Update: Permesso di Soggiorno

The long-awaited FIRST appointment for our Permesso di Soggiorno (residency permit) is now behind us.

Yes, you read that right … the FIRST appointment. We weren’t expecting that we would be returning for a second appointment, so that came as a surprise.

Anyway, we arrived at the Questura office 45 minutes early and were seen almost immediately by one of the clerks.

Passport verified … ✅

Photos taken within the last six months handed over; two each … ✅

Prints of the second finger on each hand scanned to match up with the ones from the visa application; I guess they wanted to make sure we were who we said we were … ✅

Appointment for full fingerprinting by the Polizia Scientifica scheduled for 21 July 2026 (the unexpected second appointment) … ✅

The ‘receipt’ allowing us to remain in Italy officially stamped and extended to 7 June 2027 … ✅

At first the clerk said that we needed to provide some additional paperwork — proof of health insurance and income amongst them … documents that we had already submitted with our visa application.

Bureaucracy being what it is, we were prepared. Mui had multiple copies of everything and gave her what was requested. In the midst of collecting the documents, the clerk excused herself to talk to her boss. She came back to tell us that we didn’t need to provide any other paperwork and to just show up for our second appointment to be fingerprinted.

So, the saga continues.

By the way, before we left, we asked how long it would take to get our permits once the fingerprinting is completed. “EIGHT MONTHS is the average,” was the answer!!!! At least we are legal in the meantime!

We celebrated the completion of this step with lunch at Trattoria Montanara!Read more