My wife & I are getting ready to travel to Italy for 21-days. She found the following information regarding a “Permit of Stay Form” in Italy on a US government web site. It says we need to apply for one, or we’ll be fined. Has anyone completed one of these forms, or had it suggested that you do? Has anyone ever read this in any travel book? I called the Italian Embassy but they seemed to have a different take on it – yes, we would need it, but our hotel would arrange it.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1146.html
Under Italian law, tourists who plan to stay more than eight business days are required to obtain a permesso di soggiorno (permit of stay) within eight business days of their arrival. As of December 11, 2006, tourists may request an application "kit" for the permesso di soggiorno from one of 14,000 national post offices (Poste Italiane). The kit must then be returned to one of 5,332 designated Post Office acceptance locations. Tourists will have to complete a form, provide a complete photocopy of their passport, present sufficient proof of their means of financial support, submit photographs, a photocopy of their insurance policy, photocopy proof of their return to the United States, and pay a fee. It is important that applicants keep a copy of the receipt issued by the Post Office. Failure to obtain the permit of stay within eight days is punishable by fine.
I appreciate your input.
Vic