Residence Permit in Hungary: Complete Guide to Applying in 2026
A residence permit in Hungary is an official status that allows a foreign national who...
An Italian residence permit is an official status that allows a foreigner to stay in the country longer than a tourist visa permits. A Permesso di soggiorno is available to students, businesspeople, startup founders, financially independent individuals, and employed professionals within annual quotas. Family members of residents and citizens may also obtain the right of residence.
With an Italian residence permit, visa-free travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in each six-month period is possible, along with access to almost free medical services and the opening of accounts with reliable banks. While a national visa allows a person to stay in Italy for up to one year, a residence permit can be valid for up to 2 years. A Temporary Residence Permit requires the grounds to be maintained and the status to be renewed regularly. Indefinite residence, or permanent residence in Italy, becomes available after 5 years of presence in the country. Citizenship provides the broadest rights and becomes available after 10 years spent in the country.
A residence permit in Italy removes most of the restrictions faced by ordinary tourists and grants the right to:
After 10 years of residence, you can apply for citizenship by naturalization. The Italian passport is one of the leaders in global passport-strength rankings and guarantees visa-free visits to most countries of the world, including Japan, the United States, and Canada.
Italian resident status imposes a number of restrictions on newcomers. Until permanent residence is obtained, the Permesso di soggiorno must be renewed regularly. The process may take several months. Throughout this time, you will stay in the country on the basis of the postal receipt, Ricevuta. It allows you to retain your rights in Italy but restricts travel (for example, you cannot fly in transit through third countries in the Schengen Area).
Under the law, if you leave Italy for more than six consecutive months, your right of residence may be revoked. For those whose card is issued immediately for 2 years, the total period of absence may not exceed half of the card’s validity period. If you plan to obtain permanent residence in the future, you may not be absent from the country for more than 10 months in total during the 5-year period.
Not every residence permit allows employment. For example, students may work up to 20 hours per week and up to 1,040 hours per year. Residenza Elettiva (elective residence) does not provide any right to work in the Republic.
When you receive a residence permit card and register with the local municipality, you are required to stay in the country for more than 183 days per year. This makes you a tax resident and means that taxes must be paid to the state budget on all income, regardless of where it was earned. Italian personal income tax rates are progressive and reach 43%.
Some categories of foreigners choose immigration to Italy more often than others. This is due to the specifics of the immigration regime and conditions of stay:
To avoid disappointment after moving to Italy, it is worth considering the specifics of local immigration rules and requirements. For example, the tax burden is among the highest in Europe. The personal income tax rate depends on income:
Regional and municipal taxes (up to 4%) must also be added to the national rate. Preferential regimes are available to relocated pensioners and investors, but taxes for employees and self-employed individuals are relatively high.
Living in northern Italy and in major tourist centers is expensive. Renting a small apartment in Milan can cost up to EUR 1,500 per month. At the same time, average salaries in Italy are lower than in Germany or Scandinavia. English is spoken mainly by hotel and restaurant staff. Basic Italian is needed from the first day for visits to the town hall or a doctor, renting an apartment, or connecting internet service.
If the goal of immigration is to obtain an EU passport quickly, Italy may be disappointing. An application for citizenship by naturalization can be submitted only after 10 years of residence. During this entire period, the residence permit must be renewed and permanent residence must be obtained, which requires staying in the country for 183 days or more within a 12-month period.
An Italian residence permit can be obtained when there is a specific ground for long-term residence. If the purpose of stay ceases to exist, the Residence Card is revoked. The validity of the residence permit also depends on the ground and starts from one year. Resident status can subsequently be renewed if the conditions and residence requirements continue to be met.
Permesso di soggiorno per residenza elettiva is a type of residence permit suitable for wealthy foreigners who want to live in Italy but undertake not to work in the local labor market. The elective residence visa requires proof of owned or rented residential property and private medical insurance with coverage of at least EUR 30,000. In addition, you must write a letter explaining the reasons why you choose to live in Italy.
