Permesso di soggiorno (Italian residence permit) guide

An open knowledge base on getting to a permesso di soggiorno yourself and living in Italy. Every basis with its income thresholds and waits is in the overview Italian residence permit: all types and how to get one, and the whole path step by step is in the plan moving to Italy from Russia. The articles are assembled by the community and rely on official Italian sources. This is not legal advice - always verify the final requirements on the official sites (esteri.it, interno.gov.it, portaleimmigrazione.it, poste.it, questure.poliziadistato.it, agenziaentrate.gov.it).

If you are not sure which route is yours, start by matching one - the knowledge base and the checklists then take you through it step by step:

The main chain

Almost every route fits one chain: visto D (the entry visa) -> KIT postale (the application filed at a Poste Italiane office) -> ricevuta (the filing receipt) -> permesso di soggiorno (the residence permit card). Everything else serves these steps. Unfamiliar words are in the glossary.

Where to start

• Moving to Italy from Russia: step-by-step plan - the whole path from choosing a basis to residenza, a bank and work.
• Moving to Italy from the UK - the visa D through the London consulate, S1, the licence exchange, tax.
• Choosing a route - which permit fits you, and the common myths (property, Partita IVA).
• Glossary - permesso, visto D, questura, codice fiscale, residenza and more, explained.

Residence permit routes

• Lavoro autonomo - self-employment and Partita IVA: thresholds, steps, taxes.
• Digital nomad (nomade digitale) - visa requirements for remote workers.
• Residenza elettiva - the permit for financially independent people with passive income.
• Italy retirement visa - retiring to Italy on a pension: income, the 7% tax, healthcare.
• Family reunification - ricongiungimento, coesione, al seguito, children.
• Business and representative offices - rappresentanza and motives outside the quotas.
• Citizenship and permanent residence - long-term status and naturalization.

After you arrive

• After you arrive - the KIT, the permesso, codice fiscale, residenza.
• Documents and legalization - apostille, sworn translation, dichiarazione di valore.
• Status, renewal and travel - the ricevuta, timelines, trips abroad.
• Digital identity - SPID, PEC, CIE for public services.

Living in Italy

• Money and taxes - bank account, forfettario, INPS, ISEE.
• Healthcare - SSN, tessera sanitaria, family doctor.
• Driving and licences - licence conversion, country by country.

Watch out

• Scams and red flags - how not to fall for middlemen and fake schemes.

Practical guides

• Guides - immigration city by city, business, school for children, income for the permesso.

Tools and checklists

Besides the articles, the site has interactive tools (route matcher, income and contributions calculator, KIT filler, travel check) and step-by-step checklists for your route - they are linked to these articles and walk you through the process.

All figures (income, fees, timelines) change over time - check the current values through the official links.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I start with an Italian residence permit?

First settle your motive (the legal basis) and the matching visa D, then enter Italy and file the KIT for the permesso di soggiorno from inside the country. The easiest start is the route matcher and the checklist for your case.

Can I get the residence permit without an agency?

Yes - according to the community most steps are done on your own. This knowledge base and the interactive checklists exist for exactly that. This is not legal advice; complex cases are worth discussing with a specialist.

How current are the figures here?

Income thresholds, fees and timelines change and depend on the region and the questura. Every figure is given as the community reports it, as a guide - always check the current values on the official sites.

Related materials

• Italy residence permit glossary: what terms mean