Eligibility Quiz
Application Process
You apply for Italy's temporary protection status (protezione temporanea) in person at your local police immigration office (Questura). The entire process is free of charge and takes place in Italy after you arrive. Here's what happens at each stage.
Step 1: Arrive in Italy and declare your presence (within 48 hours)
When you enter Italy, you have 48 hours to contact the police and file a Declaration of Hospitality (dichiarazione di ospitalità). Ukrainian citizens may enter Italy visa-free for 90 days as tourists. If you arrive without an entry stamp in your passport (for example, because you fled from an area under attack), you'll file a Declaration of Presence (dichiarazione di presenza) instead. This initial step ensures you're registered with authorities.
Step 2: Register at the Questura (within 8 days of arrival)
Go to the Immigration Office (Ufficio Immigrazione) at your local Questura (police headquarters) within 8 days of entering Italy. There is a Questura and Immigration Office in every Italian municipality. You can find your local office at questure.poliziadistato.it.
Step 3: Submit your temporary protection application
At the Questura, submit the following documents:
- 2 passport-size photos
- Declaration of Hospitality (dichiarazione di ospitalità) — or Declaration of Presence if you have no entry stamp
- Passport with Italian entry stamp (if you have one)
- Certificates of family relationships (if you're applying for family members — for example, marriage certificates, birth certificates, or adoption papers)
You can submit your application in person at the front desk, by email, or by certified email (PEC) to the Questura. The procedure is free of charge.
If you don't have your documents: Inform the Questura immediately. The Ukrainian Embassy in Rome and Ukrainian consulates in Italy can help you obtain identification documents. If you refuse to contact your country's consular offices and cannot provide proof of departure, you may be offered special protection (protezione speciale) instead, or you can apply for international protection (asylum).
Step 4: Fingerprinting and receipt issuance
Police will take your fingerprints and issue you a receipt (ricevuta) certifying that your temporary protection application has been registered. This receipt is critical: it immediately grants you a tax code (codice fiscale), gives you access to Italy's national health service, and allows you to work — even while you wait for your formal residence permit.
Step 5: Receive your electronic residence permit
Between 1 and 4 months after registration (though delays of up to 6 weeks for appointments have been reported in some areas), the Questura will issue your electronic residence permit. The permit will be labeled "Prot. Temporanea Emerg. Ucraina" (Temporary Protection Emergency Ukraine). As of 1 March 2026, you do not need to visit the Questura for a new biometric card when your permit is extended by law; the validity is automatically updated in the immigration database. The Questura will issue replacement plastic cards upon request once current stocks are depleted.
Renewal process
Your temporary protection permit is valid for 1 year and can be renewed for 6-month extensions. To renew, you must submit a renewal application to the Questura within 60 days before your permit expires — do not wait until the expiration date. Missing this deadline could automatically suspend your work authorization.
As of 1 March 2026, renewals are automatic by law through 4 March 2027. You do not need to visit the Questura unless you want a replacement plastic card. However, if you plan to travel outside Italy, immigration advisers recommend carrying a printout of the Official Gazette notice plus your expired card, as some border guards in other Schengen countries may not have updated systems immediately.
Fees
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Initial application | Free |
| Renewal application | Free |
| Residence permit issuance | Free |
Total estimate: €0 for government fees.
Does not include: Optional services such as document translation, legal advice, or administrative assistance from private immigration advisers (typically €80–120 if you use them). Financial assistance is available for new arrivals: €300 per month per adult and an additional €150 per month for each child under 18, paid for a maximum of 3 months from entry into Italy. However, the deadline to apply for this contribution was 20 April 2025, and the dedicated website has closed; new arrivals arriving after that date are not eligible.
Processing Time
Initial application to receipt issuance: Same day or within a few days of your Questura visit.
Receipt to electronic residence permit: 1 to 4 months on average, though some cases take longer. Delays and backlogs have been common throughout Italy in 2024–2026 due to staffing shortages at police offices. Questura appointment backlogs have run to 6 weeks in some areas. The Italian authorities urge you not to delay scheduling your appointment, especially at the beginning of the year, as queues may be long.
Rights during processing: You enjoy basic rights — including housing, healthcare, and work authorization — immediately upon receiving your application receipt, even while waiting for your formal residence permit to be issued.
Permit validity: Your residence permit is valid for 1 year from issuance. Extensions are valid for 6 months each. As of 1 March 2026, all permits are automatically extended until 4 March 2027 by law; you do not need to reapply unless you want a replacement card.
Document validity: Your passport or travel document must be valid for travel within the Schengen area (90 days within any 180-day period). If you do not hold a biometric passport, you may be denied entry to Italy or other Schengen countries; the Ukrainian consulates in Italy can issue travel documents equivalent to a passport if you have proven necessity.