What is this permit?
It is a residence permit that can be granted for various different situations, such as to those who are well integrated in Italy, who are very vulnerable, or cannot return to their country.
How do I apply for the permit?
The residence permit for special protection can be given:
- By the Territorial Commission after you have made an international protection application (asylum application)
- By a court after negative decision from the Commission (usually Courts grant it more easily than Commissions). If you have already filed an appeal in Court you surely already have a lawyer and we recommend asking him for advice.
Where do you apply for this permit?
If the Territorial Commission or the Court decides that you can have special protection:
- You must go to Police Headquarters (Questura) to apply for the permit
- They will give you an appointment for fingerprints
- The Police Headquarters (Questura) will tell you when the permit is ready
Can I apply for it directly at the Police Headquarters (Questura), without making an asylum application?
Since 2023 the law has changed and it has become much more difficult to get a permit for special protection directly from the Police Headquarters (Questura). There are court rulings that say you can continue to apply for it directly at the Police Headquarters (Questura), but we recommend asking for help from a good lawyer.
What documents do I need to request it?
- Territorial Commission decree that recognizes special protection (or court decision)
- 4 passport photos recent
- Certificate of residence or documents that show where you live
How long does this permit last?
It has a validity of two years.
What rights does it give me? What do I have access to?
With this permit you can:
- Work with a regular contract (self-employment or employed work)
- Obtain residence in the Municipality where you live
- Register with the National Health Service (NHS) and have a general practitioner
- Travel in the Schengen area with passport (for stays up to 3 months)
- Enroll in school, a professional course, or university
When the permit expires, can I convert it to a work permit?
‼️ Attention because in 2023 the law changed and now there are two possibilities:
- If you applied for asylum or a special protection permit BEFORE May 6, 2023: you can convert it to a work permit (self-employment or employed work), if you meet all requirements.
- If you applied for asylum or a special protection permit AFTER May 6, 2023: you CANNOT convert your permit to a work permit
Attention: To avoid mistakes, first ask for help from a free legal assistance center.
Can I renew the permit for special protection?
We cannot give you a certain answer at the moment.
- If you had the permit for special protection because you made for asylum or a special protection permit BEFORE May 6, 2023, we recommend always asking for conversion to another permit, if possible. Ask for renewal only if you have no other choice. It will be renewed for one year, and then it's not clear what will happen.
- If you had the permit for special protection because you made asylum application or application for permit for special protection AFTER May 6, 2023: you can try you can convert your permit into permit for work