How can you check the status of a residence permit application or renewal?

When an application is submitted in Italy to obtain or renew a residence permit, one of the main concerns is knowing the current status of the application. While waiting for the document, it is possible to check the status of the procedure online and determine whether the application is still being processed or whether the permit is already available for collection.

The status can mainly be checked through the State Police website or, for certain information concerning the procedure, through the Immigration Portal.

Checking the application on the State Police website

To find out the status of an application, applicants can use the State Police's online service dedicated to applications submitted by foreign nationals. The system requires a code that varies depending on how the application was submitted.

If the application was submitted through Poste Italiane, the insured-mail number (numero dell’assicurata) must be used. This consists of 12 characters and is shown on the postal receipt. If, instead, the application was submitted directly to the Questura (Police Headquarters), the 10-character application number (numero di pratica) shown on the receipt issued by the relevant office must be entered.

After entering the required code and submitting the search, the portal displays the information available concerning the status of the application.

What does it mean when an application is “under processing”?

One of the statuses that may appear during the online check indicates that an application is still being processed.

When the application status appears in yellow, this means that the procedure has not yet been completed. At this stage, checks and verifications may still be underway, or the document may be in the process of being prepared.

Processing times are not necessarily the same for everyone. They may vary depending on the competent Questura and the circumstances of the individual application. According to the information provided by the source, issuance may take several months and, in some cases, up to 180 days.

When the application does not appear in the records

It may happen that the system cannot find the application when a search is carried out. In this case, the status is displayed in red.

This indication does not necessarily correspond to a single situation. The absence of the application from the online records may, for example, be due to the fact that the application has not yet been entered into the system or to a temporary technical problem. It may also mean that the application has been archived, that the permit has already been delivered or, in certain circumstances, that the application has been rejected.

For this reason, if the situation persists and it is not possible to obtain information through the portal, it is advisable to contact the competent Questura.

How to find out whether the permit is ready

Online checking can be particularly useful when the residence permit has reached the final stage of processing.

If the system indicates that the document is ready for delivery, it will generally also provide information about the office where it can be collected.

In some cases, an SMS is also sent containing the information required for collection. However, not all Questure use the SMS notification system. Therefore, the absence of an SMS should not necessarily be regarded as an indication that the permit is not yet available. If the online check shows that the document is ready, the instructions provided by the Questura can be followed even if no message has been received.

Another option: the Immigration Portal

In addition to the State Police website, the status of the procedure can be checked through the Immigration Portal (Portale Immigrazione).

In this case, applicants must access the restricted area intended for foreign nationals and use the credentials shown on the receipt issued when the application was submitted. However, this method is available only for checking the status of residence permits requested through the postal application kit (for example, in the case of work-related permits such as the EU Blue Card or ICT permit) and not for applications submitted directly to the competent Questura (for example, residence permits for family members of Italian citizens).

The system provides various types of information concerning the application. This may include the status of the postal application kit, whether the documentation has been completed correctly, any appointment for fingerprinting and identification, the progress of the procedure, and information concerning the documents that must be submitted to the Questura.

The Immigration Portal can therefore be particularly useful for following the various stages of the procedure, rather than merely determining whether the document is already ready for collection.

What should you do if you cannot collect the permit?

When the system indicates that the permit is ready, attention should be paid to the instructions concerning collection.

If the application is shown as available for delivery, the information available online may indicate where to go to collect the document.

If, instead, an appointment had been scheduled and it was not possible to attend, it is advisable to request a new appointment or go to the Questura as soon as possible. Failure to collect the permit for an extended period may result in the application being archived.

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The content of this article is intended to provide general information on the topic. For doubts or specific cases, it is advisable to seek specialized legal advice tailored to your particular situation.

 
Article written by Alessia Ajelli, Managing Associate of LCA Studio Legale, Italian lawyer specialized on Italian immigration and citizenship law.