Declaration of hospitality (dichiarazione di ospitalità)

The declaration of hospitality (dichiarazione di ospitalità) is one of the documents you may need when applying for or renewing a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) in Italy.
The dichiarazione di ospitalità is a mandatory written notification that every landlord/host must submit to inform the Italian authorities that they are putting someone up in their home. Notifying the authorities is mandatory for non-EU nationals, even if they are only staying for one day.
The dichiarazione di ospitalità is an important document, because it proves to the Italian authorities that you have somewhere to stay in the country.
Under Article 7 of the TUI (Testo Unico sull’Immigrazione, the Consolidated Immigration Act – Legislative Decree 286/1998 as subsequently amended), anyone who hosts or accommodates a foreign national, or lets them use a property, must notify the local public security authority in writing within 48 hours.
In addition to the host’s personal details, the written notification must include the foreign national’s details, the details of their passport or identity document, and the exact location of the property.

The declaration of hospitality is a document certifying that an EU citizen or a stateless person has lawful accommodation in Italy, and it is usually required for issuing, renewing or converting a residence permit.
If you do not have a home or a rental contract, the declaration of hospitality is a mandatory requirement when you need to obtain or renew a residence permit. In general, if you do not have a home or a rental contract, you can replace it with a declaration of hospitality.
It is very important always to give your actual address to the Questura (provincial police headquarters, which handles residence permits) every time you change your residenza (registered residence) or move to another city or region of Italy while your permit application is pending, so that they can always contact you with important notices.
You will also need to submit a declaration of hospitality to the Italian authorities when you are the one hosting someone, such as a relative or a friend. Notifying the authorities is required when non-EU nationals arrive, even if they are only staying for one day. If the police find out that you have let friends, relatives or other people stay in your home without submitting a declaration of hospitality, they may fine you.
You must ask the owner of the home, or anyone entitled to use the property, to fill in the declaration of hospitality. For example, if a friend of yours has an ordinary rental contract and has decided to put you up for a while, you must ask them to fill in the declaration of hospitality with you.
Filling in the declaration of accommodation or hospitality correctly is very important to avoid legal problems and difficulties in getting your residence permit issued.
How do you fill in the form?
The first box must contain the details of the person hosting the non-EU national and the period of hospitality (which may also be open-ended, for example if you need to apply for a residence card (carta di soggiorno) as a family member of an EU citizen, in the case of family reunification, etc.)

• The second box, on the other hand, must contain the details of the non-EU foreign national being hosted.
• The third box must state the capacity (titolo) in which the declaration of hospitality is made
  To obtain the dichiarazione di ospitalità, you need the following documents:
  the dichiarazione di ospitalità form, correctly filled in and signed;
  a copy of your identity document;
  a copy of the identity document of the host or homeowner;
  a copy of the deed or lease for the home (“atto di proprietà” / “contratto di locazione”). The exact address or location of the home and the right of ownership or possession of the property must be stated.
  Once you have all the documents listed above, you or your host must send the dichiarazione to the Questura through any authorised post office (Poste Italiane) in your area.
  Alternatively, you can go to the police or the Questura in your area and hand it in in person. The relevant office will check your declaration, sign it and stamp it.
  If you decide to send the dichiarazione through the post office, you may have to pay the postage to send the dichiarazione di ospitalità to the competent office. If you hand it in in person to the police or the Questura, the procedure is completely free of charge.