How to Check Your Residence Permit Status Online
Once you've submitted your postal kit, you can track your application from home in seconds — no registration, no Questura visit needed. Here's exactly how.
In a nutshell
After handing in your postal kit, you can track your application online and for free — no account needed, no trip to the police. All you need are the codes printed on the receipt the Sportello Amico clerk gave you. There are two official government sites: one quick and simple for checking whether your permit is ready, another more complete one showing your full application history.
At a glance
| Cost | Free |
| Timeline | The lookup itself takes seconds. Status updates only when the Questura completes a processing phase — that can take weeks or months. |
| Where | Online, from any internet-connected device |
| What you need | The postal receipt from the Sportello Amico (contains your registered-mail number, case number, and hologram code) |
The three codes on your receipt
Before you start, locate these on your postal receipt:
- Registered-mail number / assicurata code — 12 digits, top left (e.g. 760123456789)
- Case number (numero pratica) — 10 digits, below your personal details (e.g. 0617123456)
- Hologram code — 8 alphanumeric characters, top right (e.g. AB12CD34)
If you can't find them on the receipt, they're also on the appointment letter sent by the Questura (police headquarters — which also handles residence permits).
Two official ways to check your status
Method 1 — State Police website (quickest)
Go to questure.poliziadistato.it/stranieri/, choose your language (Italian, English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Ukrainian are all available), then enter either your 10-digit case number or your 12-digit assicurata number — just one is enough. Complete the captcha and click "Cerca" (Search).
You'll see:
- The current status ("in lavorazione" = in progress, "documento pronto per il ritiro" = ready for collection, "in attesa di integrazione" = more documents required)
- The office name and address where you must collect, if it's ready
- Your scheduled collection appointment date and time, if one has been set
Method 2 — Portale Immigrazione (full history)
More detailed: shows your entire case history including any holds. Go to portaleimmigrazione.it, click "Accedi" (Log in) and enter:
- Username: your hologram code (8 characters, top right on the receipt)
- Password: your assicurata code (12 digits, same as the registered-mail number)
Once logged in you can see: all current and archived applications, the current status with a timeline of each phase and date, any documents the Questura is requesting (with a precise list of what's missing), and official communications.
Automatic SMS from the Questura
When your permit is ready, the Questura sends an SMS to the mobile number you wrote on Form 1 (Modulo 1). The text includes the office name, address, and your appointment date and time. Keep your mobile number up to date: if you change numbers, notify the Questura by PEC (certified email — legally valid in Italy) or in person.
How long before the status changes?
Rome has some of the longest processing times in Italy. Here's a rough guide for each phase:
| Phase | Typical online update |
|---|---|
| Kit submitted at Sportello Amico | Visible within 1–3 days |
| Questura takes over the file | Within 1–2 weeks |
| Fingerprint/photo appointment scheduled | Within 2–8 weeks |
| Fingerprinting completed | Same day |
| Permit ready for collection | 4–9 months after fingerprinting |
From kit submission to physically picking up the permit, expect 6–12 months on average. Throughout this entire period your postal receipt acts as a temporary permit — it lets you work, register with a doctor, and carry on with daily life in Italy.
No internet, or struggling with the websites?
Patronati (free union-run offices that help with social-security and immigration paperwork) all offer free assistance:
| Patronato | Address (Rome) | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| ACLI | Via Marcora 18-20, 00153 | 06 5840 1 |
| INCA CGIL | Via Buonarroti 51, 00185 | 06 4673 1 |
| ITAL UIL | Via Cavour 108, 00184 | 06 4753 1 |
| INAS CISL | Via Po 22, 00198 | 06 8473 1 |
Rome city libraries offer free internet access (you need a library card, which is free).
Freephone 803.160 (Poste Italiane) — no charge, for questions about your kit submission and transfer to the Questura.
Questura — Immigration Office, Via Teofilo Patini 23, 00155 Roma — counters open Mon–Fri 8:00–13:30, Tue and Thu also 15:00–17:00. Expect a long wait.
Mistakes to avoid
- Using unofficial sites. There are only two official sites: questure.poliziadistato.it and portaleimmigrazione.it. Look-alike copies exist but don't have access to real data. No official site charges you to check your status.
- Sharing your receipt codes. Your case number, hologram code, and assicurata number are personal. Never hand them over on WhatsApp or SMS to strangers promising a "quick check" — that's a scam.
- Panicking when nothing changes for months. "In lavorazione" (in progress) for long stretches is completely normal in Rome. The Questura doesn't update the status after every internal step. Check back every 30–60 days.
Special cases
Status shows "in attesa di integrazione" (additional documents required). The Questura wants more paperwork. Log into the restricted area on portaleimmigrazione.it to see the exact list. You usually have 15–30 days to provide them: you can do so by PEC to immigrazione.questrm@pecps.poliziadistato.it or in person at the Via Patini counter.
Status shows "rigettato" (rejected). Your application has been refused. You'll receive written notification explaining the reasons. You have 60 days to appeal to the TAR Lazio administrative court. Patronati and the immigration-law association ASGI (www.asgi.it) offer specialist legal advice.
You've lost your postal receipt. Go to the same Sportello Amico where you submitted, bringing your passport and a theft/loss report (denuncia di smarrimento). Alternatively, go to the Questura with your passport and ask for your case number.
The codes don't work. Double-check you're not confusing "0" (zero) with "O" (letter O) or "1" (one) with "I" (letter I), and make sure there are no spaces. If the problem persists, call 803.160. The sites often undergo maintenance between 22:00 and 06:00 — try again a few hours later.
Official sources
- State Police — Check your residence permit online
- Questure online — Immigration desk
- Portale Immigrazione — Home
- Portale Immigrazione — Log in
- Poste Italiane — Guide to applying for and renewing a residence permit
- Ministry of the Interior — Residence permit
Legal references: D.Lgs. 286/1998 art. 5; DPR 394/1999 art. 9; D.Lgs. 196/2003 (Privacy Code); GDPR Regulation EU 2016/679; Poste Italiane — Ministry of Interior Agreement 2006.