If you are an unaccompanied foreign minor and you have a residence permit for minor age, you should know that prosieguo amministrativo is a tool that allows you to continue receiving protection and support even after you turn 18, for an additional period of up to three years, until you become an autonomous adult. In these FAQs we explain what it means to reach adulthood, who can request prosieguo, and how the procedure works.
Becoming an adult means turning 18 and being considered an adult under Italian law.
● As a minor, you were protected by the Municipality and social services, by your legal guardian (tutore), and by the staff of the reception centre: you had accommodation, social and educational support, the opportunity to study, attend training courses, and participate in social life.
● After turning 18, this protection theoretically ends automatically because you are considered an adult.
● However, with prosieguo amministrativo (continuation of administrative status), this protection can continue to support you on your path to autonomy and allow you to build your project in Italy.
Prosieguo amministrativo is a measure issued by the Juvenile Court (Tribunale per i Minorenni) that allows those who have just turned 18 to continue living in a community or reception project and receive the same support they had as minors.
● “Prosieguo” means continuation.
● “Amministrativo” means that protection is provided by public authorities (municipal social services).
In practice, if you were supported by the Municipality as a minor—with housing, educators and training support—prosieguo allows you to continue being protected until you reach autonomy (up to 21 years old), building your future step by step in Italy.
The request can be submitted by:
● Your legal guardian (tutore), the person responsible for ensuring your rights and duties in Italy.
● The social worker, the person from the Municipality who helps you build your project and ensures your safety.
The legal guardian or social worker will explain the procedure clearly and help you prepare the application.
● If the social services and legal guardian (tutore), do not take action, you can also submit the request yourself
– with the assistance of a lawyer (see legal help desks: https://www.jumamap.it/map/litemap.php?ser=leg&des=min),
– with the help of staff from the reception centre,
– with the support of child-protection organisations (HERE4U is a project dedicated to migrant minors and youth in Italy; write via WhatsApp or Facebook).
The Juvenile Court is a place where judges specialised in protecting children under 18 work. It intervenes when a minor is unsafe or needs protection. For example, if you live alone, if your family is not in Italy, does not take care of you, or if there is violence or serious difficulty.
If you are a minor, the Court listens to you, your family (if in Italy), your legal guardian and social workers, and decides what is best for your well-being and development.
- The legal guardian and/or the social worker sends an application to the Juvenile Court, attaching a report about your progress (school, Italian courses, internships, volunteering, etc.) and explaining why you still need support.
- The Juvenile Court evaluates your situation and may summon you for a hearing.
- If the judge approves the request, you are issued a residence permit and assistance is extended to support your project in Italy, for a maximum duration up to age 21.
If you have already turned 18 but the decision hasn’t arrived yet, the law allows you to temporarily remain in a SAI centre while waiting, so that your support path is not interrupted.
A passport is not required at the moment of application.
However, it is advisable to obtain it as soon as possible. You will need it later, at the end of prosieguo amministrativo, for example to convert your residence permit to one for study, work, or job-seeking.
You can contact your country’s consulate for information about procedures (https://www.esteri.it/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/LDC_07082025.pdf list of consulates in Italy).
Attention:
If you have applied for asylum or already have international protection (e.g., refugee status or subsidiary protection), you must not go to your country’s consulate.
If you are a minor and you fled a dangerous situation, it is important to evaluate the possibility of requesting international protection. Before going to the consulate, ask yourself:
“Is there any reason why I could be in danger if the authorities of my country knew where I am today?”
If the answer is yes, or if you are unsure, it is better not to go to the consulate and instead seek support to evaluate an asylum application.
Yes, the two procedures are compatible.
This is called a “double track”: you can submit both requests and one does not exclude the other.
Yes, this is possible.
This is also part of the “double track”: you can continue with prosieguo and at the same time request the conversion of your residence permit, as long as you meet all legal requirements for conversion.
- It can last up to 3 years (until age 21), but each situation is evaluated by the judge.
● During this period, social services continue to support you. You can remain in the reception system, study, attend training, work, and build your project in Italy until autonomy.
When you reach autonomy, prosieguo ends. If necessary, the judge may extend it until age 21.
Talk to your legal guardian, social worker, or lawyer.
You can contact Here4U (Arci Nazionale) at +39 3202480863 for free legal and psychological support for unaccompanied foreign minors and young adults up to 24 years old.
Check the Juma map to find services, help desks, and useful contacts in your area.
Legal references and sources
● Law n. 47/2017 (Zampa Law) – protection of unaccompanied foreign minors
● Presidential Decree 4 October 2022, n. 191 – provisions on protection and permits
● Ministry of Interior Circular 3 January 2019 – operational guidelines
These FAQs were produced by Arci based on ASGI’s information sheets on Prosieguo amministrativo (ASGI- Associazione per gli Studi Giuridici sull’Immigrazione)
