In recent weeks, false information has circulated regarding the validity of a long-term residence permit and the requirement for updates. Find out more here below.
EU Long-term residence permit
As a result of Law 238/2021, the EU long-term resident permit no longer bears the words “unlimited duration,” but indicates the duration of ten years (five for minors under the age of eighteen). This duration refers only to the validity of the document and not to the regularity of the stay.
Foreign citizens holding long-term residence permits issued more than 10 years ago must apply for an updated title by going to Poste Italiane offices and filling out the kit to be sent to the Questura.
Foreigners applying for Italian citizenship based on residency must also submit their updated residence permit to the authorities.
Permit of Residence for Family member’s of an EU Citizen
Paper residence cards for EU citizens’ family members became invalid on August 3, 2023, and must be replaced electronically.
Again, this is a simple update of the residence permit already possessed, which can be done in two alternative ways: the foreigner can go to the post office and fill out the kit to be sent to the Questura, or he/she can make an appointment through the State Police’s PrenotaFacile portal, available at the link https://prenotafacile.poliziadistato.it/.
For those who have not yet applied for the new electronic permits, they should do so as soon as possible.
The conversion of these permits is also essential for citizenship applications. Foreigners applying for Italian citizenship with a paper residence permit must convert it to the new electronic format.
Then, they may send an e-mail to the competent authority, attaching the postal receipt, requesting the integration of the application. Once the new permit becomes available, it will be integrated as well.
Individuals who are still in the process of applying for citizenship, should follow the same conversion procedure and may include the receipt along with the paper permit in hand with their application.
Both residence permits, including the paper ones, allow travel to the country of origin and return to Italy. Some problems may be encountered in case of travel or layover in any other Schengen country.
See also: Regulation (EU) 2019/1157 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019
