Two months before the expiry date of your Residence permit, you must return to the post office to collect a renewal kit, which must include the documents listed above and a photocopy of the certificate proving that you have passed at least one exam for the first renewal and at least two exams for subsequent renewals, except in cases of force majeure.

1. The Residence permit for study purposes allows part-time work for a maximum of 20 hours per week and an annual limit of 1,040 hours.
2. A Residence permit for study purposes may only be renewed if the entry visa was issued to attend a degree programme lasting several years.
3. The Residence permit for study purposes may in no case be renewed for more than three years beyond the duration of the multi-year degree programme.
4. A residence permit for study purposes may not be used or renewed to attend a course other than the one for which the visa was issued, except in the case of transit to another faculty authorised by the academic authority and access to a university-type course at the end of the stay in Italy or to a medium/high-level course.
5. The Residence permit for study purposes may be converted into a Residence permit for work purposes by acquiring a quota within the framework of the decree for programming entry flows for work purposes, by demonstrating that the requirements of the regulations are met for the type of work carried out:

• by an international citizen who, having reached the age of majority, is already legally resident in the national territory;
• by an international citizen who was awarded a Master's degree in Italy, after having attended the relevant course in Italy.

If you want to stay in Italy after you finish your studies, you can apply for a residence permit for a 'job search'.

In this case, you will need to present a new kit to Poste Italiane, containing:

• the form, duly completed and signed;
• a photocopy of your passport or other equivalent document;
• a copy of the declaration made to the Centro per l'impiego (Italian employment office);
• a copy of the university degree, diploma or other equivalent document.

Losing your job is not a reason for withdrawing your Residence permit.

If you have a Residence permit for subordinate work and you lose your job or resign, you may register with the Centro per l'impiego for the remainder of the period of validity of your residence permit, but for no less than six months.

1. How long does it take to obtain a Residence permit?

Generally about 90 days.

2. How can I check the processing status of my Residence permit?

You can check the processing status at the URL https://questure.poliziadistato.it/stranieri using the login password corresponding to the number on the postal receipt.

3. If I cannot see the status of my permit on the website, what should I do?

You can email immigrazione.segreteria.rm@poliziadistato.it. You can also email the same office for information on your procedure.

4. My Residence permit renewal is not ready but I need to go back to my country, what can I do?

You can travel to and from your country by direct flight and bring with you the Postal Receipt, your old Residence permit and your valid Passport. If you have applied for a Residence permit for the first time and you have not yet been issued one, you may travel to and from your country (again by direct flights) bringing with you the Postal Receipt, your Visto valido per ingresso multiplo (valid Multiple-Entry Visa) and your valid passport. If once you arrive in your country you no longer have a valid visa to return to Italy, you will have to apply for a re-entry visa.

5. If I have to leave for a Schengen country and my Residence permit is not yet ready, what can I do?

In this case, you must go, with the documents proving your urgency, at the Immigration Office of the Questura di Roma in Via Teofilo Patini 23 and request a temporary Residence permit. You can apply for this Permit only after you have registered your fingerprints at the Immigration Office with a special appointment.

6. What happens if I mistakenly fail to include one of the required documents in my postal kit?

The Immigration Office will temporarily suspend your procedure until you hand in the missing document.

Remember that you must follow the progress of your procedure and report any anomalies immediately.

7. How far in advance should I apply for a permit renewal?

You must apply for renewal approximately 2 months before your permit expires.

8. What happens if my Residence permit expires before the new one is issued?

In general, if you have an expired Residence permit and a valid Postal Receipt for the new Residence permit you can return to your country of origin and return to Italy without any problems as long as the flights are direct and without any stopovers in Schengen countries. In any case, you may circulate freely on Italian territory with an expired Residence permit and a request for renewal of your Residence permit (Postal Receipt).

9. What documents do I need to bring with me when I collect my Residence permit?

To collect your residency permit, you must bring your Post Office Receipt and your passport; in the case of a renewal, you must also bring your old Residence permit.

10. Where should I collect my Residence permit?

When you go to register your fingerprints (on the day and at the place described in your appointment), the staff on duty will show you the place where you will then collect your Residency permit.

11. What are the opening hours of Sapienza's Police Station?

The Sapienza Police Station is open to collect residence permits on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 09:00 to 13:00 and on Thursdays from 15:00 to 18:00. The police station is located on the main campus, entering from Viale dell'Università, building CU007.

To collect your Residence permit, you must make an appointment by registering on the special sheet/register displayed outside the Police Station.

We recommend that you call 06 49910966 the day before your appointment to check that the office will be open the next day.

The Sapienza Police Station only issues Residence permits and collects missing documents.

For all other needs, please contact the Immigration Office at Via Teofilo Patini 23, by email at immigrazione.segreteria.rm@poliziadistato.it.

12. I already have a Residence permit for study purposes; can I enrol at a university and request its renewal?

• If you already have a Residence permit for study purposes, it can only be valid for enrolling in a university course in the following cases:
• if you have been legally residing in Italy for at least one year and hold an upper secondary school qualification obtained in Italy giving access to university education;
• if you hold a Residence permit for study purposes, are regularly enrolled in a degree programme at an Italian university and intend to apply for a transfer for the following academic year (please note that it is necessary to prove that you have passed at least one exam for the first renewal and at least two exams for subsequent renewals of your Residence permit, except in cases of force majeure). ATTENTION: if you are already enrolled in an Italian university and you wish to move to Sapienza, do not withdraw from the previous university otherwise your residence permit for study purposes loses its validity and you need to start again with the study visa procedure by going back to your Country. In these cases you have to ask for a transfer procedure from your present Italian university to Sapienza;
• if you hold a Residence permit for study purposes issued for enrolment in individual training activities (single course/courses) and you intend to enrol in a degree programme related to or resulting from the single courses taken (it should be noted that renewal of the Residence permit will only be granted if the single course/courses taken have been duly completed and the final exam has been passed with success);
• if you hold a Residence permit for study purposes issued for enrolment in a Foundation Year at an Italian university and you intend to enrol in a degree programme at an Italian university (please note that the renewal of the Residence permit will be granted only and exclusively if the Foundation Year attended has been duly completed and all the exams set out in the study plan have been passed with success and the final diploma obtained).

The Residence permit for study purposes that you may already hold is not valid for enrolment in a university course (and is therefore not renewable) if it was issued to attend an Italian language course or for a period of exchange/mobility, so you will have to return to your country of residence and submit a new application for a study visa through the Universitaly portal, and, once in Italy, proceed with the new application for a Residence permit for study purposes.

13. More information

https://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/home/en

https://www.universitaly.it/vivere-in-italia

https://italiahello.it/en/articolo/residence-permit/