Residence permit renewal

Residence permit renewal is an essential operation for non-EU citizens who decide to spend time in Italy. Our goal is to create a small guide for all foreign nationals who, having arrived in Italy, find themselves faced with bureaucratic barriers. We have repeatedly covered the application procedures for residence permits, referring to various specific reasons such as study or family reunification. Today, however, we will talk about the renewal stage of the residence permit, to understand what it consists of and what documentation to submit.

Procedure for renewal of residence permit

The practice of renewing a residence permit consists of several steps aimed at legalizing the stay of non-EU citizens in Italy. First and foremost, it would be advisable to start the procedure 60 days before the expiration of the previous permit. These timelines are recommended and not imposed by Italian authorities, which means there are no penalties for not meeting this deadline.

Penalties, on the other hand, may materialize if the residence permit has expired for more than 60 days and a renewal application has not yet been made. In this case, the non-EU citizen loses the right to work in Italy and access to services such as the National Health Service.

How to apply for the new residence permit

Now that you know the timeframe within which you can apply to renew your residence permit and avoid penalties, we can proceed with the steps of the paperwork. The first recommended step is to retrieve the documentation for residence permit renewal to submit for the application. This step is crucial to avoid unnecessary waste of time. Depending on the reason for the requested permit, it will be the responsibility of the applicant citizen to Collect all documents for renewal of residence permit to be included in the postal kit. Having obtained this information, all that remains is to go to an authorized post office counter, purchase the postal kit and forward it.

What does it take to renew a residence permit?

As reiterated above, the documentation to be attached to the renewal application varies depending on the reason for applying for the permit. To renew the student residence permit, for example, it is necessary to submit a "certification of passing at least one proficiency examination for 1st renewal".

Documentation for renewal of residence permit

Net of these peculiarities and differences, it is possible to state that the documents to be submitted for the renewal of the residence permit are:

• revenue stamp € 16.00;
• Passport-size passport photos;
• Photocopy of valid passport;
• Expiring residence permit;
• tax code;
• Health coverage reflecting the requirements of the authorities;
• Certificate proving economic subsistence for the duration of the requested permit.

What to do once the postal kit is sent?

At this point, the paperwork is almost completed on the citizen's side of the renewal applicant. By forwarding the postal kit, the non-EU citizen obtains a receipt of the permit application. This document replaces the residence permit in all respects, and will be valid until the physical document arrives. Finally, there is theappointment at police headquarters For photodactyloscopic surveys. At this point all that remains is to wait for the document. For your information, you can check the status of the file by accessing the "foreigners" restricted area of the Immigration Portal with the credentials on the residence permit receipt.

Residence permit renewal costs

Also theamount of the permit renewal of residence varies depending on the type of permit applied for. Regardless, however, three fixed fees remain:

• 16.00 € for the revenue stamp;
• 30.46 € for printing the electronic residence permit;
• 30.00 for the Italian Postal Service's shipping service.

Time for renewal of residence permit

It is important to keep in mind that the time frame for permit renewal can vary widely, depending on the volume of applications handled by the relevant authorities.

How long does the new residence permit last?

Residence permits have different durations depending on the reason for which they were issued. Residence permits for family reunification last a maximum of 2 years, while the duration of work permits ranges from 9 months for seasonal work to 2 years for self-employment.

Normally the duration of the renewed residence permit is no longer than that of the first issuance, however, there are exceptions introduced by the Cutro Decree, converted with amendments into Law No. 50/23. In the case of a residence permit for self-employment, permanent employment or family reunification, the renewal can be extended up to a maximum duration of 3 years. In this way, the non-EU citizen after the first renewal can already accrue the five years of legal residence in Italy required to apply for an EU long-stay residence permit.

Need help renewing your residence permit? Apply for the W.A.I. assistance.