I wasn’t planning on getting the new digital Carta di Soggiorno anytime soon - the deadline for doing so isn’t until December 2021 - and I have a permanent residency certificate in the meanwhile, but on visiting my local ASL to get a medical appointment, I discovered that my card had been tagged as requiring a status update. This was disconcerting, especially since I have lived and worked here, paying taxes just like my Italian peers, for the last 30 years.  I was told by the not-so-nice lady behind the Plexiglas window that I would first need to clear my situation with the anagrafe …. only a very belligerent attitude on my part finally got me the appointment.

As a precautionary measure, I subsequently call the local anagrafe: I was informed that I would require a Permesso di Soggiorno (as opposed to Carta di Soggiorno) to remain in Italy, that my residency status is no longer their responsibility because I am no longer a member of the EU and that since we’d wanted Brexit, we shouldn’t complain about having to deal with any fall out.

I have to admit to being pretty stunned by this response: One because of its complete inaccuracy and two, the hostility with which it was delivered.  I have since forwarded the correct details regarding the  mutual withdrawal agreement - clearly written and posted on the Italian government's own website - to the anagrafe and kindly asked the information to be shared amongst other relevant offices.

I applied online for my Carta di Soggiorno at the Questura di Arezzo. I received a reply within 24 hours giving me details of the documentation required to obtain it.  On collating and forwarding this documentation including a form that needed filling in, I again received a reply within 24 hours, with a day and time for an appointment for the following week.

My appointment with the Immigration office was made for 11.25 am and I was asked to wait outside the building until I was called which was about 12.30 pm (not bad!)

Unfortunately, my permanent residency certificate, stamped and dated in 2009 by the Cortona anagrafe, was not recognised by the young girl processing my application. If it hadn’t been for the intervention of an old hand, who was literally just passing by and who recognised it for what it was - a PERMANENT residency certificate which did not require renewal -  I would very probably have been sent back to Cortona empty handed and with a visit to the anti-Brexit brigade at the anagrafe to look forward to. 

However, in the end, the whole process didn’t take more than 30 minutes with my finger prints now firmly registered and on file for posterity. Apparently, my new Carta di Soggiorno will be ready in about 40 days and although I was expecting to pick it up at the local police station – as was mentioned somewhere – I will have to go back to Arezzo to withdraw it. In the meantime I can check the progress of the application on line.

When it is ready to be picked up, I can go - without appointment - on a Monday or Thursday afternoon from 14.40 to 17.40 (not sure whether the same hours apply to other Questure). The card should have a duration of 10 years (as a permanent resident).

I might add, that although I can sympathise with the general antipathy towards the Brits for the upheaval Brexit has caused – and however unpleasant I might find it - if, as there very definitely is, a mutually agreed procedure in place for both British and Italian residents in their adopted countries of residence, it would be reassuring to know that the pertinent government offices were sufficiently informed of what it entails.  I am now curious to see whether or not I become ‘untagged’ at the ASL and elsewhere or if this will be an on-going saga!

You can email the Questura for an appointment at this address

1.      a valid identity document

2.      a certificate of personal registration (attestazione di iscrizione anagrafica), issued by the municipality (comune) of residence, which proves registration by 31st December 2020

or

self-certification of being registered with the anagrafe by 31st December 2020

3.      receipt of payment of € 30,46 made by postal order to:

·        Account no. 67422402 (account holder MEF DIP.TO DEL TESORO VERS: DOVUTO RILASCIO CARTA DI SOGGIORNO

·        Reason for payment: Importo per il rilascio della carta di soggiorno - Accordo di recesso UE/ UK

4.      4 passport-sized photographs.

Before applying for my Carta di Soggiorno, I did look into the possibility of applying for dual citizenship. The documents required include a valid residency permit, so I gave up before I started, suspecting that I would get nowhere without the new Carta di Soggiorno.

Apparently, if you are married to an Italian citizen obtaining dual citizenship is a procedure done largely on-line via your local Prefettura and relatively quick.  If you are going it alone, the paperwork is processed in Rome and can take longer, but in the long run it may be a beneficial move to take if you have the necessary requisites.  Once I have my Carta di Soggiorno, I intend giving it a go.