Here is your step-by-step guide on how to get your residence permit for study purposes:

1. You can get an application kit (kit giallo per la richiesta del permesso di soggiorno) at the International Student Office of your University or Academy.

   Alternatively, you can get an application kit (kit giallo per la richiesta del permesso di soggiorno) from the Post Offices (Poste Italiane) enabled to receive residence permit applications. Please see the complete list of enabled offices.

   
   

2. The International Student Office will help you fill out the application form correctly. However, you can always check out this guide (brought to you by Politecnico di Milano).

   
   

   N.B. a) We suggest writing an Italian mobile number (you will receive an SMS for process updates); b) it is not mandatory to put your tax code, so do not worry if you do not have it yet!

   
   
3. Go to the Post Office and submit:

• The application form (make sure to photocopy it, as you will need it for subsequent purposes, including during your interview at the police station). N.B. you will sign and date the application form at the Post Office.

  
  

• A photocopy of passport (personal data + visa page). You must also bring the original document to the post office.

  
  

• A photocopy of the admission letter endorsed by the Italian Embassy or Consulate in your home country during Student Visa application process.

  
  

• A photocopy of enrollment certification print-out from your University /Academy /School in Italy, confirming your enrollment (provided to you in your university documentation).

  
  

• A photocopy of health insurance policy or payment receipt, valid in Italy for the duration of your residence permit. They will want to see private insurance OR your National Healthcare System registration (valid for at least one year).

  
  

• A photocopy of proof of address (e.g., rent contract, declaration by the university residence, registration slip by hotel, declaration of hospitality of foreign citizen made by the landlord at the Police station). N.B. Attaching the proof of address is not mandatory. Submit it only if you are sure it will be the address at the time of your appointment at the Police office.

  
  

• A photocopy of a financial statement (approximately €6,600 per year) for the validity period of the residence permit (e.g., a recent bank account report or a bank letter of financial good standing). This document must clearly state your name.

  
  

• A €16.00 revenue stamp (marca da bollo). You can purchase it at any Tobacco shop.

  
  

• Proof of payment of €70.46 for the electronic permit of stay. It must be paid at the post office while submitting the application.

  
  

• Application fee of €30.

  
  

4. After submitting the required documents, you will receive a receipt (Ricevuta mod. 22A). You will also be given the first available appointment (on a letter stating time, date and place) for your interview with the Police, which is the next step of your Residence Permit application.

   N.B. Until your Residence Permit is issued, your application receipt will act as proof of your legal immigration registration and status, so always keep it with you!

   
   
5. Once you're notified that your Residence Permit Card is ready for collection, visit the designated location (as instructed in the notification). Bring with you: a valid passport + original residence permit application receipt.

Patronato is a service provided by the biggest workers unions and associations to help people with labor and immigration paperwork with a mandate, training, and funding by the State.

Most of their services are State-subsided and free, some require a contribution or membership.

Patronato INCA CGIL (Corso di P.ta Vittoria, 43) provides information and advanced advice for migrant citizens by offering the services of:

• Residence permit renewal and update
• Residence permit for long-term
• Residence issue and update
• Family reunification for Non-EU-Citizens
• Family reunification for EU-Citizens
• Italian language test enrollment
• Counseling on the application for Italian Citizenship

• Immigration-related form

  
  

Send an email inquiry for an appointment at migranti.mi@cgil.lombardia.it - provide details about your situation + name, surname, tax code, and home address.

For information or appointments: Email migranti.mi@cgil.lombardia.it or use WhatsApp: +39 348 4817030. Remember to write a brief description of your situation and your contact details (name, surname, tax code, and home address).

List of additional services with a contribution.

You must go to the designated Police Station at the time and date specified on the receipt you received at the Post Office when you submitted your residence permit application.

At the Police Station, you will present the required documents (the same documents that you submitted during application + mandatory proof of address), which will be reviewed during a brief interview, along with a verification of your personal and contact information. The officer will also take your biometric data (fingerprints).

If there have been any changes to your documents since the application, such as a change of address, the start of a tenancy, receiving enrollment confirmation for national public healthcare, or obtaining your tax code certificate, bring the updated documentation with you.

Printed on the receipt slip, you will see a postal tracking number for your application (Numero Assicurata). You can check the status of the issuance of your residence permit on this website.

Enter the file number (10 characters) or your insurance number (12 characters) from the application receipt. In addition to the notification visible through this computer system regarding the status of the procedure, a text message will be sent to the international applicant with instructions on how to pick up the already prepared residence permit: day, time, and location.

The Police website provides a tracker of your residence permit status. Enter the Numero Assicurata or Numero pratica (Spot it on your papers).

N.B. Please note until your Residence Permit is issued, your application receipt will act as proof of your legal immigration registration and status, so always keep it with you, if you lose it or it's stolen, you need to file a report at a police / carabinieri station.

