in the country is not possible. Below are real data from the Russian-speaking immigrant community, collected from 200 posts for 2025–2026. These are not “average timelines” from official sites — these are concrete cases with dates.
| City | Reason | KIT submitted | Fingerprinting | Permesso | Waiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pescara | LA + family | 15 Oct 2025 | 4 Nov 2025 | Jan 2026 | ~3 months (record) |
| Milan | DN + family | 24 Dec 2025 | 10 Feb 2026 | 9 Mar 2026 | ~75 days |
| Milan | LA (Via Falck) | - | - | ~one month after fingerprinting | Fast |
| Milan | Motivi familiari | 24 Dec | 21 Jan | Waiting | ~4 weeks to fingerprinting |
| Milan | - | June 2024 | Dec 2024 | Dec 2025+ | 18+ months (!) |
| Genoa | DN | - | - | 5 Mar 2026 | ~5–6 months |
| Genoa | DN (husband) | May 2025 | Oct 2025 | Jan 2026 | ~8 months |
| Genoa | Motivi familiari | - | 12 Dec 2025 | 26 Feb 2026 | ~2.5 months after fingerprinting |
| Turin | DN / LA | 10 Jul 2025 | 16 Dec 2025 | 16 Feb 2026 | ~7 months |
| Rome | Student | 12 May 2025 | 7 Nov 2025 | 12 Dec 2025 | ~7 months |
| Asti | - | 26 Feb 2026 | 20 Apr 2026 | - | ~53 days to fingerprinting |
| Bresso (near Milan) | - | Sept | End of Jan | - | ~4–5 months |
| Guidonia (near Rome) | - | June | Sept | Jan 2026 still waiting | 7+ months |
| Bolzano | Asylum | Dec 2022 | - | Nov 2025 | ~3 years (!!!) |
Range from 20 days (Pescara, to fingerprinting) to 3 years (Bolzano). On average according to 2026 data: from KIT submission to permesso 3–8 months. Pescara and small towns are fastest. Milan — from 75 days to 18 months.
“Pescara, I have lavoro autonomo. KIT at the post office on 15 October. Fingerprinting 4 November. Permesso ready 22 January, issued 30 January. For 3 years. Extremely pleasant impressions of Italian bureaucracy.”
“The guys got a residence permit by renewing nomad status. At the fingerprinting for renewal they asked to show an open P.IVA, income was confirmed by a Russian tax return. They renewed for 1 year from the end date of the first permit — although they paid the KIT receipt for 2 years, that didn’t work.”
Which documents are taken at fingerprinting in 2026
What to bring to the questura for fingerprinting — and does the list differ by city?
-
✓Passport
Original + copy
-
✓Ricevuta from the post office
ricevuta (Poste Italiane receipt)
-
✓KIT (booklet)
That white envelope
-
✓Rental contract
Not always required at the first fingerprinting — but better to have it
-
✓Photos
Sometimes required, sometimes not — take them just in case
What was additionally requested by city
| City | Additional to the basic set |
|---|---|
| Milan (DN + family) | Nullo osta for family reunification, employment contract for nomad. Idoneità abitativa NOT requested |
| Milan (DN renewal) | Open P.IVA (Partita IVA), tax return (they accepted a Russian one) |
| Genoa (DN renewal) | All invoices for the year — “preliminary declaration, show the receipts” |
| Pescara | Almost nothing extra — “at worst they will ask you to bring something later” |
Golden rule: bring EVERYTHING
Documents from the KIT are usually not reviewed by the questura. For fingerprinting bring a second full set: passport, visa, insurance, rental contract, Partita IVA, tax returns, bank statement. Better to bring extra than to get “please provide later.”
When renewing the residence permit in 2026 — what they ask for
-
✓Open Partita IVA
In 2026 questure actively ask for it when renewing DN and LA
-
✓Tax return
Italian or foreign (they accept a Russian tax return)
-
✓Registered rental contract
Current, registered with the Agenzia delle Entrate
-
✓Insurance
For 1 year, coverage of at least EUR 30,000, without excess
-
✓Bank statement
Balance around ~EUR 9,000 (according to 2026 data)
Detailed guide on the topic
How to track the status of the permesso di soggiorno
What do the icons on the police website mean — and why does an SMS not always arrive?
Check status: site questure.poliziadistato.it
| Status on the site | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Empty / “non e presente in archivio” | The practice has not been entered into the system OR it has already been issued but not updated | Wait 2–4 weeks after KIT submission |
| Orange cross | The practice is being processed, they have started | Wait. You can check once a week |
| Red cross | Document not found in the archive or there is a problem with the case | Go to the questura in person to clarify |
| Green check | Permesso is ready for collection | Go collect it (sometimes without an SMS) |
SMS does not always arrive!
