Dichiarazione di ospitalità

🔹 1. What is it?

Dichiarazione di ospitalità is an official written declaration that the owner of a dwelling (an Italian citizen or a foreigner with legal residence) is required to submit to the police (Questura / Ufficio Immigrazione) when providing accommodation to a foreign national.

This document confirms that the foreigner is legally residing at a specific address.

📌 2. When it is required

You must file the Dichiarazione di ospitalità in the following cases:

• When a foreigner has just arrived in Italy and is staying with friends, relatives, or in a rented apartment.
• When applying for a Permesso di soggiorno (first application or renewal).

• When the police conduct checks on a foreigner’s living conditions.

• To confirm a residential address during other administrative procedures (for example, registration of residenza with the Comune).

🔹 3. Legal framework

The obligation to submit the Dichiarazione di ospitalità is regulated by:

  1. Testo Unico sull’Immigrazione – D.lgs. 286/1998, Article 7
    Any person (Italian citizen or foreigner with a valid residence permit) who hosts a foreign national for temporary or permanent stay must notify the Questura of their residence within 48 hours.
  1. D.P.R. 394/1999 (Regolamento di attuazione del T.U. Immigrazione)
    – Provides detailed procedures for submitting the notification of accommodation.
  1. Ministero dell’Interno Circulars

– Explain practical aspects: what information the declaration must contain and which documents must be attached.

⚠️ Deadline: within 48 hours from the actual arrival of the foreign guest.
Failure to comply results in administrative penalties (fines).

🔹 4. Who is required to submit it and who is exempt

✅ Who must submit the declaration

According to art. 7 D.lgs. 286/1998 (Testo Unico Immigrazione):

• Any person (Italian or foreigner with a valid Permesso di soggiorno) who hosts a foreign national for temporary or permanent residence is required to notify the Questura within 48 hours.

This includes:

• Property owners (whether the property is owned or rented);

• Tenants subletting a room or bed to another foreigner;

• Relatives or friends hosting a foreigner, even free of charge;

• Legal entities (such as hostels, hotels, reception centers, religious institutions) that accommodate foreign nationals.

❌ Who is exempt

• Hotels and official accommodation structures (alberghi, B&B, campeggi) generally fulfill the reporting obligation automatically via the electronic system Schedine Alloggiati to the Questura. In this case, the guest is not required to submit anything personally.

• Short-term visits (e.g., a guest visiting for a few hours without an overnight stay) do not require a Dichiarazione di ospitalità.

📌 Important notes

• If the foreigner has a registered rental contract with the owner, filed with the Comune, that contract may already serve as proof of accommodation (“ospitabilità”). However, many Questura offices still require a separate Dichiarazione di ospitalità.

• If the foreigner is hosted in a reception center (CAS, SAI), the administration of the center submits the declaration on their behalf.

🔹 5. Required documents for submitting a Dichiarazione di ospitalità

📑 Basic documentation package

The declaration must be completed using the official form (modulo art. 7 D.lgs. 286/1998) and include the following:

  1. Host’s data (dichiarante)

• Full name (surname, given name)

• Date and place of birth

• Codice Fiscale

• Full residential address

• Contact details

• Copy of a valid ID (Carta d’identità or Permesso di soggiorno, if the host is a foreigner)

  1. Guest’s data (ospitato)

• Full name

• Date and place of birth

• Nationality

• Passport number (or other valid identification document)

• Visa or Permesso di soggiorno (if already issued)

• Date of arrival at the address

• Copy of the foreigner’s passport (and visa if applicable)

  1. Property details

• Address of the accommodation

• Proof of property ownership or lease (copy of deed or rental contract)

• Duration of the foreigner’s stay (if known)

📨 6. Where and how to submit

• To the Questura – Ufficio Immigrazione of the area where the accommodation is located (in person or by post).

Common submission methods:

• In person at the designated counter;

• Via PEC (posta elettronica certificata) — most Questura offices have a specific PEC address;

• By raccomandata A/R (registered mail) including two copies of the declaration and attached documents.

⚠️ Deadline: within 48 hours from the foreigner’s arrival.

🔹 What happens after submission

• The Questura records the foreigner’s accommodation information.

• The host receives a stamped copy (if submitted in person or by mail in duplicate).

• The foreign guest may use this declaration to:

  • Apply for a Permesso di soggiorno;
  • Register residenza with the Comune;
  • Prove their address for other administrative purposes.