The basic income threshold for the main applicant is EUR 31,000 per year. Stable, regular, and renewable passive sources are considered, such as public or private pensions, rental income, and interest on deposits. The consulate requires a history of financial transactions for the previous 1–2 years and tax returns from the country of citizenship to confirm the lawful origin of the capital.
The application may include a spouse and financially dependent children, including adult children if they are studying and remain dependent on you. The annual income requirement increases proportionally. To maintain a residence permit for financially independent persons, it is necessary to live in Italy for at least 183 days per year.
Obtaining a Permesso di soggiorno per lavoro subordinato requires signing an employment contract before arriving in Italy. The validity of the residence card depends on the term of the contract and is 1–2 years. The residence permit may subsequently be renewed. Ordinary employment uses the annual quota system regulated by Decreto Flussi. For 2026, 164,850 permits have been allocated. First, the employer must prove that there are no candidates for the open position among Italian or EU citizens. The second stage is the submission of an online application through the Ministry of the Interior portal.
If the company managed to reserve a quota and passed the immigration authority’s review, an electronic work authorization, Nulla Osta, is issued. After that, you submit documents for a work visa at the consulate, travel to Italy, and within 8 days apply directly for the residence permit.
If you are a highly qualified specialist, quotas do not apply. The EU Blue Card is issued outside the quota system. Persons with higher education (at least 3 years of bachelor’s studies) whose profession falls within levels 1, 2, and 3 of the ISTAT occupational classification (managers, engineers, IT specialists, scientists, doctors) are eligible for the EU Blue Card. The employment contract may not be for less than 6 months.
Italy has no single fixed statutory national minimum wage. For a standard employment residence permit under the quota system, there is no universal minimum annual salary threshold: remuneration must comply with the applicable collective agreement. For the EU Blue Card, the minimum is 1.5 times the basic average annual salary in the country (approximately EUR 35,000 gross).
Italian residence is not automatically revoked if you lose your job. If you find another employer and sign a new contract, you submit the new information when renewing your status as scheduled. If you are dismissed or your contract expires, you may register with the employment office at the Employment Center. On this basis, a special interim residence permit for job seeking is issued. It is valid for at least 1 year (or until the end of the validity of the current residence permit).
Italy’s Digital Nomad Visa is designed for non-EU nationals who work remotely. The program is suitable for digital nomad freelancers and full-time remote employees of companies. The visa is issued outside quotas but requires proof of a minimum annual income of at least EUR 24,789. Funds must come exclusively from lawful remote activity. If you travel with close family members, additional funds will be required, with the amount depending on the family composition.
Income must be confirmed by bank statements, tax returns for the previous year, employment agreements, or client contracts for the last 12 months. To meet the program criteria, applicants must provide a higher-education diploma (at least 3 years of study), documents confirming professional qualifications, or verified work experience. Processing of a Digital Nomad visa application takes from 30 to 90 days. The first residence card is issued for up to one year and may be renewed if all conditions continue to be met.
Obtaining a business residence permit, Permesso di Soggiorno, is possible if you open a sole proprietorship or an S.R.L. (Società a responsabilità limitata, equivalent to a limited liability company). First, you must obtain an Italian tax identification number, Codice Fiscale, from the tax authority and register the company with the Business Register of the Chamber of Commerce. To approve the application, the authorities require proof of the enterprise’s viability and its benefit to the country’s economy.
Another option is to launch an innovative startup through the Italia Startup Visa program. The threshold for own or attracted funds is at least EUR 50,000. Availability of funds is confirmed by bank account statements. The applicant must also prove personal income for the preceding year of at least EUR 8,263. The company must have been established no more than 60 months ago and have annual turnover of up to EUR 5 million. In addition, at least one of the following conditions must be met:
The tax burden consists of corporate income tax at 24% and a regional tax on productive activities (approximately 3.9% depending on the region). The basic VAT rate is 22%, with reductions to 4–10% possible for certain categories of goods, medicines, and services. Innovative startups are exempt from a number of fees when registering with the Chamber of Commerce and are entitled to tax deductions when attracting external investment.
