Visas and Residence Permits in Italy
All types of residence permits - Permesso: how to get it - Timelines at the questura - Renewal - Permanent residence - Citizenship
Contents
Timelines by city in Italy in 2026: real data
How long do you realistically wait for a permesso di soggiorno in 2026 — and in which questura is it fastest?
Permesso di soggiorno (permesso di soggiorno — residence permit) is the residence permit in Italy without which legal life in the country is impossible. Below are real data from the Russian-speaking immigrant community, collected from 200 posts for 2025–2026. These are not the “average times” from the official site — 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 fingerprints | Fast |
| Milan | Motivi familiari | 24 Dec | 21 Jan | Pending | ~4 weeks until fingerprints |
| 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 fingerprints |
| 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 until fingerprints |
| 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, fingerprints) to 3 years (Bolzano). On average, according to 2026 data: from KIT to permesso 3–8 months. Pescara and small towns — fastest. Milan — from 75 days to 18 months.
"Pescara, I have lavoro autonomo. KIT at the post on 15 October. Fingerprints 4 November. Permesso ready 22 January, issued 30 January. For 3 years. Extremely pleasant experience with Italian bureaucracy."
"The guys got a residence permit by renewing as nomads. At fingerprinting for renewal they asked to show an open P.IVA, incomes were confirmed with a Russian tax return. They renewed for 1 year from the end date of the first permit — although they paid the KIT fee for 2 years, that didn’t work."
Which documents they take 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
Poste Italiane receipt
-
✓KIT (booklet)
The white envelope
-
✓Rental contract
Not always required at the first fingerprints — but better to have it
-
✓Photos
Sometimes required, sometimes not — bring them just in case
What was additionally requested by city
| City | Additional to the basic set |
|---|---|
| Milan (DN + family) | Nulla osta of the family member being reunited, nomad employment contract. Idoneità abitativa was NOT requested |
| Milan (DN renewal) | Open P.IVA, tax return (they accepted a Russian one) |
| Genoa (DN renewal) | All invoices for the year — “preliminary declaration, show the bills” |
| Pescara | Almost nothing additional — “in the worst case they’ll ask you to bring something later” |
Golden rule: bring EVERYTHING
Questure usually do not examine documents from the KIT. For fingerprinting bring a second full set: passport, visa, insurance, rental contract, P.IVA, tax returns, bank statement. Better to bring extra than to get a “bring later” request.
For renewing a residence permit in 2026 — what they ask for
-
✓Open Partita IVA
In 2026 questure actively ask for this when renewing DN and LA
-
✓Tax return
Italian or foreign (they accept a Russian tax return)
-
✓Registered rental contract
Active, registered with the Agenzia delle Entrate
-
✓Insurance
For 1 year, coverage from 30,000 EUR, no deductible
-
✓Bank statement
Balance from ~9,000 EUR (according to 2026 data)
Detailed guide on the topic
How to track the status of a permesso di soggiorno
What do the icons on the police website mean — and why an SMS doesn’t always arrive?
Check status: website questure.poliziadistato.it
| Status on the site | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Empty / "non è presente in archivio" | The case hasn’t been entered into the system OR it is already issued but not updated | Wait 2–4 weeks after submitting the KIT |
| Orange cross | The case is being processed | Wait. You can check once a week |
| Red cross | Document not in archive or there is a problem with the case | Go to the questura in person to clarify |
| Green check | Permesso is ready to be collected | Go pick it up (sometimes without an SMS) |
SMS does not always arrive!
Do not rely solely on the SMS notification. Many permessi sat ready for months and the SMS never arrived. One participant found out their permesso was ready by chance — at the ASL when replacing the tessera they were told the card had been ready for 9 months. Check the site and visit the questura in person.
"The permesso arrived and lay in the questura since the date the ricevuta expired — 9 months. On the site it showed a red cross, and the SMS didn’t come. I found out by chance at the ASL when replacing the tessera."
Typical problems at the questura
In Guidonia (suburb of Rome) — 7+ months in status "in trattazione". Some questure are overloaded and cases just sit. Solution: go in person, write PEC letters.
The questura may enter code 135 (USSR) for people born before 1991. This affects the Codice Fiscale, insurance rates and online services. Solution: ask to correct it at the questura when receiving the permesso.
The questura creates a numeric CF to send the practice to Rome. This code doesn’t work at banks. Solution: obtain a normal Codice Fiscale at the Agenzia delle Entrate and combine the codes.
Even if you paid the KIT fee 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 an incorrect place of birth. Check when receiving — it’s harder to correct later.
Renewal of residence permits in 2026: what changed
For what term do they renew permits and what new documents are required for renewal in 2026?
Trend 2026: P.IVA required for renewal
Questure in 2026 actively ask for an open Partita IVA when renewing DN and LA. If you don’t have a P.IVA — you can show a foreign tax return (they accept a Russian one), but this is a non-standard route.
| Parameter | First permesso | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Term issued | 1–2 years | 1–3 years (depends on questura and income) |
| Submission | KIT at the post | KIT at the post (60 days before expiry) |
| P.IVA | Not required | Actively requested in 2026 |
| Income | By documents from the consulate | Tax return (Italian or foreign) |
| To PR (Permanent Residence) | - | After 5 years of continuous residence |
Student permit counts as half a year
For counting 5 years to permanent residence: one year of a student permit counts as half a year of a regular permit. Keep that in mind when planning the path to permesso di lungo periodo.
City-specific tips
How to speed up the process at the questura and where is the most convenient reception day?
- Pescara - the fastest questura according to the community. Fingerprints 20 days after KIT, permesso in ~3 months
- Asti - works 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 — slower
- Genoa - get a paper ticket (not electronic), good results if you visit persistently
- Ventimiglia - they don’t let you in without an appuntamento (appointment), book in advance
"We kept going there constantly to ask where the plastic card was. ‘Wait.’ They gave it after 5 months. But those who don’t go — get it after 9."
Record your conversations
Community members recommend recording visits to the questura with a voice recorder (this is legal in Italy for participants in the conversation). If an officer promised something — you have proof.
Conclusions
Pescara and small towns — faster. Milan — a lottery. Rome and its suburbs — 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 — that speeds up the process.
New trend: questure actively request an open Partita IVA. Open it in advance — more in the article about forfettario.
They don’t look at documents from the KIT. Bring a full second set. Better extra than a “bring later” request in a month.
Country code (135/154), place of birth, Codice Fiscale — everything should be correct. It’s much harder to fix 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, in extreme cases through a lawyer. The ricevuta gives the right to stay legally.
Can you work with the ricevuta?
Yes, the ricevuta gives the right to work if the type of residence permit permits employment.
Information in this article is based on community experience and open sources. This is not legal advice. For your specific situation contact 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