After we published our recent Q&A with the British Embassy on renewing the pre-Brexit carta di soggiorno elettronica, several readers got in touch via the comments section to share their experience of the process so far.
As is often the case in Italy, early reports indicate that there’s a mismatch between the official rules and the situation on the ground.
Some readers have told us they’ve had trouble contacting their local authorities to initiate the renewal process, delays in securing an appointment, and confusion on the part of officials about when they can apply and what type of card they’re entitled to.
Be prepared to chase down your immigration authorities and stand your ground, keeping the government’s Vademecum (available in English and Italian) laying out your rights as a resident covered by the Withdrawal Agreement on hand.
Step 1: Book an appointment with the Questura
The British Embassy’s official guidance, which it says has been approved by Italy’s interior ministry, says: “Beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement should not use the Post Office kit” required for standard residency permit applications and renewals.
One reader based in Biella, Piedmont told us they had in fact successfully applied to renew their card via the post office forms, but that’s going against the official guidance, and you could run into problems if you do this.
READ ALSO: Q&A: How do I renew my pre-Brexit Italian residency card?
Instead, you should contact your Questura (provincial police headquarters) directly to book an appointment.
Unfortunately, there’s no standardised procedure for doing this, and the Embassy notes that “dedicated PEC addresses set up specifically for British nationals by Questure during and immediately after the end of the transition period (31.12.2020) are no longer active.”
That means you may need to be tenacious. Start by checking whether your Questura is signed up to the Prenota Facile booking portal. If not, you can contact them via their general PEC email address, though you may not get a response. If that fails, try calling them, and as a last resort, you may just have to turn up in person and wait until someone will see you.
Some readers who have started the process told The Local they have experienced the same lengthy delays as those faced by many other foreign residents trying to renew their permits, with one person who applied last October receiving a July 2026 appointment date.
The Embassy told us that while the interior ministry recommends that residents apply 60 days before their card is due to expire, applicants who meet the criteria “can apply to renew their CDS [carta di soggiorno] at any time”. In light of the delays mentioned above, it’s advisable to apply well in advance of your card’s expiry date to avoid being left in limbo.
Once you’ve managed to book your appointment, double check what documents your Questura requires. Given how difficult it can be to secure an appointment, you don’t want to risk having to return because you haven’t brought everything they want the first time around.
Step 2: Attend your appointment with all your documents
When you go to your appointment, bring the items listed in the Embassy’s guidance under ‘Documents required to obtain a Carta di Soggiorno’, as well as any additional documents required by your Questura.
As was the case for one reader, your Questura may not end up taking every single item on the list – but as those who are well-acquainted with Italian bureaucracy will know, it’s always better to come armed with more documents than you need rather than fewer.
At the appointment, you should be issued with a ricevuta, or receipt, confirming that you’ve applied (if not, ask for one). This can temporarily be used in place of your carta di soggiorno once the latter’s expired, so it’s very important to hang on to this until you receive your new card.
Though the Embassy told us that people renewing their five-year card “will be automatically given a 10-year/permanent CDS, provided they meet all the permanent residency requirements”, one reader said the official they spoke to “didn't know that the new permit should be for 10 years” – so confirm that you’re getting the card you’re entitled to.
Step 3: Wait
For many, this is the hardest part.
The Embassy told us you should be able to use your application ricevuta to travel in and out of the Schengen area without being registered in the EU’s EES border checks system, which residents should be exempted from.
Unfortunately, it also confirmed that people who enter or exit the Schengen area without either a ricevuta (which will be the case for residents who are still waiting to attend their appointment) or a valid carta di soggiono "will still be registered into EES".
People who have been incorrectly registered with EES due to delays in processing their residency card “can request to be removed using this form, which can be found online on the right hand side of this Polizia di Stato page: Entry-Exit System (EES) | Polizia di Stato.”
It’s important to remember that while the carta di soggiorno provides the clearest proof of your rights as a resident under the Withdrawal Agreement, it’s not required for people who were living in Italy before Brexit took effect.
Being without one does not affect your legal status in Italy, and you shouldn’t lose any rights or benefits that you are entitled to as a resident.
Step 4: Collect your new card
At your Questura appointment, you should be told how to check your application status, as well as approximately how long you can expect to wait.
If the process is taking longer than expected, follow up – some readers in the past have reported that the online system didn’t update when their card was ready.
Once the card is ready, you will need to go in person to collect it.
Congratulations! You now don’t need to worry about renewing your card another 10 years – during which time you should become eligible for residency-based Italian citizenship.
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