I am waiting for the issuance of my first Italian residence permit or for the issuance of my new Italian residence permit after having applied for its renewal.
Can I travel outside of the Country and re-enter Italy? Can I travel within the Schengen Area? Can I obtain a temporary residence permit?
Below you will find clear and certain answers to these common questions depending on your specific circumstances. All provided information is based on the applicable legal provisions, which is listed at the end of this article.
SECTION 1: Entry and exit from Italy and travel within the Schengen Area
Case A.1: I am waiting for the issuance of my 1st Italian Residence Permit & I hold a valid National Visa (Type D) allowing multiple entries (“Number of Entries: MULT”).
You can exit Italy, travel within the Schengen Area, and re-enter the Schengen Area from any Schengen entry point.
At any border control, you will be asked to show (a) your valid passport, (b) your valid visa and (c) the postal receipt of your residence permit application. Open this hyperlink to see a sample of the postal receipt (“Assicurata”).
Case A.2: I am waiting for the issuance of my 1st Italian Residence Permit & and I hold a valid Schengen Visa (Type C) allowing multiple entries (“Number of Entries: MULT”).
You can travel within the Schengen Area, and you can re-enter Italy and the whole Schengen area from any border.
At the border control, you will be asked to show:
- your valid passport
- your valid Schengen visa.
Case A.3: I am waiting for the issuance of my 1st Italian Residence Permit & I hold neither a National Visa (Type D), valid or expired, nor a Schengen Visa (Type C).
As a general rule, you cannot travel within the Schengen Area, and you cannot re-enter Italy or the Schengen area.
However, there 2 important exceptions to the general rule:
- Exception 1): you can do all the above if your sole passport allows you to be in the Schengen area up to 90 days every 180 days and you have not used up your allowed time already. You can verify the usage of your 90 days every 180 days though this Official web application in the website of the EU. In this scenario, at any border control, you will be asked to show your passport.
- Exception 2): you can re-enter Italy exclusively with a direct flight from your country of origin to Italy if you hold an expired Italian national Visa for work or family reunification. In this scenario, at any border control, you will be asked to show (a) your valid passport (b) your expired visa and (c) the postal receipt of your residence permit application. Open this hyperlink to see a sample of the postal receipt (“Assicurata”).
Case B.1: I am waiting for the issuance of my renewed residence permit & I hold my expired Italian residence permit.
You cannot travel within the Schengen Area.
You can re-enter Italy exclusively with a direct flight from your country of origin to Italy. You are not allowed to do stopovers in other Schengen Countries.
At any border control, you will be asked to show (a) your valid passport, (b) your expired residence permit and (c) the postal receipt of the application for the new residence permit. Open this hyperlink to see a sample of the postal receipt (“Assicurata”).
Case B.2: I am waiting for the issuance of my renewed residence permit & I do not hold my expired Italian residence permit.
You cannot travel within the Schengen Area.
You cannot re-enter Italy from abroad.
SECTION 2: Temporary Residence Permit
If you are in the process of renewing your residence permit and you need to travel within the Schengen area for work, medical or other compelling urgent reasons, you can apply for a temporary residence permit.
This permit will allow you to travel within the Schengen Area. It will not allow you to re-enter Italy or the Schengen Area from outside of it.
The same permit can be issued also to the minor child of the parent in the process of renewing the residence permit.
How long does this permit last?
This permit lasts up to 90 days maximum, depending on the specific needs and circumstances.
Where to ask for this permit?
You need to go to the same police station where you were summoned for the first appointment after the renewal application at the post office.
What documents should I bring with me to apply for this temporary travel document?
- The expired residence permit,
- Valid passport,
- The postal application for its renewal and the receipt of payment,
- 4 passport type pictures,
- Documentation proving the urgency to travel to other Schengen Countries for work, medical or other compelling reasons (tourism is not considered a valid urgent reason).
SECTION 3: Applicable Legal Sources
- Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement of 14 June 1985.
- Regulation (EU) 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code).
- Circular of the Italian Ministry of Interior, N.R. 400/C/2008/2952/P/12.214.3.2, 28 July 2008.
- Circular of the Italian Ministry of Interior, N.R. 400/A/2009/14.201, 11 March 2009.
- Circular of the Italian Ministry of Interior, N.R. 400/C/Idiv/12.214.3.2, 16 April 2010.
- Circular of the Italian Ministry of Interior, N.R. 400/C/2007/2651/P/14.201, 27 June 2007.
- Circular of the Italian Ministry of Interior, Prot. 0047382, 2 December 2016.
Please feel free to contact us if you require any further information.
– Article written by Pietro Derossi.
