Temporary Protection Status

Temporary protection status (protezione temporanea) is an exceptional residence permit for persons fleeing the armed conflict in Ukraine. Italy activated this pathway on 28 March 2022, following the EU Council's decision to invoke the Temporary Protection Directive on 4 March 2022 in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. As of March 2026, approximately 173,000 Ukrainians hold temporary protection permits in Italy, and the scheme remains open and accepting applications. Your permit is valid until 4 March 2027, following an automatic extension that took effect on 1 March 2026.

This pathway is distinct from international protection (refugee status) and special protection. Unlike those routes, temporary protection is a mass-admission scheme designed specifically for people displaced by the Ukraine conflict — you do not need to prove individual persecution, and the application process is streamlined and free.

Step 1: Register with Police (within 48 hours)

Upon arrival in Italy, contact the local police to file a Declaration of Hospitality (dichiarazione di ospitalità) stating where you will be staying. Ukrainian citizens may enter Italy visa-free for 90 days as tourists.

Step 2: Register at the Questura (within 8 days)

Go to the Immigration Office (Ufficio Immigrazione) at your local Questura (police headquarters) within 8 days of arrival. Every Italian municipality has a Questura. Bring:

• Two passport-size photographs
• Your passport with Italian entry stamp (if you have one)
• Declaration of hospitality
• Declaration of presence (if your passport was not stamped at the border)
• Any family relationship certificates (if applicable)

Step 3: Submit Your Application

Submit your temporary protection application at the Questura. You can submit in person at the front desk, by email, or by certified email (PEC) to the Questura. The application is free of charge.

Step 4: Fingerprinting and Receipt

Police will take your fingerprints and issue you a receipt (ricevuta) certifying that your temporary protection application has been registered. This receipt is crucial — it immediately grants you:

• A tax code (codice fiscale)
• Access to the national health service
• The right to work (both employed and self-employed)
• All other rights of temporary protection beneficiaries

You do not need to wait for the formal permit to begin working or accessing services.

Step 5: Issuance of Electronic Residence Permit

After 1–4 months (average 1–2 months, though delays up to 4 months occur in some areas due to Questura backlogs), you will receive an electronic residence permit marked "Prot. Temporanea Emerg. Ucraina" (Temporary Emergency Protection Ukraine). This permit is valid for one year.

Renewal Process

Timing: You must submit your renewal application within 60 days before your permit expires and no later than the expiration date. Missing the deadline may automatically suspend your work authorization.

As of 1 March 2026: You do not need to visit the Questura for a new biometric card. Your permit validity is automatically updated by law and reflected in the immigration database. The Questura will issue replacement plastic cards upon request once current stocks are depleted.

Booking appointments: Contact your local Questura to schedule a renewal appointment. Expect long queues, especially at the start of the year. Authorities urge applicants to book early — appointment backlogs have run to six weeks in some areas.

Documents for renewal: Bring your current residence permit card and basic identity documents.

Application fee: Free of charge.

Renewal fee: Free of charge (as of March 2026, no fees are required for renewals).

Optional administrative costs: Some immigration advisers mention €80–120 for optional document processing or administrative services, but these are not government fees.

Financial assistance (new arrivals only):

• If you have found independent accommodation, the Italian Civil Protection provides a subsistence contribution of €300 per month per adult and an additional €150 per month for each child under 18
• This contribution is paid for a maximum of 3 months from your date of entry into Italy
• The deadline to apply for this contribution was 20 April 2025; applications are no longer being accepted as of that date

Initial permit issuance: 1–4 months after you submit your application. Most permits are issued within 1–2 months, but some areas experience delays of 3–4 months or longer due to staff shortages and organizational issues at police offices.

Renewal processing: Expect similar timelines. Book your appointment well in advance.

Rights during processing: Even while waiting for your formal permit, your receipt grants you immediate access to work, healthcare, education, and housing. You do not need to wait for the plastic card to begin working.

Residence and legal status:

• One-year residence permit valid until 4 March 2027 (automatically extended from the original expiration date of 4 March 2026)
• Permit is issued in electronic format
• You may apply to convert your temporary protection permit into a work permit (available since December 2023); conversion does not require quotas or special requirements, only payment of tax, stamp duty, and card production costs

Work and employment:

• Right to work as an employee or self-employed person
• Access to professional training and apprenticeships
• Facilitated access to health professions — Ukrainian doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers can be hired on fixed-term contracts by public or private health structures if you hold the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees

Healthcare:

• Full access to Italy's national health service (SSN) from the moment you receive your application receipt
• Exemption from medical fees if you are not employed (exemption extended to 4 March 2026)
• Access to preventive care, treatment, and emergency services on par with Italian citizens

Education:

• Minor children have access to the education system on equal terms with Italian citizens
• Adults have access to adult education and professional training programs

Housing and social assistance:

• Access to first-reception centres, temporary reception centres (CAS), and the Reception and Integration System (SAI)
• Access to community-based accommodation (accoglienza diffusa)
• Eligibility for unified family aid (assegno unico) — family allowances for dependent children

Family reunification:

• Your spouse or stable partner can join you
• Your unmarried minor children (biological, step, or adopted) can join you
• Your dependent parents living outside the EU can join you
• Your dependent adult children (if unable to work due to disability) can join you
• Reunited family members receive temporary protection permits valid for the same duration as yours and enjoy all the same rights

Travel and movement:

• Within the Schengen area: You may travel for up to 90 days within any 180-day period (standard Schengen rules)
• Return to Ukraine: You may return to Ukraine and re-enter Italy provided you hold a valid travel document
• Travel outside Italy: Italian law is more restrictive than EU rules — you cannot leave Italian territory except with prior authorization from the Questura, through bilateral agreements with other EU Member States, or through voluntary transfer to another Member State
• Travel documents: If you lack a valid passport, you may request a travel document equivalent to a passport from Italian authorities in cases of proven necessity
• Practical note: Carry a printout of the Official Gazette notice extending your permit plus your expired card when traveling, as some Schengen border guards may not have updated systems immediately

Social welfare:

• Access to social welfare on the same terms as Italian citizens (you must hold a residence permit valid for more than one year)
• Eligibility for unified family aid (assegno unico) for dependent children

Legal assistance:

• Free legal aid if your household income is below €12,838 annually
• If you are hosted in a reception program (CAS or SAI), you receive legal assistance and counsel on your temporary protection procedure and rights on Italian territory