To be allowed in and reside in Italy, foreigners belonging to countries outside the European Union must have a passport and an entrance visa issued by the Italian Diplomatic Delegations in their countries. They must apply for a residence permit within eight work days upon arrival in Italy. Duration of residence permit will comply with the visa.

Easier way
Call a good Agenzia Pratiche, like the one indicated on the right, if you want to avoid lines, wasted days, fights.

You must fill in an application form issued by the central or local Police Station ("Questura" or "Commissariato") and bring 4 passport photos. The form must mention: applicant's personal information personal information of children under age if any, to be registered on the residence permit; the address of the future residence and the reason of his/her stay in Italy. A copy of the following documents must be attached to the application form: passport or equivalent document proving the applicant's nationality place and date of birth, plus entrance visa any document proving the availability of the necessary means of subsistence for the length of stay and the return ticket to the country of birth. These documents will not be required in case of a residence permit for work reasons documents showing the reason for the residence permit; At the time of collection the applicant will have to present the documents proving to have registered with the National Healthcare or to have signed a private health insurance policy with an Italian or foreign Insurance Company valid on the whole national territory

Foreigners should apply to the Local Police Station (Commissariato di Zona) if provided with a living place, otherwise to the Ufficio Stranieri at the Central Police Station (Questura Centrale)

Ufficio Stranieri - Questura Centrale Via Genova, 2 (Next to Via Nazionale)

For further information please call: Public Relations Office at Rome Central Police Station
Via di S. Vitale, 15 - Tel. 06 46 86 34 01

According to the motivation specified on the visa, a residence permit may be issued for the following reasons:

• Humanitarian asylum
• Political asylum
• Acquisition of citizenship
• Waiting for adoption or foster care
• Waiting for emigration to another country
• Cohabitation in religious institutions
• Medical treatment
• Exercising functions of minister of religion
• Education
• Justice
• Work placement
• Subordinate work
• Self employment
• Family reasons
• Social protection
• Humanitarian reasons
• Applying for asylum
• Study
• Tourism