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The receipt issued by the Post Office

Published 2007.07.05

A Home Office Circular issued June 16 establishes that foreign citizens with regular residence permits can leave Italy temporarily and then return even if they only have the receipt issued by the Post Office (proving that they have presented their residence permit or EC residence card renewal application).

They are only required to show:

• the Post Office receipt,
• a valid passport or equivalent document and
• the expired residence permit or card.

Furthermore, the Circular also reminds foreigners that – as established by Ministerial Circular dated December 6, 2006 – the Post Office receipt, issued when the application is accepted, has the same validity as the receipt issued by the police and gives the foreign citizen the same rights as those given by the residence permit itself.

Finally, a second circular issued June 27 concerns children under 14 registered on their parents’ residence permit.

If requested, the police will grant the foreign parent a temporary paper-format residence permit for a limited period based on the requirements indicated, including the child, thus enabling minors to leave the country temporarily and then return.