The Investor Visa for Italy, or Italian Golden Visa, is based on preliminary approval. First, you submit documents and confirm the availability of funds, receive approval, enter Italy, and only after that must physically transfer and invest the money in the country’s economy (3 months are allowed for this). The program offers one of 4 investment options:
A residence permit cannot be obtained directly through real estate. However, you may invest EUR 500,000 in a company engaged in real estate or EUR 250,000 in a technology startup based on the management of hotel assets. You may buy housing for yourself; when applying for a residence permit you must in any case provide a residential address in Italy, but the value of this purchase does not count toward the investment.
The initial status is valid for 2 years. If the investment is maintained, it can be renewed for another 3 years. Permanent residence becomes available after 5 years, and citizenship after 10 years. To renew an investor residence permit, it is not necessary to remain in the country permanently. It is sufficient simply to maintain the investment.
Foreigners admitted to an Italian university or participating in exchange programs may obtain a student residence permit. To obtain a residence card, applicants must provide a certificate of admission and register through the Universitaly portal. The first residence permit is issued for one year and renewed until the completion of studies. Students may work, but no more than 20 hours per week and a total of up to 1,040 hours per year.
A residence permit for language courses is issued if the course lasts at least 20 hours per week and more than 90 days. The course must be conducted by a state-accredited educational institution. Extending such a residence permit is difficult because it is assumed that after completing the courses, the graduate will enter a university and convert the residence permit into a student permit.
To obtain and renew student status, at least EUR 7,102 must be shown in the bank account. In the case of a paid course, additional funds covering tuition fees will also be required. Time spent on a student residence permit is not counted toward permanent residence. However, you may change the type of permit at any time, for example to a work permit if you have an offer from an employer, or become a sole proprietor.
A foreigner who has been in Italy with a residence permit for more than one year has the right to invite family members. The following persons are entitled to obtain a Permesso di soggiorno per motivi familiari:
The inviting person acts as a sponsor and must prove annual income not lower than the social allowance increased by 50% for each family member. For example, at least EUR 10,651 is required for the applicant and 1 relative. To obtain residence for a wife/husband, the sponsor must additionally provide a certificate confirming the suitability of the accommodation. First, the inviting person applies for a Nulla Osta through the Ministry of the Interior online portal (ALI). Once permission is granted, the relative applies for a visa at the Italian consulate.
Residence through family reunification gives the right to work or open a business without additional permits. The card is issued for a period corresponding to the duration of the host party’s status. If the sponsor is an Italian citizen, the foreigner receives a residence permit for 5 years and after this period has the right to apply for permanent residence.
The choice of a residence permit in Italy depends on the structure of your income, professional status, and readiness to invest in the economy. For convenience, a detailed comparison table of current programs is provided below.
| Residence Permit Type | Initial Validity | Minimum Income/Investment, EUR/year | Right to Work | Immigration with Family |
| For financially independent persons | 1–2 years | From 32,000 in passive income | No | Yes |
| Digital Nomad | 1 year | 24,789 in remote income | Remote work only for foreign companies or freelance work | Through the family reunification procedure |
| Employment | 1–2 years | 9,000–12,000 | Yes | Through the family reunification procedure |
| Business/Startup | 1–2 years | From 8,263 (for a sole proprietor) to 50,000 (investment in an innovative startup). | Yes | Yes |
| Investment | 2 years | 250,000–2,000,000 | Yes | Yes |
| Student | 1 year | 7,102 | Yes, no more than 20 hours per week/1,040 hours per year | No |
The procedure for obtaining an Italian residence permit is practically identical for all types of permits.
