PERMESSO DI SOGGIORNO UE

per soggiornanti di lungo periodo

Permesso UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo is a residence permit in Italy that grants long-term resident status (soggiornante di lungo periodo) and places non-EU citizens almost on the same footing as EU citizens (except for political rights).

⚖️ 1. Legal framework

  • D.lgs. 286/1998, art. 9 — Testo Unico sull’Immigrazione
  • Direttiva 2003/109/CE – for third-country nationals who are long-term residents in the EU
  • Circolare del Ministero dell’Interno 5/2007 – application procedure
  • D.P.R. 394/1999, art. 16 – practical implementation

👤 2. Who can apply

Main eligibility conditions

  1. Continuous lawful residence in Italy for at least 5 years
  • Counted from the date of the first Permesso di soggiorno, provided the Permesso has always been valid and renewed without gaps.
  • Temporary absences are allowed if:
    • each absence did not exceed 6 consecutive months;
    • the total time outside Italy does not exceed 10 months over 5 years;
    • exceptions apply for justified reasons (work, study, serious family circumstances).
  1. Stable and sufficient income
  • Minimum equal to the annual Assegno Sociale (in 2025: €7,002.97 per year).
  • For families, the required income is higher (about half of the same social amount for each additional family member).
  • Income can be proven by:
    • Certificazione Unica (CU) from the employer;
    • Modello 730 or Modello Unico;
    • contracts, statements of income from Partita IVA, tax returns.
  • For applicants filing together with family members, household income is considered.
  1. Housing that meets legal standards
  • Idoneità abitativa is required (a technical certificate from the municipality) confirming that the dwelling complies with sanitary and technical standards.
  • For family members, the dwelling must meet minimum size requirements.
  1. No criminal convictions
  • Grounds for refusal may include:
    • conviction for a serious criminal offence;
    • a threat to public order or security.
  1. Valid Permesso di soggiorno
  • You may apply with any type of Permesso (work, family, study, humanitarian, international protection, etc.), except temporary and seasonal permits.
  1. Knowledge of the Italian language
  • Minimum level A2 (CEFR).
  • Proven by:
    • a certificate from accredited centres (CELI, CILS, PLIDA);
    • proof of completing the integration course (accordo di integrazione).
  • Exemptions: children under 14, and persons with serious illnesses or disabilities.

❌ Who cannot apply

  • Holders of temporary Permessi (permesso stagionale and similar).
  • Those who cannot prove 5 years of lawful residence.
  • Persons without stable income or without idoneità abitativa.

⚙️ 3. Step-by-step actions

1) Check your eligibility

Before starting, make sure:

  • you have 5 years of uninterrupted lawful residence in Italy (with a valid Permesso, without long gaps);
  • last year’s income meets at least the Assegno Sociale threshold (higher if you have family);
  • your housing meets sanitary standards (idoneità abitativa);
  • you have no serious criminal convictions;
  • you have an A2 Italian language certificate.

2) Obtain the language certificate (if you don’t have one)

  • Enrol with an accredited centre (CELI, CILS, PLIDA) or take the free test via CPIA (Centro Provinciale per l’Istruzione degli Adulti).
  • Exemptions: children under 14, persons with serious illnesses, persons with disabilities.

3) Obtain the idoneità abitativa certificate

  • Request it from the Ufficio Tecnico at your Comune of residence.
  • You will need:
    • apartment floor plan (planimetria catastale);
    • cadastral data (visura catastale);
    • copy of the housing document (atto di proprietà or registered contratto d’affitto).
  • Typical issuance time: about 1–3 weeks.

4) Prepare your document package

Usually includes:

  • completed kit postale (Modulo 1);
  • copies of all passport pages;
  • copies of current and previous Permessi di soggiorno;
  • Codice Fiscale;
  • Certificato di residenza;
  • Certificato storico di residenza (proves 5 years of residence);
  • Idoneità abitativa;
  • Italian language certificate A2;
  • Certificato penale (from Italy; sometimes also requested from the country of origin);
  • income documents (CU, Modello 730, buste paga, estratto conto INPS, F24 for Partita IVA);
  • Marca da bollo €16 and other payment receipts.

5) Submit your documents through Poste Italiane

  • Pick up the kit postale at any Poste Italiane (Sportello Amico) branch.
  • Fill in Modulo 1 (for EU soggiornanti di lungo periodo).
  • Attach all copies of the documents.
  • Pay:
    • €30.46 – electronic Permesso card;
    • €30 – postal service fee;
    • €16 – marca da bollo.
  • Receive the ricevuta — a temporary document confirming your right to stay and giving access to most services.

6) Convocation by the Questura

  • Within 1–2 months, you will receive an SMS or letter with your appointment at the Questura for:
    • fingerprinting (fotosegnalamento);
    • presentation of all original documents.
  • Additional documents may sometimes be requested.

