by: BellissimaTina
January 2007
Once you’re in Italy, one important step is to apply for a Permesso di Soggiorno within 8 days of arrival. Normally you get this at the Questura office in your city, but if you’re a student at the Università per Stranieri di Perugia, the Questura also has a small office, right in the school building, which is only open to students enrolled at the University.
It’s very convenient as you can apply for your PdiS or ask whatever questions you have, and then head to your classes.
They are open from 8:00am to 1:00 pm, Monday to Friday, and sometimes they use a number system but most of the time it’s not needed and you can just get in line. Best to get there a little closer to opening time.
Before applying for my PdiS, I stood in line for a while just so I could ask them exactly what I needed to bring. They were about to close, but the girl working there was kind enough to answer my questions anyway. The documents necessary are (at time of writing):
- Passport
- Student Visa if staying more than 90 days
- Certificate of enrollment from the school
- Proof of payment for at least the first month of classes
- Proof of housing* (contract from rental agency, or a cessione di fabbricato from the landlord)
- Proof of sufficient funds (she told me I could just make a photocopy of a credit card)
- Proof of Insurance*
- 4 passport photographs
- Marca da Bollo for €14,62, obtained at any tabaccaio
- They didn’t ask to see my return plane ticket to the States, but I would bring it anyway if you have it.
Two important points:
*For insurance, the girl at the Questura gave me a pre-filled bolletino for the health system, which I paid the Post Office – six months of coverage for a student, at time of writing, cost €50
*As for proof of housing, the Comunicazione di cessione di fabbricato (rental agreement from your landlord) needs to be stamped at the main Questura – usually the landlord will take care of this, but I didn’t have time to wait as I wanted to get my PdiS application in within the 8 days. You can certainly go yourself to the main Questura to get it stamped, but with a full class load, I didn’t have time. So, following the instructions from the Questura, I went to the main post office, mailed two copies of it as well as a copy of my passport to the main Questura, and (This is VERY important) I asked the postal worker to give me what’s called a RACCOMANDATA – it’s basically a receipt demonstrating that the cessione di fabbricato is well on its way. The Questura office at the University will accept this plus a photocopy of the cessione di fabbricato.
Finally, time to apply. I arrived at the Questura office in my school at around 8:00 a.m. and waited about half an hour. The woman behind the desk filled out the entire PdiS form for me, attached my photograph stamped it many times, and gave me an date to go to the main Questura to get fingerprinted.
I became the proud owner of a full sheet of paper with my photograph, stamps, signature, Questura employee’s signature, dates that I’m staying in Italy, permesso number, etc. I was told to return two months later to pick up the Real Thing.
Three weeks later, I took the bus (#9) to the main Questura, and for a moment I was worried, as it was about 8:30 in the morning and there was a long, long line of immigrants. Fortunately, I’m a student, and students (at least from my school) do not have to wait in this line or take numbers, as we have already applied for our PdiS.
I saw a door with a sign indicating where to get fingerprinted. I also saw a few students I knew. I went and waited by the door with the others and eventually a man came out and had each of us hand over our PdiS papers to him plus a passport photo. Half an hour later he called me in, asked me a few questions about my height, weight, mother and father’s names, etc., and took my fingerprints digitally on the computer. I was given back my papers and went on my way. Now the only thing I have to do is wait until my official Permesso is ready.
**Please note that it is very important and necessary to get your Permesso di Soggiorno, as the University will not let you finish registering for classes or give you your student card (tessera) until they see that you have applied for it. The process is not too much of a pain for students, but be prepared to wait in a few lines.
