Italian Residency Laws

Italian Residency Laws

Non-EU citizens who wish to stay in Italy for more than 90 days must apply for a residence permit ('permesso di soggiorno'), issued by the District Headquarters of the Police of State ('Questura'). Staying in Italy without such authorization may result in the immediate deportation from the Italian territory.

The residency permit issued by Italy also allows the non-EU citizen to stay in all the other EU countries (with the exception of United Kingdom) for a maximum period of 90 days without any need of visa issued by such countries.

Yearly, the Italian government sets out immigration quotas divided per country of origin and type of residency permit. An average of 150.000-200.000 residency permits are issued every year (last year over 700.000 applications were made).

In order to obtain the residency permit, the non-EU citizen must fulfil two crucial conditions:
1) he/she must have a job in Italy granting him/her and any family (should they wish to have his/her family in Italy as well) adequate economical resources;

2) he/she must have the availability of a adequate lodging on the Italian territory. In light of the above, non-EU citizens owning properties in Italy cannot apply for a residency permit adducing this sole reason.

A specific type of residency permit (choice of residency permit: 'permesso di soggior-no per residenza elettiva') may be issued should the non-EU citizen be able to prove the availability of ample economical resources coming from properties rentals, pensions, etc.
In such case the condition of having a job in Italy is not required.