7) Application review

  • Processing time: 3 to 6 months, but in practice it can be longer.
  • They verify:
    • legality of your stay over the last 5 years;
    • income;
    • housing;
    • absence of criminal records;
    • social integration (language, employment, children in school).

8) Receiving the Permesso UE

  • If approved, you will collect the plastic card at the Questura after receiving an SMS that it is ready.
  • Validity: unlimited (but the physical card must be renewed every 10 years, and every 5 years for children).

📑 4. Required documents

1) Main documents

  • Completed Modulo 1 (from the kit postale).
  • Copy of the passport (all pages, including blank pages).
  • Copy of the current Permesso di soggiorno (and previous ones, if any).
  • Codice Fiscale.
  • Marca da bollo €16 (affixed to the module).
  • Receipts for payment of the electronic card (€30.46) and postal services (€30).

2) Proof of residence

  • Certificato di residenza (from your municipality).
  • Certificato storico di residenza (confirms 5 years of continuous residence).
  • If you changed cities, provide additional certificates from previous Comuni.

3) Proof of income

For employees:

  • CU (Certificazione Unica) for the last year;
  • Modello 730 or Modello Redditi;
  • Buste paga (at least for the last 12 months).

For self-employed / Partita IVA:

  • Modello Redditi PF;
  • Visura camerale (from the Registro delle Imprese);
  • F24 showing taxes paid;
  • Estratto conto INPS (contributions).

For pensioners:

  • INPS certificate stating pension amount;
  • bank statement showing pension deposits.

4) Housing

  • Idoneità abitativa from the Ufficio Tecnico of the Comune (or idoneità alloggiativa).
  • Copy of the registered rental contract (with the Agenzia delle Entrate) or property deed (atto di proprietà).
  • Visura catastale (short cadastral extract).
  • Planimetria catastale (apartment plan).

5) Language

  • Certificate of Italian language proficiency at A2 level or higher:
    • CELI, CILS, PLIDA, CERT.IT — official exams;
    • or a certificate from CPIA.
  • Exemptions:
    • children under 14;
    • persons with serious illnesses or disabilities;
    • graduates of schools/universities in Italy.

6) Criminal record

  • Certificato penale from Italy (richiesta al Casellario Giudiziale).
  • In some cases — a criminal record certificate from your country of origin (translated and legalized).

7) For family members (if applying together)

  • Copies of passports and Permessi di soggiorno.
  • Marriage/birth certificates (with apostille and translation).
  • Certificato di stato di famiglia (from the Comune).
  • Proof of cohabitation (official registration at the same address).

⏳ 5. Validity period

Unlimited — the status itself has no time limit.

Plastic card (permesso):

  • valid 10 years for adults;
  • valid 5 years for minors.

When the card expires, you must replace it (aggiornamento), but the procedure is simpler than the initial issue:

  • income and housing are not rechecked unless there have been substantial changes;
  • photo, data, and chip are updated.

💰 6. Costs

💰 Initial issue or replacement:

  • Contributo per il permesso — €100.00
  • Electronic plastic card (carta di soggiorno elettronica) — €30.46
  • Marca da bollo — €16.00
  • Poste Italiane service (Sportello Amico) — €30.00

Total: approx. €176.46.

Additionally:

  • If family members apply at the same time, each person pays their own fees.
  • When updating due to changes (surname, address), the cost is the same as for card replacement.
  • In case of theft or loss, file a denuncia with the police and request a duplicate.

❌ 7. Main reasons for refusal and common mistakes

Main reasons for refusal

  • Insufficient income
  • Missing or non-compliant housing
  • Insufficient residence period
  • Incomplete documentation
  • Missing Italian language certificate
  • Criminal record or risk to public security
  • Expired or invalid current Permesso

Common mistakes

  • Applying without first checking income

Many applicants bring payslips for recent months but do not consider that annual income is assessed.

  • Submitting incomplete copies

You must copy all pages of the passport and Permesso, even blank pages.

  • Not registering early for the A2 test

Test slots can be fully booked months in advance; without the certificate, the application is refused.

  • Missing the submission/renewal window

Although the status is permanent, the card must be renewed in advance — apply a few months before expiry.

  • Problems with idoneità abitativa

A certificate issued long ago may no longer be accepted if Comune rules have changed.
Unregistered rental contracts are not valid evidence.

  • Ignoring time spent abroad

Long absences (work, medical treatment, etc.) beyond permitted limits can reset the residence period.

  • Errors in the kit form

Mistakes in codes, addresses, or inconsistencies between documents.

🔄 8. Conversion from other types of Permesso

You can apply for the Permesso UE if you already hold one of the “long-term” permits that grant the right to work and you have lived in Italy with it for at least 5 years (without gaps).

