In Italy, there is a word they use often, ”Lo stress”. Yes, it means exactly what it sounds like – The Stress. Today, we are dealing with lo stress of dealing with the Italian bureaucracy once again.
If you’ve been reading this journal for a while you know of what I speak. For those who don’t know — a short recap. When you move to Italy, after you get your Visa, the first thing you need to do is apply for your Permesso di Soggiorno (Permit to Stay – PdS). It should be done within eight days of your arrival. I won’t go into details of how you get one but suffice it to say it takes time, several appointments, and money. In Umbria, one must apply to renew it every year before it expires. The process can take a year and then you begin again. The light at the end of the tunnel is the possibility, after five years continual residence, of getting the Permesso di soggiorno UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo (ex carta di soggiorno) – elective residence. This is a permanent long term permit to stay. Need I say this is a coveted thing?
We will have lived here eight years in June. We are past due for this card. Covid interfered with us pursuing this. We tried last year but two documents were expired. So this year, we try again. Today was our appointment at the Questura. We expected to find out if we would be getting the Card. I bet, no matter how thorough you try to be when you apply, they will find something that you missed. Today, we found out the two things that we are missing.
One item is a document from our Comune which attests to the fact that our house meets the standards for two people to live here. We had our Geometra do the assessment and we included this in the packet, apparently, they need this other form. We visited the Ufficio Technico where we found out what to bring to get this document. Fifteen minutes later we returned with said papers and the office was locked. We checked the hours. They were supposed to be open. Sigh. Happens all the time. We will try again tomorrow. Comically, I can look right into this office from my Living Room window!
The second item is a 2022 tax form certifying our income from 2021. We contacted our commercialista – she said the form does not exist until June. And that the 2021 form is in force. Sigh. I think we should just take the email we got and the form for last year back to the Questura. Luther says he will call them.
To be honest, I think this is not too bad. It looks like we will, eventually, have these two items. The only issue is when…and whether, in the meantime, those two time sensitive forms will expire — again. It is always something!
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Let’s talk about something more fun. I am a notoriously poor baker. But I threw caution to the wind and decided to make a quiche for dinner last night. First hurdle was making the crust. I tried a recipe I had and miracle of miracles, it came out perfect! Then I used another recipe for quiche I but substituted the vegetables, using some things I got at the market yesterday. I used leeks, mushrooms and broccoli rabe. It called for cheddar cheese but that’s very hard to come by around here. So I used the cheese most common here, pecorino fresca. I added an extra egg and a little more cream because the eggs here are not graded by size. No such thing as extra large eggs. These were fresh eggs from local chickens. Anyway, the quiche came out perfect and it tasted great. I served it with a green salad…a perfect dinner.
Gosh, Lynn, I don’t know. I just know what we would have to do. Did you ask them?
Yes,we can either go in person or send by courier via boat or plane to Nassau.It requires either a boat ride or flight however in person.How does he get back without a passport? I did see the waiting time is shorter than if we try to do it in the US.
Hi Lynn, my husbands will expire next June so we will be renewing his soon. I just read the Embassy in Rome no longer requires a person to come in to renew. We can do it all online. Maybe you can too.
I wondered if you’ve had to renew your passport since you’ve been in Italy? We live in the Bahamas( bought a house) and my husband needs to renew his( expedited) for our trips.Maybe you go to the American Embassy?
I definitely think it is worth the trouble. We live with expired PdS half the year limiting our travel. And I hate the renewal process. No we can use it wherever we move…once we’ve got it, it’s permanent. We can move anywhere in the EU since it is an EU permit.
Hi Bill, you are asking the question most often asked. Sorry to say, there is no way to extend the 90 day tourist allotted period. The only way for you to stay longer would be if you had a house here and your wife got residency. Then you would get your Permesso di Soggiorno motivi familiare through her citizenship. It is good for five years at a time. You could, once you’ve gotten that, leave and return. Although, it is really not meant for this use. I know others who do this.
Hey Lee! You really need to have patience out the ying yang to live here. People all talk about la dolce vita and yeah, it’s here, in between the bureaucracy! 😂
Lucky you Matt! I love ramps. Bet they’d make a good quiche too!
Hi Nancy,
Thank you Nancy for yet another informative blog. It is with interest to me, because my wife, a dual citizen, and I would like to live in Italy for up to 6 months at a time. She can obviously stay as long as needed, but I am limited to the 90-day rule. Is there a visa that I can apply for, either in Italy, or the USA. to be able to stay longer? At age 74, I don’t forsee myself becoming an Italian citizen as a spouse. Thank you and keep the good writings coming to us.
Bill
(heavy sigh). Oh my gosh, I SO feel your pain. Is there ANYTHING more exasperating than filling out a bunch of paperwork and having that momentary feeling of hope and accomplishment, then have it smacked against the wall, like a raw egg!? (sigh, again). One day, after this covid crap is either over or exposed (whichever), I’d like to relocate to the Abruzzo area. On one hand, I can’t wait!! On the other hand (that has the stack of paperwork), I can wait – LOL!
Blessings, good health and patience to you,
Lee
Hi Nancy – I think I’d be a raving maniac if I had to tackle a ridiculous wall of bureaucracy like you have. Hopefully, you’re almost there. Your quiche looks amazing!! We are about to celebrate “ramp fest” here on our property. We have thousands of them springing up along the creek. We sent a care package of them to our foodie son, and I’m going to make pasta with ramps for our Sunday dinner with family. Best to you and Luther!