Hospitality Declaration
Plain English
It's the form a host files when a non-EU citizen stays in their home for more than a few days. The host signs a statement saying who the guest is, where they're staying, and for how long. It then gets filed with the Questura.
Why it matters
If you're staying with a friend or family member instead of a hotel, Italian law expects this declaration within 48 hours of arrival. Hotels file the equivalent (the schedina alloggiati) for you automatically. Without it, you can run into trouble when applying for the permesso.
Real example
"When his cousin Omar arrived in Brescia on a family visa, Walid filled in the dichiarazione di ospitalità at the local police station the next morning. He brought his own ID, Omar's passport, and proof he owned the apartment."
Common confusion
Many hosts forget that this counts as proof of address when their guest applies for a permesso, so keep the stamped copy somewhere safe.
Official source
Polizia di Stato