🔹 7. Common mistakes and typical situations

❌ Frequent mistakes

  1. Missing the 48-hour deadline
    • The law requires submission within 48 hours of the foreigner’s arrival.
    • Consequence: administrative fine (in practice, Questura often accepts late submissions).

✅ Tip: Even if you missed the deadline — submit anyway. Late is better than not at all.

  1. Missing document copies
    • Often people forget to attach copies of either the host’s or guest’s passport.

✅ Tip: Always include at least one copy of each document (sometimes two: one for records, one for the stamped return).

  1. Incorrect personal data
    • Spelling errors in names (transliteration), incorrect birth date, or passport number.

✅ Tip: Verify all details exactly as in the document, character by character.

  1. Using an expired passport
    • Questura may reject the declaration if the guest’s document is invalid.

✅ Tip: Submit with the new passport or include the ricevuta proving renewal is in process.

  1. No proof of property or lease
    • Many provinces require proof of ownership or tenancy.

✅ Tip: If you are a tenant hosting another foreigner, attach your lease contract and a written declaration from the landlord confirming consent.

⚠️ 8. Consequences of not submitting the Dichiarazione di ospitalità

🔹 For the host (Italian citizen or foreigner with Permesso di soggiorno)

According to Art. 7, paragraphs 1–2 – D.lgs. 286/1998 (Testo Unico Immigrazione):

📑 Fine:

• Administrative fine ranging from €160 to €1,100, depending on the Questura/Prefettura and specific circumstances.

• In cases of repeated or deliberate violations, higher fines and additional administrative consequences may apply.

⚠️ Important: This is an administrative, not a criminal, offense.
It does not result in a criminal record, but the fine may cause complications in future dealings with public authorities.

🔹 For the hosted foreigner

Without the Dichiarazione di ospitalità, the foreigner may face complications when applying for or renewing a Permesso di soggiorno:

• No proof of residence → Questura may request additional documentation.

• Problems registering residenza at the Comune.

• Delays accessing SSN or INPS services.

📎 9. Useful links

  • immigrazione.interno.gov.it
  • integrazionemigranti.gov.it
  • questure.poliziadistato.it

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1️. Can the Dichiarazione di ospitalità be submitted online?

🔹 In most cases, no. The document must be submitted in person at the Questura or sent by registered mail (raccomandata A/R).
Some Questura offices, however, accept submissions via PEC (posta elettronica certificata — certified email).

2️. What is the submission deadline?

🔹 Within 48 hours after the foreign national has actually moved in.

3️. What happens if it’s submitted late?

🔹 Formally, an administrative fine is provided for under art. 7 D.lgs. 286/1998.
However, in practice, most Questura offices still accept late submissions, though they may issue a warning.

4️. Do I need to submit the declaration for children?

🔹 Yes. If foreign children live with the adult, a Dichiarazione di ospitalità must also be submitted for them.
They can be included in the same form as family members.

5️. Who exactly must submit the declaration?

🔹 The person who hosts the foreign national:
the property owner, tenant, or any person who actually provides accommodation.

6️. If the foreigner rents the accommodation directly from the owner, is the declaration still required?

🔹 Yes, in most cases.
Even with a rental contract, many Questura offices still require a separate Dichiarazione di ospitalità.

7️. Can the declaration be replaced by an autocertificazione?

🔹 No.
Autocertificazione is used for other purposes (e.g., residenza, stato di famiglia),
but the Dichiarazione di ospitalità is specifically required by law (art. 7 T.U. Immigrazione)
and must be formally submitted to the Questura.

8. Is the declaration required if the foreigner stays in a hotel or official reception center?

🔹 No.
In this case, the facility management is responsible for reporting the guest
through the electronic system Schedine Alloggiati.
The foreigner does not have to submit anything personally.

9️. If the foreigner moves to a new address, must a new declaration be filed?

🔹 Yes.
Each new place of residence must be declared within 48 hours of the move.

10. Is the declaration required for Ukrainian citizens under protezione temporanea?

🔹 Yes.
Hosts accommodating Ukrainian citizens are required to submit a Dichiarazione di ospitalità.
During 2022–2023, many regions introduced a simplified procedure —
a copy of the Ukrainian citizen’s passport and the host’s ID document were sufficient.

We’ve prepared a detailed PDF Guide for you — covering all the steps and procedures for obtaining a Dichiarazione di ospitalità.

Download and use it as a ready-to-go manual!

Request a Consultation