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.

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📌 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).

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🔹 3. Legal framework

D.Lgs. 25 luglio 1998, n. 286 (Testo Unico Immigrazione), Art. 7 — obligation to notify the Questura within 48 hours of hosting a foreign national;

D.P.R. 31 agosto 1999, n. 394 (Regolamento di attuazione del T.U. Immigrazione) — detailed submission procedures;

Legge 22 maggio 1975, n. 191, Art. 12 — Cessione di fabbricato (parallel obligation for transfers of property use to any person for more than 30 days; see Section 9);

Ministero dell’Interno Circulars — practical aspects: content and attached documents.

⚠️ Deadline: within 48 hours from the foreign guest’s actual arrival. Failure to comply results in an administrative fine.

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

✅ Who must submit

All persons who host a foreign national — regardless of whether accommodation is paid or free:

• Property owners (whether owned or rented);
• Tenants subletting a room to a foreign national;
• Relatives or friends hosting a foreigner free of charge;
• Legal entities (hostels, religious institutions, reception centres) — though in official reception centres (CAS, SAI) the centre’s administration submits on behalf of the guest.

❌ Who is exempt

• Hotels, B&Bs, campsites, and official accommodation structures — these fulfil the reporting obligation automatically via the Schedine Alloggiati electronic system. Individual guests are not required to submit anything personally;
• Short-term visits (a few hours without an overnight stay) — no declaration required.

Important notes

Ukrainian citizens under protezione temporanea: the declaration is still required, but since 2022 many Questure have applied a simplified procedure requiring only the Ukrainian guest’s passport copy and the host’s ID.

If the foreigner has a registered rental contract filed with the Comune, that contract may serve as proof of accommodation. However, most Questure offices still require a separate Dichiarazione di ospitalità — always verify with your local Questura;

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🔹 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:

Host’s data (dichiarante)

• Full name, date and place of birth, Codice Fiscale;
• Full residential address and contact details;
• Copy of valid ID (Carta d’identità, or Permesso di soggiorno if the host is a foreign national).

Guest’s data (ospitato)

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

Full name, date and place of birth, nationality;

Passport number (or other valid ID);

Visa or permesso di soggiorno (if already issued);

Date of arrival at the address;

3. 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)

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

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📨 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.

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🔹 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.

2. 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).

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

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⚠️ 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.

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🔹 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.

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📎 9. Useful links

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

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Can it be submitted online? In most provinces: no — in-person or registered mail is standard. Some Questure (Milan, Rome and others) accept PEC or have online forms — check your local Questura’s website.

2. Submission deadline? Within 48 hours after the foreign national has actually moved in.

3. What if submitted late? Formally, an administrative fine (Art. 7, D.Lgs. 286/98). In practice, most Questure accept late submissions and may issue only a warning. Always submit — late is better than not at all.

4. Must children be declared? Yes. Foreign children must also be declared — they can generally be included in the same form as the parent(s), listed as family members.

5. Who submits the declaration? The person providing accommodation: property owner, tenant, or anyone actually hosting the foreign national.

6. If the foreigner rents directly from the owner, is it still required? Yes, in most cases. Even with a registered rental contract, most Questure require a separate Dichiarazione di ospitalità. Always verify with your local Questura.

7. Can it be replaced by an autocertificazione? No. Autocertificazione is used for other purposes (residenza, stato di famiglia). The Dichiarazione di ospitalità is a specific legal requirement under Art. 7, D.Lgs. 286/1998 and must be formally submitted to the Questura.

8. Is it required for hotel or reception centre stays? No. These facilities report via the Schedine Alloggiati electronic system. For official reception centres (CAS/SAI), the centre’s administration submits the declaration on behalf of the guest.

9. If the foreigner moves to a new address? A new declaration must be filed within 48 hours of the move.

10. Is it required for Ukrainian citizens under protezione temporanea? Yes. Hosts must still submit the declaration. Since 2022, many Questure have applied a simplified procedure: only the Ukrainian guest’s passport copy and the host’s ID are typically required.

11. What is the difference between Dichiarazione di ospitalità and Cessione di fabbricato? They are different legal obligations (see Section 9). The Dichiarazione di ospitalità (Art. 7 TUI) applies specifically to hosting foreign nationals; the Cessione di fabbricato (Art. 12, L. 191/1978) applies to transferring property use to any person for >30 days. Both may be required simultaneously when a foreign national moves into a property.

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