Elective Residence Visa and Permit: A Focus on the Procedure

What is the elective residence visa and permit?

Italian law provides for a particular type of long-stay visa for non-EU citizens who intend to settle in Italy and have sufficient economic resources to support themselves without engaging in any work activity.

The purpose of this type of visa is to allow the holder to reside stably in Italy and establish their habitual residence there.

On the contrary, the elective residence visa does not allow the holder to work in Italy. We have already discussed the benefits and requirements of the elective residence visa in detail in our previous articles.

We will now focus on the application procedure, detailing all the necessary appointments, both for the first phase (at the Italian Consulate of the applicant’s country of residence) and for the second phase (at Italian offices: post office, police headquarters/Questura, municipality, and local healthcare authority).

What is the elective residence visa procedure?

1. First part – Elective Residence Visa Application at the Consulate

To obtain this type of visa, the applicant must attach to their application before the competent Italian Consulate all documentation proving that they possess:

• Accommodation in Italy where they can elect their residence;
• Economic resources that allow them to live and support themselves without engaging in any employment or commercial activity.

In all cases, the minimum annual income required by law for an individual applicant is 31,000 euros.

In case of refusal of the requested visa, it is possible to file an appeal before the Regional Administrative Court (TAR of Lazio) within 60 days of notification.

2. Second part – Permit Application in Italy

Once the non-EU citizen has obtained the visa and legally entered Italy, they must, within eight working days, submit the application for the Italian residence permit (permesso di soggiorno).

1st appointment in Italy: application at the Post Office (Poste Italiane)

The application is submitted at authorized post offices with a “Sportello Amico” using the appropriate forms (the “KIT Permesso di soggiorno”).

2nd appointment in Italy: identification at the Questura

During the 2nd appointment, the applicant must identify themselves by presenting their original passport, visa, and photographs, and fingerprints will be collected.

3rd appointment: declaration of residence

The applicant must declare their residence at the registered accommodation. The declaration is made at the Town Hall (Comune) of the city where the accommodation is located.

4th appointment (optional): registration with the National Health Service (SSN)

The applicant visits the local healthcare authority (ASL) of their district to obtain the health insurance card (tessera sanitaria).