If you lose your permesso di soggiorno, or Italian residency document, don't panic - you haven't lost your right to live in Italy.
But while your residency rights aren't dependent on having a physical card, it's important to replace it as soon as possible, as it's the best proof you have of your legal status as a non-EU citizen (EU nationals don't require a permit).
Whether you need to carry the permit with you at all times is something of a legal grey area, but at least one foreigner has got into trouble with the law in the past for failing to produce the document when asked to by police.
READ ALSO: Do foreigners in Italy have to carry their residency documents?
So what should you do if your permesso is lost or stolen?
The first step to take upon discovering your permit is missing is to go to your local police station and file a report. This would be a denuncia di smarrimento in case of loss, or a denuncia di furto in case of theft.
Once you've been issued with the report, you can start the process of applying for a replacement permit.
To do this, you need to take the denuncia to your nearest post office with a Sportello Amico counter and ask for Modulo 209 (Form 209) to request a duplicate.
You'll also need:
- A photocopy of your entire passport
- A €16 marca da bollo tax stamp, which can be bought from most tabaccherie
To send the application, you'll need to pay postage costs of just over €30.
The postal worker assisting you will then give you a ricevuta (receipt) certifying that you've submitted the application. It is very important to hold on to this slip of paper, as it stands in for the permesso until you get your new permit.
Along with the ricevuta, you should also receive two codes that will allow you to log in and to check the status of your application on the government's immigration portal.
Through the portal, you'll be given a date and time for an appointment with the immigration office at your local police headquarters (Questura).
READ ALSO: How to check the status of your Italian residency permit application
You'll need to bring with you four passport photos, and the officer on duty will take your fingerprints.
You'll then be given another date and time to come and pick up the card.
In the absence of other information, British citizens resident in Italy since before Brexit who hold a carta di soggiorno can assume the same process applies to them, though it's worth double checking with the postal agent assisting with your application, or if they're unsure, seeking advice from a patronato.
British nationals in this situation weren't (and still aren't) required to have a carta di soggiorno to prove their residency rights - but in practice, you'll find it extremely difficult to complete any bureaucratic process in Italy without one.
In theory, your permit should be issued within 60 days of filing the application.
In reality, non-EU nationals in Italy have long experienced major delays with residency permit applications, with some of The Local's readers recently reporting wait times of over a year just to get an appointment at the local Questura.
If you want to travel outside of Italy while waiting for your replacement permit, you should bring it up with the officer dealing with your case.
Italy's rules on international travel by residents waiting on a permit are vague and unclear, so it's worth seeking official advice before attempting to travel.
Your country’s consulate in Italy should also be able to advise on how the rules may apply in your circumstances.
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