What is an EU residence permit for permanent residence

The EU residence permit is a permit which, as of 8 January 2007, replaced what was previously known as the “residence card”.

This is a permanent residence permit that can only be requested by a foreigner who has had at least 5 years since obtaining a residence permit in Italy.

After the EU residence permit, a foreign citizen can reside in Italy for an unlimited period of time and can enter Italy without a visa, carry out any legal activity that is available to Italian citizens. And can also participate in local public life and exercise active and passive electorate.

Documents required to obtain an EU residence permit for long-term residence

To obtain an EU residence permit for long-term residents, a foreigner must have a residence permit for at least 5 years and must submit an application to which must be attached:

A copy of a valid passport or equivalent document;
a copy of the tax return (income must be higher than the annual amount of the social benefit);
for domestic workers (maids/carers): presentation of INPS bulletins or statement of analytical input issued by INPS;
certificate of absence of a criminal record and registration certificate of absence of a criminal case;
copies of payroll records (if available) for the current year;
Documentation regarding residence and marital status;
postal receipt for the payment of the electronic residence permit card (€ 27,50);
a stamp for € 16,00
certificate of passing the Italian language proficiency test.

Where to apply for an EU residence permit for long-term residence

A request for an EU residence permit for long-term residence can be sent through the local post office by filling in the necessary forms and attaching the documents mentioned above (see list of documents).
Or you can contact your local municipality, which also offers this service.

How long it takes to obtain an EU residence permit for long-term residence

An EU residence permit is issued to a foreign national within 90 days of the request, provided that all legal grounds for the request are met.

How do I sign up for the “Italian language proficiency” test?

The alien must self-enroll for this test through the Internet site https://testitaliano.interno.it – the website of the Department of Civil Liberties and Immigration;
fill in the test request form and enter your personal data in the form;
send an electronic application;
The prefecture will process the request for testing and carry out checks (over 14 years of age: residence permit, no other bookings for the test, etc.).

If all checks are positive, within 60 days of the request, the prefecture invites the alien to take the test by sending a letter to the alien’s address specified in the request.

If the checks do not yield positive results, the prefecture sends a letter to the applicant requesting that the information be corrected and the application be deferred.

Where is the Italian language test conducted?

The foreigner is tested at the regional adult education centres;
The prefecture sends the test results to police headquarters;
You must score at least 80% of the total score to pass the test;
In case of a positive result for Italian language skills, the foreigner can apply to the police (Questura) for an EU residence permit for long-term residence;
In case the test is negative, the foreigner can repeat the request for testing, for which he/she must once again make a request through the website.

Italian language test: who benefits?

1) You don’t have to take the Italian language test if you are a foreigner:

manager or highly specialised specialist of a company with an office or branch in Italy or a representative office of a foreign company with its principal place of business in the territory of a World Trade Organisation Member State, i.e. managers of the head offices in Italy of Italian companies or of companies of another Member State of the European Union;
A university professor appointed to fulfil an academic assignment in Italy;
translator and interpreter;
Correspondent journalist, officially accredited in Italy, foreign employee of the press, radio or television;
employed in scientific research in accordance with Art. 27 of Legislative Decree no. 286/1998.

2) Or if the foreigner owns:

a certificate proving his/her knowledge of the Italian language at a level not lower than “level A2” of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages approved by the Council of Europe, issued by certification bodies recognised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Education;
diploma or professional qualification (Italian high school diploma of first or second degree or certificates of studies relating to university courses, masters or doctorates);
Recognition of Italian language proficiency of at least A2 level;
a certificate issued by a public medical institution stating that the foreigner is subject to serious limitations in the ability to learn languages as a result of age, pathology or disability.

Prohibition on obtaining EU residence permit for long-term residence

It is not possible to apply for an EU residence permit in the following cases:

for residence permits for reasons of study or vocational training and research;
for a residence permit for temporary short-term residence or for humanitarian reasons;
if international protection has been requested and the foreigner is still awaiting a final decision;
The residence permit is short-term;
Residence permits for diplomats, consuls, persons with similar functions and members of missions accredited to international organisations of universal character.

When can a long-term resident’s EU residence permit be cancelled?

The EU residence permit is cancelled:

if the EU residence permit was acquired fraudulently;
in case of expulsion of a foreign citizen;
when there’s no motive;
in case of absence of a foreign national from the territory of the European Union for 12 consecutive months;
in case of obtaining a long-term residence permit in another Member State of the European Union;
in case of absence of the foreign national from the territory of the Italian State for a period of more than 6 years.