The basic list of documents required for all applicants when applying for an Italian residence permit is provided in the table below.
| Document | Purpose | Comment |
| International passport | Proof of identity | A photocopy is sent by post. The original is taken to the Questura. The passport must be valid for the entire validity period of the residence permit |
| Photographs | Identification for the plastic residence card | 4 color photographs, 3.5 × 4.5 cm, on a white background. They are submitted in person at the Questura during fingerprinting |
| Proof of income | Evidence that you will not claim social benefits | For employment — employment contract and payslips; for financially independent persons — passive income; for students — a scholarship certificate or sponsor guarantees. |
| Bank statements | Confirmation of money in the account for the stay | They show the movement of funds and final balance |
| Medical insurance | Provision of medical care without burdening the Italian budget | Mandatory for the entire validity period of the residence permit. It may be a policy from a private company or a receipt for payment of a voluntary contribution for registration in the public healthcare system |
| Police clearance certificate | Confirmation of the applicant’s good standing | Required from the country of origin/residence when first applying for a D visa and certain types of residence permits. Upon renewal, the Questura checks the database independently |
| Long-term lease agreement | Proof of accommodation | A lease registered with the tax office, property ownership documents, or an official declaration from the host party providing accommodation |
| Marriage and children’s birth certificates | Proof of family relationship | Required if you are applying for joint residence or family reunification |
| Apostille | International confirmation of the legality of documents | Placed on the originals of all foreign documents in the country that issued them |
| Translations | Enabling public authorities to understand foreign documents | The translation must be officially certified by an accredited translator at the Italian consulate |
At the post office, you must also place a Marca da bollo (revenue stamp) with a face value of EUR 16 in the immigration envelope (it can be purchased at any tobacco shop) and pay on the spot the fee for the electronic chip and the residence card itself (from EUR 70.46 to EUR 110.46 depending on the duration of the document).
The calculation of the cost of obtaining a residence permit (Permesso di soggiorno) consists of mandatory fees and related expenses. Administrative charges include:
The processing fee depends on the duration of the permit issued. If the document is issued for up to 1 year, the fee is EUR 40; for a residence permit valid for up to 2 years, EUR 50; and for a long-term residence permit, EUR 100. Taking into account the visa fee (EUR 116), minimum expenses for one year are approximately EUR 200. The average cost of a sworn translation is EUR 20–40 per page of text. Additional expenses include:
Immigration lawyers or specialized agencies are not mandatory; the procedure can be completed independently. However, many applicants engage specialists to minimize the risk of refusal. The cost of their services must be calculated separately.
A residence permit in Italy is a temporary status that requires regular renewal. Permanent residence is valid for an unlimited period (although the card itself is renewed once every 10 years). It grants almost all rights in the country except voting rights. Italian citizenship is the final legal status, providing voting rights and protection from deportation. However, for the residence period to be counted, the following aspects must be observed:
Permanent residence may be requested after 5 years of residence in Italy. During these years, total absence from Italy may not exceed 10 months, and a single absence may not exceed 6 months. When applying for the status, income information must be provided (minimum EUR 7,101 per year). For permanent residence, proof of Italian language proficiency at no lower than A2 is mandatory. This may be an official certificate (CILS, CELI, PLIDA) or passing the state test at the Prefecture.
The standard residence requirement in Italy is 10 years. For citizenship, a mandatory B1-level language examination has been introduced. Only holders of diplomas from Italian universities/schools or persons who have signed the Integration Agreement are exempt. Stable income for the 3 years preceding the application must also be shown. The minimum threshold is from EUR 8,263 per year for a single applicant.
Refusal to issue or renew a residence permit in Italy may be caused by:
Before making a final decision, the Questura is required to send you a Preaviso di rigetto (notice of intended refusal). From the moment it is received, you will have 10 days to provide missing documents, correct the indicated errors, or submit an official appeal explanation through a lawyer.
Among Italy’s advantages are a favorable climate, affordable cost of living, and friendly population. Food products, especially local vegetables, cheeses, wine, and pasta, are among the best in Europe in terms of value for money. Living in small towns and in the south of the country is inexpensive: a cup of espresso costs EUR 1.20 and a restaurant lunch about EUR 15. Living in Milan, Bologna, or Rome, however, requires substantial funds.