Non-EU students with a valid residence permit from a Schengen country under a mobility program or international agreement (e.g. Erasmus) can stay in Italy for up to 360 days without a new permit. They must declare their presence within 8 days of arrival at the Questura (Central immigration office, via Montebello 26, Milano) or any Police station (Commissariato di Polizia) of the province in which they are located by signing a specific form.

If you arrive in Italy from countries that do not apply the Schengen Agreement, the entry stamp at the border is enough.

If you stay at hotels, residences, and similar, get the receipt of the registration made by the hotelier, who is obliged to report to the authority the details of the foreign people staying within 24 hours after their arrival.

The renewal of the residence permit must be requested from the competent police headquarters (Questura) in the province of residence at least 60 days (we recommend starting the renewal process 90 days before expiration) before the expiration date for the verification of the specified conditions.

We recommend taking an appointment with Patronato (recommended: at least three-two months in advance)

PRESENT IN ORIGINAL (+ photocopies to be attached inside the envelope):

• Passport (pages with personal data) or consular identity document, or document equivalent;
• Residence permit for which the renewal is requested;
• Tax code;
• Identity card or certificate of residence or declaration of hospitality;
• Documentation showing adequate financial resources available for the period of duration of residence permit. (The student worker can prove income by Completing form 2);
• Insurance policy, valid in the national territory for the foreseen period of duration of the permit of Stay, against the risk of illness and accidents or Italian NHS membership;
• Certification of passing at least one exam for the 1st renewal and at least 2 exams in the previous year for subsequent renewals of the residence permit.

Contacts: Email migranti.mi@cgil.lombardia.it or use WhatsApp: +39 348 4817030.

1. What type of health insurance can I provide for the residence permit?

   
   

To obtain a residence permit, it is essential to have health coverage for necessities and emergencies. The validity of your residence permit is directly tied to the duration of your health coverage (1 year for study purposes).

You can provide either:

• Proof of voluntary membership in the National Healthcare Service (SSN), or
• A private insurance certificate valid for at least one year

2. My student visa is a single entry / only valid for 6 months / 1 year, after that, I will only have my residence permit. Can I travel in the Schengen zone with my residence permit?

   
   

Yes, the visa (full name - Schengen Entry Visa) allows you to arrive in your host country, enter and travel in the Schengen area in its validity period.

After your arrival, you must apply for and get a residence permit. You can stay in the issuing Country for the validity period of the residence permit, and you can travel around the Schengen area for short periods (up to 90 days over a 180-day period, unless you are taking part in an official exchange program).

3. Do I also need to always bring my passport with me, or is the residence permit sufficient?

You need to show your passport or your Italian ID Card along with your Residence permit.

4. What is the earliest time I can ask for the renewal of my residence permit?

We recommend applying for your residence permit at least three months before expiration.

5. What happens to my ability to travel if my residence permit expires?

An expired residence permit won't allow you to travel to other Schengen countries. While Italy accepts your expired card with a renewal receipt for re-entry, other countries require valid documents. To travel through or visit another Schengen nation, you'll need either a re-entry visa or a passport that grants visa-free entry to that specific country.

6. I'm a non-EU citizen and I’m staying with a friend/relative or at a hotel. Are there any documents I need to acquire before the residence permit application?

• Staying with a friend/relative:

If you're staying with someone in Italy without a formal rental agreement, your host needs to register your visit at a police station. At the police station you'll fill out a document called "Dichiarazione di Ospitalità" (Declaration of Hospitality).

• Staying as a Tenant:

If you're renting a place in Italy, your landlord will register your stay using a form called "Cessione di Fabbricato." The landlord will go to any police station with their ID and a copy of the tenant's passport+ visa; residence permit application receipt; rent contract and registration receipt from the Revenue Agency.

• For Other Accommodations:

Hotels, bed and breakfasts, and residences will handle your registration and provide you with a receipt.

7. I'm a non-EU student coming from an EU country to Italy for an Exchange/Erasmus or to continue my studies. How do I notify the municipality that I’m in Milano?

• Exchange/Erasmus programs:

If you're coming to Italy for an Erasmus/Exchange program lasting up to 360 days, you likely won't need a separate Italian residence permit. You can stay using your valid residence permit from your current EU study country. Just register your presence at the local police station in Italy (dichiarazione di presenza).

• Continuing Your Studies:

If you're planning to extend your studies in Italy beyond an exchange program and are coming from another EU country with a valid residence permit there, things are a bit different. You'll need to apply for a separate Italian residence permit specifically for study purposes. This involves obtaining a postal application kit and including documents from your current university that confirm your chosen Italian course complements your previous studies.

If you still have questions or doubts about this administrative procedure or anything else related to living in Milano, you can always contact our International Student Desk.

Send us an email at welcomestudents@yesmilano.it.

We will be happy to answer all your questions!