Tomorrow marks a special day for European citizens in Italy… and a confusing one. As of the 11th of April 2007, the Italians are doing away with the old Carta di Soggiorno for Europeans. This is definitely a good thing, and something that brings the country closer to the carefree border-hopping prescribed by the EU, but it’s also confused a lot of people. If not the Carta, then what?

Marc at the Italymag forums has helpfully translated some info on the new law, the essence of which is that Europeans no longer have to go to the Questura and apply for the old Carta. Instead, you can stay in Italy without formalities for up to three months and after that, if you want to stay in the country, you need to go the local anagrafe and register there.

Elsewhere, the waters are muddied by reference to something called the Permesso di soggiorno CE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo. Is this some new slab of paperwork, or simply the official name for the status you receive after registering at the anagrafe? So far, nobody seems to be entirely sure.