Visiting Italy long-term
The legal requirements

If you're not simply here on holiday, but
are actually planning on staying in Italy for something more than just a few weeks, even if you don't want to work here, it's a bureaucratic nightmare.
The Italians are very primitive in their understanding of Civil Liberties and at times it feels like you're under martial law. (Click here for a more lengthy moan on this subject.)

The following notes cover some matters which may be of interest to anyone planning to make short or long term visits to Italy, and in particular to the Rome Consular district, or who contemplate seeking employment here. Though the information is broadly applicable to visitors of any nationality, the information we have to hand here at RomeLife is chiefly tailored to the needs of Brits. We have also included some information on how the British Consulate may
be of assistance to British citizens.

SHORT TERM VISITS
Foreigners visiting Italy should register with
the nearest police station within 7 days of arrival, but those staying at hotels, boarding houses (pensione), or established camping sites are automatically registered by the management (when they ask for your passport when you sign the register).

LONG TERM VISITS
The ‘Permesso di Soggiorno’ (Certificate of Permission to Stay):
Those planning long term visits or permanent
residence without being employed here should register with the police within 7 days of arrival and apply for a ‘permeso di soggiorno’ (permission to stay) from the Ufficio Stranieri, Questura Centrale, Via Genova, Rome.
This will usually be granted on production
of evidence that the applicant has sufficient money to support themself while they are here.
In certain cases a ‘permesso’ as a tourist,
(valid for a short period) is given to allow
the applicant sufficient time to arrange for a
transfer of money, house-hunting etc.

Self-employed people or those wishing to
establish a business should likewise apply
for a ‘permesso di soggiorno’, specifying exactly what they intend to do.
Click here for more information on the trials and tribulations of obtaining your Permesso Soggiorno.

Those intending to establish a company
will also need an ‘Atto Costitutivo della Società Omologato dal Tribunale’ (memorandum and articles of association ratified by the Tribunal).

RESIDENCY
On arrival in Italy, a person who wishes to become registered as a resident should apply without delay to the nearest ‘Ufficio Anagrafe’ - Municipal registry Office’ (in Rome the Anagrafe is in Via Luigi Petroselli 50).
A residence certificate is necessary to obtain
customs clearance, to open a bank account,
to purchase an apartment etc.

DRIVING
Anyone regarded by the Italian authorities as
resident in Italy, whether or not holding a residence certificate, is required by Italian law to obtain an Italian driving licence and Italian number plates for any imported car.
Conversion of a driving licence must be done
within one year of taking up residence.

STUDENTS
There are numerous preparations and precautions to take before embarking on study in Italy, especially if you intend to work here simultaneous with studies, and (unless you have already been thoroughly briefed by your school or university staff) these should be thoroughly researched at a local careers centre or advisor at school, the local education authority or the student’s existing UK university, well in advance of departure.
Not least of course is to ensure that the student has sufficient money to fund their studies and stay in Italy.

A Permesso di Soggiorno may be required for study, but if the Italian university is not in the same region as the student’s residence, there may be a problem obtaining this.
A letter from the Italian university alone may not be considered sufficient evidence of intention merely to study in Italy.
Students wishing to attend courses at Italian Universities or private institutes must produce a declaration issued before their departure by an Italian consulate certifying their acceptability. Contact the Italian consulate first
before visiting, to ensure having all the right
documents for the declaration to be issued.

The Bottom Line on all this is simply to make sure that everything is in order before you depart from the UK. Once you are in Italy it may be too late to correct mistakes, and a student’s studies and enjoyment of their stay in Italy may be hampered and marred as a result of insufficient attention to these legal details.

EMPLOYMENT
Information on working conditions etc in Italy is available from local job centres in the United Kingdom.

It cannot be emphasised too strongly that there is much unemployment in Italy. It therefore follows that anyone who does not speak fluent Italian and has no special skills has little prospects of finding a job here. There is no great recruitment of foreign workers for harvesting as in some Mediterranean countries.

Au-pairs
are advised to first approach a reputable agency in the UK.

Anyone who decides to try their luck living
and working in Italy should bring sufficient funds to support themself for several weeks and to purchase a return ticket in the event that their search for work proves unsuccessful.
Those with no means of support may be picked up by the police, charged with vagrancy and escorted to the nearest border.

Notes for the Guidance of British Citizens wishing to work in Italy and who have the Right of Abode in the UK

As an EEC National if you intend working in Italy you must have the following documents:

1. Permesso di Soggiorno - Police Permit to Stay. This is issued by the Questura and must be applied for within one week of arrival. Changes of address and employer must be notified to the police immediately and the permit amended. When you apply you will need a Full British Passport.

2. Libretto di Lavoro - Worker’s Registration Book. Available upon production of a permesso di soggiorno which shows that the applicant is in Italy for work.

3. You are also required to register with the
central employment exchange (ufficio di
collacamento).

(The addresses of the offices that issue the
above documents are listed below)

REGISTERING AS A RESIDENT
As soon as it becomes clear that you will remain in Italy you should take steps to register with your local ‘Anagrafe’ (Central Registry Office)

CODICE FISCALE (Fiscal Code)
This is something like a National Insurance
number and although there is no immediate
legal requirement to attain a Codice Fiscale,
sooner or later it will be necessary to have one.
The number is issued you in the form of a credit card-sized plastic card and it’s necessary to produce it or quote the number for eligibility for reduced costs in medical prescriptions and healthcare. If making any large purchase using credit, most shops will require a Codice Fiscale number from the customer as a fraud-prevention device. In fact some shops even ask for it if you're paying cash. (Though I have a Codice Fiscale card, if I'm paying cash, I usually tell them to get stuffed if they ask me for it, adding that they've lost the sale, and then I walk out the shop, never to return; it's the only way to stamp out this nonsense.)
This is also likely to apply when agreeing to
rent an apartment, hire a car, etc. You should also apply for a Codice Fiscale number for any
children who may be living with you in Italy. Unbelievable huh?

Addresses

QUESTURA CENTRALE (for Permesso Soggiorno)
Corner of Via Genova/Via San Vitale
(off Via Nazionale)
ANAGRAFÈ (for Libretto di Lavoro)
Via L. Petroselli 50 (behind Piazza Venezia)
The issuing office is located in the ‘Ufficio
Telescriventi’. Turn right inside main door
on ground floor.
UFFICIO DI COLLOCAMENTO (Employment exchange)
Viale R. Vignali (off Viale Bruno Pelizzi/
Via dio Torre Spaccata)
VIALE DELLA CONCILIAZIONE (for Codice Fiscale)

And the best of British luck to you! You'll need it...