Italy: Delays in Fingerprinting Appointments

Immigration professionals have observed that Italian police are currently often scheduling fingerprint appointments several months, even up to six to nine months, from the date that residence permit applications have been submitted. As part of this, more frequently, applicants are required to await an invitation to attend such appointments (this invitation is sent by mail to the applicant’s registered home address). Previously, fingerprinting appointments were scheduled when the applicant filed their residence permit at a post office, and they only had to await an invitation if there were no appointments available. This change in procedure appears to stem from processing delays caused by application backlogs and personnel shortages. These delays could affect the ability of residence permit renewal applicants to travel to, or stay within, the Schengen Area since applicants cannot travel to or within the Schengen Area under expired residence permits.