Subsidiary Protection Status

For Initial Application

You do not need any documents to submit your initial application for international protection. You can present yourself at the Questura (Provincial Police Headquarters) and request protection without a passport, birth certificate, or any other paperwork. Your oral account of the threats you face is sufficient to begin the process.

However, you should gather and bring any documents that support your claim:

• Medical reports documenting torture, injuries, or psychological trauma
• Letters, photographs, or videos showing threats or persecution
• News articles or reports about violence in your region or community
• Witness statements from people who can corroborate your account
• Official documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate, criminal record clearance) — though these are not required to apply

For Residence Permit Issuance (After Approval)

Once the Territorial Commission grants subsidiary protection, you must submit documents to the Questura to obtain your residence permit:

• Revenue stamp (Marca da Bollo) — €16.00 (purchased at authorized Tabacchi shops)
• Four passport-sized photographs (white background, identical, taken within the last 6 months)
• Proof of domicile — a registered address in Italy (though this requirement has been contested in court; some Questure illegally demand a passport instead)
• Copy of the Territorial Commission's decision granting subsidiary protection
• Postal payment slip (bollettino postale) for the electronic residence permit fee — €30.46 (paid at Poste Italiane)

For Renewal (After February 2026)

When renewing your residence permit, you must now provide:

• Proof of five years of legal residence in Italy (residence permit history, rental contracts, utility bills)
• Certified Italian-language proficiency (certificate from a recognized language school or examination body)
• Formal housing contract (lease agreement with landlord, not informal arrangements)
• Proof of financial means (employment contract, payslips, bank statements, or other evidence of income meeting family-reunification thresholds)
• Revenue stamp and photographs (same as initial issuance)
• Copy of your current residence permit

Translation and Apostille

Any official documents from your country of origin must be:

• Officially translated into Italian by a certified translator
• Apostilled (if your country is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention) or notarized/legalized

This applies to birth certificates, marriage certificates, criminal records, and any other official documents required during the asylum procedure or for subsequent applications (such as citizenship).