The public healthcare system is considered one of the best in the world in terms of the quality of treatment for serious diseases. Most emergency operations and procedures are free or cost a symbolic amount. However, a scheduled appointment with a specialist by referral may require several months of waiting. Public schools are free and open to immigrant children. Higher education in Italy is prestigious, and tuition at public universities is cheaper than in the United States or the United Kingdom. However, the Italian system is conservative: emphasis is placed on theory and memorization, while practical skills and teamwork receive little attention.
In the Republic, it is possible to find affordable properties in picturesque villages for renovation or inexpensive apartments in southern regions. Historic buildings have unique charm. But finding rental housing in large cities has become a tough challenge. Prices in Milan are breaking records, and landlords require a huge package of documents.
Italy is ideal for those who are never in a hurry, value aesthetics and good food, and are ready to accept the rules of “dolce far niente” (doing nothing). It is suitable for financially independent people, IT specialists working remotely, and entrepreneurs with passive income.
If you are looking for more flexible, faster, and more reliable alternatives to an Italian residence permit within the European Union, it is worth considering other types of visas and jurisdictions. For example, Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa is issued for 3 years and is more accessible: the required income as of 2026 starts from EUR 2,850, and the application can be submitted while staying in the country.
Highly qualified specialists may consider other EU states for a Blue Card. For example, Germany has lowered salary thresholds for shortage occupations, while France has also updated its rules (the threshold for 2026 is EUR 59,373). Permanent residence can be obtained after 21–27 months (depending on the level of language knowledge, for example in Germany).
Portugal may be of interest to people with capital. Real estate purchases for the Golden Visa have been discontinued. Investments in local investment and venture funds (from EUR 500,000) are now relevant. The main advantage is that permanent residence may be requested after 5 years while living in Portugal for only 7 days per year.
If you have an innovative business idea, the Italia Startup Visa program may be suitable, but participation requires capital of at least EUR 50,000. In France, for example, there is no strict limit on personal capital if the project is approved by one of the recognized incubators. A residence permit is issued immediately for 4 years to the entire family.
The fastest way to obtain not merely resident status but EU citizenship immediately is if you have the relevant roots. Repatriation programs operate not only in Italy. Similar procedures exist in Slovenia, Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary, and Romania within the EU. Depending on the individual situation, it may be possible to become a citizen of a country within one year.
Italian laws contain many vague formulations referring to circulars and government decrees. Without relevant experience, it may be difficult to understand the requirements and details of the immigration process, especially if the situation is not standard. For example, an elective residence application requires exclusively passive income (rent, dividends). If part of the profit comes from royalties or options, an ordinary officer may become confused and issue a refusal. A lawyer will structure the income correctly and add a cover letter.
Obtaining a residence permit almost always entails becoming a tax resident (if you spend 183 days or more per year in the country). Without advance international tax structuring, you risk paying a large part of your income to the Italian treasury. A lawyer will help activate preferential regimes.
An incorrect translation, absence of an apostille, or an error in the spelling of a surname may lead to a notice of refusal. You then have only 10 days to provide the correct response and fix the documents. Changing the situation within such a period is very difficult without a lawyer. If you want the immigration process to be predictable and free from legal disruptions, contact our specialists. Lawyers will analyze the specifics of your case and determine a reliable legal path.
Yes, a long-term rental agreement is sufficient for a residence permit. Purchasing property may be an advantage for some subcategories, for example, the elective residence visa.
A residence permit for employment or family reunification provides the full right to work, whereas elective residence strictly prohibits any professional activity in Italy. Students are limited in the number of hours they may work per week and per year.
An application for a permanent residence permit may be submitted after 5 years of continuous lawful residence in Italy. Before that, you will need to pass an A2-level language test and confirm legal income.
Citizenship by naturalization is available after ten years of residence in the country. If you marry an Italian citizen, the residence requirement is reduced to 2 years (or 3 years if you live abroad).
To maintain a residence permit, you may not remain abroad for more than half of the card’s validity period.