Do not rely only on the SMS notification. Many permessi have been sitting ready for months without an SMS being sent. One participant found out about a ready permesso by chance — at the ASL when replacing a tessera they were told that the card had been ready for 9 months. Check the site and go to the questura in person.
“The permesso arrived, it sat at the questura since the date of the ricevuta’s expiration — 9 months. The site showed a red cross, and the SMS didn’t arrive. I found out randomly at the ASL when replacing the tessera.”
Typical problems at the questura
In Guidonia (suburb of Rome) — 7+ months in the status “in trattazione.” Some questure are overloaded and cases just sit. Solution: go in person, send PEC letters.
The questura may enter code 135 (USSR) for those born before 1991. This affects the Codice Fiscale, insurance rates and online services. Solution: request correction at the questura when receiving the permesso.
The questura creates a numeric CF to send the practice to Rome. This code does not work with banks. Solution: obtain a normal Codice Fiscale at the Agenzia delle Entrate and unify the codes.
Even if you paid the KIT for 2 years — the questura may renew only for 1 year. This depends on the motive and income, not on the payment amount.
The permesso may show the wrong place of birth. Pay attention when collecting — it’s much harder to correct later.
Renewal of residence permits in 2026: what changed
For how long are permits renewed and what new requirements are there for renewal in 2026?
Trend 2026: Partita IVA is required on renewal
Questure in 2026 actively ask for an open Partita IVA when renewing DN and LA. If you don’t have a Partita IVA — you can show a foreign tax return (a Russian one is accepted), but this is a non-standard route.
| Parameter | First permesso | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Issuance period | 1–2 years | 1–3 years (depends on questura and income) |
| Submission | KIT at the post office | KIT at the post office (up to 60 days before expiry) |
| P.IVA | Not required | Actively requested in 2026 |
| Income | By documents from the consulate | Tax return (Italian or foreign) |
| To permanent residence | - | After 5 years of continuous residence permits |
Student permits count as half a year
For calculating the 5 years to permanent residence: one year of a student permit is counted as half a year of a standard permit. Keep this in mind when planning the path to permesso di lungo periodo.
City-specific lifehacks
How to speed up the process at the questura and which reception day is most convenient?
- Pescara — the fastest questura according to the community. Fingerprinting 20 days after KIT, permesso in ~3 months
- Asti — open on Saturdays, on Saturdays the queue is almost empty. Good option for residents of Piedmont
- Milan — range from 75 days to 18 months. Via Enrico Falck 12 is considered fast. Via Montebello 26 is slower
- Genoa — take a paper ticket (not electronic), good results if you visit persistently
- Ventimiglia — they do not admit without an appuntamento (appointment), book in advance
“We kept going there constantly asking where the plastic card was. ‘Wait.’ They gave it after 5 months. But for those who don’t go — they give it after 9.”
Record your conversations
Community members recommend recording visits to the questura with a voice recorder (this is legal in Italy if you are a participant in the conversation). If an officer promised something — you have proof.
Conclusions
Pescara and small towns are faster. Milan is a lottery. Rome and its suburbs are consistently slow. Choose your place of residence taking the questura into account.
The permesso can sit ready for months without notification. Check questure.poliziadistato.it and visit the questura regularly — it speeds up the process.
New trend: questure actively ask for an open Partita IVA. Open it in advance — more in the forfettario article.
Documents from the KIT are not checked. Bring a full second set. Better extra than “please provide later” in a month.
Country code (135/154), place of birth, Codice Fiscale — everything must be correct. It’s much harder to correct later.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long to wait for a permesso in Milan?
On average 3–6 months from KIT submission to receiving the card. Depends on the questura and workload.
What to do if the permesso is delayed more than a year?
Write to the questura, contact via PEC, and if necessary contact a lawyer. The ricevuta gives the right to stay legally.
Can I work with the ricevuta?
Yes, the ricevuta gives the right to work if the type of permit allows employment.
The information in this article is based on community experience and open sources. This is not legal advice. For your specific situation consult a licensed specialist.
Related articles: Italy, residence permits and taxes
Category description «Visas to Italy» - Renewal of permesso di soggiorno 2026 - Codice Fiscale in Italy 2026 - Permesso di soggiorno 2026 - Partita IVA in Italy 2026 - Digital Nomad visa to Italy 2026