How to Convert a Permesso di Soggiorno to a Carta di Soggiorno

I've reached another level in the Expat in Italy game; I'm applying for my carta di soggiorno! This is similar to the permesso di soggiorno, with some key differences.

If you've reached the point of applying for (or rather, converting your permesso), I hope my experience helps you!

The Differences Between a Permesso di Soggiorno and a Carta di Soggiorno

While both the permesso and the carta give you, as an expat, the legal right to stay in Italy, the carta di soggiorno is a major upgrade.

Whereas the permesso requires you to have a reason (work, study, family) that you maintain throughout the time you live here, the carta does not. For example: if you come to Italy on a work visa but lose your job, you will lose your permesso di soggiorno if you can't prove you have a job with an Italian employer. The carta, on the other hand, doesn't require that you prove you have a job or that you're in school.

The permesso di soggiorno has to be renewed regularly, depending on the type of visa you have. The carta di soggiorno gives you permanent resident status, though the physical card needs to be updated every 10 years.

So long story short, getting my carta is going to be a big relief! I'm so tired of going to the questura every few years to renew!

Who Qualifies for a Carta di Soggiorno?

There are two paths to qualify for the Carta di Soggiorno.

The first is available to you once you live and work in Italy for a continuous five years or more. You cannot have been outside of Italy for more than six consecutive months, or more than 10 months total in that five-year period.

The other way is...marry an Italian! Okay, okay, I didn't marry Fra so I could get my carta di soggiorno, but it sure is a nice perk! I've been here three and a half years, so this speeds up my timeline to getting permanent residency just a bit.

What You Need to Apply for the Carta di Soggiorno

If you're on Path A, meaning you've lived here at least five years and you already have a permesso di soggiorno, you'll need the following to convert your permesso to a carta:

• Proof of income (around €7.000 a year)

• Clean background check (no significant threats to public order)

• Pass an A2 level Italian test (which should be a breeze after 5 years!)

• Possibly a certificate (Idoneità Alloggiativa) proving your home meets health and safety standards

If you're on the "married to an Italian" path, you don't have to prove your income or take the language test. Evviva!

How to Apply for the Carta di Soggiorno

The good news is: by this point, you're very familiar with that kit that you get at the Poste. You fill it out just like you did for your permesso, but select the options for the carta.

Just like always, you take it back to the Poste to apply and get your appointment. I had a hell of a time when I applied. After going to two post offices when they were closed, going back to one to be told that the lady couldn't process my application, I went to another Poste and forgot to bring my passport!! So I drove up the mountain, got the passport, and then proceeded to have a meltdown in front of everyone.

Being an expat is hard, even after all this time!

While the fees are subject to change, they currently are:

• 16.00 Marca da Bollo

• €30.46 electronic card fee

• €30.00 Post Office service fee

I was shocked to see on my receipt that my appointment was just a few weeks away! It's rare that anything in Calabria moves quickly.

Once You Have Your Carta di Soggiorno...

Obviously, for those of us expats who have had traumatic experiences renewing our permesso, the biggest perk is not having to fill out that Modello 1 every few years! We can relax and not scramble to find the right documents for our applications.

We also qualify for all the state benefits that Italians qualify for, including:

• Maternity allowances

• Disability benefits

• Social pensions

• Public housing

And where and how you work is no longer tied to your residency. Want to quit your job and eat bonbons all day? Italy won't kick you out. Want to become an entrepreneur? That's cool too.

It's also a little easier to move around Europe; with the permesso, you were limited to spending up to 90 days in a Schengen country. With the carta, you can stay longer or even move to another country in the EU, though you will have to apply for residency there.

I, for one, am looking forward to a respite from Italian bureaucracy. It feels like I've fought hard to get to the top of the mountain (although becoming a citizen in a few years will be the ultimate accomplishment! Stay tuned).