Residence Permit for Self-Employment Purposes

The Residence Permit for Self-Employment is the required residency title for non-EU citizens who have entered Italy with a visa for self-employment purposes following the issuance of a “Nulla Osta” for self-employment. It must be requested at the competent Police Headquarters (Questura) within 8 days from the worker’s entry into the territory via postal kit, unless specific territorial procedures apply.

The Residence Permit for Self-Employment has a variable duration based on the work activity:

2 years for the issuance of the first Residence Permit for Self-Employment;
from 1 to 2 years for the renewal of the Residence Permit for Self-Employment.

First issuance of the Residence Permit for Self-Employment: Depending on the territorial organization, the foreign citizen must first apply, within 8 days from the date of entry into Italy, for the first issuance of the permit through the postal kit procedure at Post Offices. Only in some particular cases, the applicant may have to go directly to the competent Police Headquarters (Immigration Office) for the territory.

The Police Headquarters will then, at the time of photographing, finalize the entry procedure, have the Integration Agreement signed, to proceed with the issuance process of the Residence Permit.

The following must be attached to the application:

Module 1 of form 209 properly filled out;
Module 2 of form 209 properly filled out;
Photocopy of the passport or equivalent valid document (pages containing personal data, photograph, stamps, visas);
Photocopy of the certification issued by the Italian diplomatic representation in the country of origin regarding the fulfillment of the required conditions;
€16.00 revenue stamp.

Application Costs: The amounts of the contributions payable by adult foreigners are as follows:

Receipt of payment of €30.46 for the issuance of the electronic Residence Permit (PSE) to be paid into postal current account no. 67422402 payable to the Ministry of Economy and Finance – Treasury Department with the reason “amount for the issuance of the electronic Residence Permit”;
Payment of €30.00 for postal kit shipment expenses (registered mail format);
Payment of €50.00 for the issuance of the residence permit lasting more than one year and up to two years.

The receipt of payment of the new contribution must be presented at the time of convocation at the Police Headquarters for fingerprint acquisition.

If the issuance of the Residence Permit is requested using a single Poste Italiane kit for the same family unit, the receipt of payment of €30.46 must be attached for each member of the family unit.

The foreign citizen must submit the application at the authorized Post Offices.

The Poste Italiane operator will deliver to the foreign citizen the receipt of the registered mail shipment, which must be kept. The receipt will contain two personal identification codes (user ID and password) through which the progress of the procedure, the date of convocation for fingerprinting, and the subsequent collection of the Residence Permit can be checked by connecting to the website www.portaleimmigrazione.it.

The Police Headquarters will take the foreign citizen’s fingerprint and photograph (identification).

With the Residence Permit for Self-Employment, one can carry out subordinate employment for the same period without converting the permit itself. At the time of renewal, a new permit will be issued for the type of activity actually carried out.

Renewal of the Residence Permit for Self-Employment: The renewal application for the Residence Permit is necessary for non-EU citizens to continue staying in Italy for self-employment purposes when the Residence Permit is expiring or has expired. The renewal application must be submitted to the Police Headquarters by the expiry date of the permit in possession (maximum 90 days before) and, in particular cases, up to 60 days after the expiry of the permit. It must be requested at the Immigration Office of the Police Headquarters competent for the territory via postal kit and is renewed only if the condition of being the holder of a self-employment activity, even different from that for which the foreign worker arrived from abroad, persists.

The renewal application for the Residence Permit must be submitted to the Police Headquarters by sending the postal kit to the authorized Post Offices, attaching the following documentation:

Module 1 of form 209 properly filled out;
Module 2 of form 209 properly filled out;
Photocopy of the passport or equivalent valid document (pages containing personal data, photograph, stamps, visas);
Photocopy of the expiring Residence Permit;
Photocopy of the authorization or license or registration in a special register or the submission of a declaration or report required by current legislation for the exercise of the professional activity carried out, photocopy of registration with the Chamber of Commerce;
Copy of documentation attesting to the availability of income from work or from other lawful sources (income statement, tax return forms, etc.);
For employee shareholders in companies, including cooperatives: declaration by the president of the company regarding the tasks performed by the employee shareholder, accompanied by a photocopy of the declarant’s identity document and a photocopy of the membership book.
€16.00 revenue stamp.

Application Costs: The amounts of the contributions payable by adult foreigners are as follows:

Receipt of payment of €30.46 for the issuance of the electronic Residence Permit (PSE) to be paid into postal current account no. 67422402 payable to the Ministry of Economy and Finance – Treasury Department with the reason “amount for the issuance of the electronic Residence Permit”;
Payment of €30.00 for postal kit shipment expenses (registered mail format);
Payment of €50.00 for the issuance of the residence permit lasting more than one year and up to two years.

The receipt of payment of the new contribution must be presented at the time of convocation at the Police Headquarters for fingerprint acquisition.

If the renewal of the Residence Permit is requested using a single Poste Italiane kit for the same family unit, the receipt of payment of €30.46 must be attached for each member of the family unit.

With the Residence Permit for Self-Employment, one can carry out subordinate employment for the same period without converting the permit itself. At the time of the subsequent renewal of the permit, a new permit will be issued for the type of activity actually carried out, such as subordinate employment.

If at the time of renewal the foreign citizen is unemployed, he/she can request, always by sending the application via the post office, a Residence Permit for Job Seeking for a duration of one year, attaching registration with the Employment Center. The Residence Permit for Job Seeking is not renewable but can be converted for employment purposes.