Most common Permessi converted to the UE permit:

  • Permesso di soggiorno per lavoro subordinato (employment contract)
  • Permesso di soggiorno per lavoro autonomo (including Partita IVA)
  • Permesso di soggiorno per motivi familiari
  • Permesso di soggiorno per protezione internazionale (asilo politico, protezione sussidiaria)
  • Permesso di soggiorno per motivi umanitari / protezione speciale — different rules may apply for counting continuous lawful residence in Italy

When conversion is not possible

  • If your current Permesso is temporary and does not grant the right to work (e.g., studio, tirocinio, cure mediche — unless first converted to lavoro).
  • If total lawful residence in Italy is less than 5 years.
  • If there are significant gaps in your stay (over 6 consecutive months or 10 months total over 5 years).

🧠 9. Tips and important information

1) Plan your application in advance

  • Do not wait for your current Permesso to expire — start collecting documents 3–4 months before you apply.
  • Idoneità abitativa and residenza storica certificates can take 2–6 weeks to issue.

2) Minimize gaps in residence

  • Only the periods covered by a valid Permesso count towards the 5-year lawful residence requirement.
  • Long trips outside Italy can reset the count:
    • over 6 consecutive months abroad — the entire period may be lost;
    • more than 10 months total over 5 years — risk of refusal.

3) Prove your income correctly

  • Minimum — Assegno Sociale (€7,002.97 in 2025) for the applicant plus a supplement for each dependent.
  • Suitable evidence includes:
    • CU / Certificazione Unica from the employer;
    • 730 or Modello Redditi;
    • INPS statements for benefits (if they count).
  • If your income is irregular, provide all possible sources.

4) Italian language certificate

  • Minimum level A2 (QCER).
  • Only certificates from accredited centres are accepted (CELI, CILS, PLIDA, CERT.IT).
  • If you completed the Accordo di Integrazione and passed the test at the Prefettura, the A2 certificate is not required.

5) Idoneità abitativa

  • Must be obtained from the Comune where you live.
  • Space and condition requirements may vary by region; as a guideline:
    • 14 m² per person; 28 m² for two; +10 m² for each additional person;
    • heating, ventilation, and minimum ceiling height are sometimes required.
  • Each region may set different minimum housing size requirements.

6) Check for tax and contribution debts

  • The Questura may ask for certificates showing no debts with INPS and Agenzia delle Entrate.
  • Debts in taxes or contributions can affect the decision.

7) The right to a long-term permit is not automatic

  • Even if all formal conditions are met, the Questura evaluates integration, such as:
    • knowledge of Italian;
    • absence of legal issues;
    • social activity and stability.
  • Additional interviews may sometimes be requested.

8) Advantages of the Permesso UE

  • Permanent (the physical card is renewed every 10 years).
  • Right to work without sector restrictions.
  • Opportunity to move and work in another EU country through a simplified procedure.
  • A stronger basis for citizenship applications.

9) Tips to speed up the process

  • Submit a complete set of documents the first time — incomplete files are returned.
  • Keep all originals and copies in a dedicated folder.
  • Record dates of submission, fingerprints, and Questura requests — this helps if you need to complain about delays.

Useful links:

https://questure.poliziadistato.it/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

www.portaleimmigrazione.it

www.poste.it

www.interno.gov.it

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is a Permesso UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo?
It is a permanent residence permit for non-EU citizens who have legally lived in Italy for at least 5 years, granting them nearly the same rights as Italian citizens.

2. Who can apply?
Anyone who has resided continuously in Italy for 5 years with a valid Permesso di soggiorno and meets income, housing, and language requirements.

3. What level of Italian is required?
You must demonstrate A2 level knowledge of the Italian language (basic communication). This can be proven through the CPIA test or valid certificates.

4. Can family members be included?
Yes. Family members legally residing in Italy can apply together or later, if they meet the same requirements.

5. What income is needed?
At least equal to the annual Assegno Sociale (€7,002.97 for a single person in 2025). The amount increases depending on the number of family members.

6. Does this permit expire?
The residence right is permanent, but the electronic card must be renewed every 10 years for technical reasons.

7. Can it be revoked?
Yes, in cases of long absence from Italy/EU, false documentation, or threats to national security.

8. Can I live or work in another EU country with this permit?
Yes. You can move to another EU Member State for work, study, or other reasons, provided you comply with that country’s entry and registration rules.

9. Can I apply for Italian citizenship?
Yes, after 5 years of holding a Permesso UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo, if you meet the standard income and residence conditions.

10. Is a language test mandatory for everyone?
Yes, unless you hold an Italian qualification, have attended an Italian school, or are exempt due to refugee or subsidiary protection status.

We have prepared for you a detailed PDF Guide: step-by-step instructions and procedures for obtaining the Permesso di soggiorno UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo.

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

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