Law 68/2007 has abolished residency permits for tourism, education, business or visits lasting no longer than three months.
The decree issued on 26 July 2007 by the Ministry of the Interior and published in the Official Gazette on 6 August 2008 regulates the methods for presentation of the declaration of presence.
According to the decree, those arriving in Italy directly from non-Schengen countries must show their passports at the border and have them stamped by the Police.
This stamp is proof that the non-EU foreign citizen is declaring his/her presence in Italy, in compliance with the law.
Non-EU citizens who arrive from Schengen countries and will be staying in hotels, guesthouses, campsites and other accommodation facilities which are required to register their guests and inform Police Headquarters (Questura) of new arrivals need not contact the Police.
The registration form filled in upon arrival at accommodation will act as a declaration of presence, so it would be best to make a copy to present in the event of checks by the police force.
Non-EU citizens who arrive in Italy from Schengen countries and will be staying with friends or relatives, have eight days following their arrival to go to Police Headquarters (Questura). There they will be required to fill in a form indicating their personal details, passport number, the duration of their visa and the reasons for their stay, as well as the address where they are staying.
One copy of the declaration will be kept by Police Headquarters (Questura), while another will be stamped and returned to the visitor, who must keep it with him/her at all times during his/her stay in Italy.
Those who fail to observe the rules risk expulsion due to a lack of the documentation required to stay in the country.