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Foreigners can get a residence permit (it. permesso di soggiorno) on a various basis: whether it is studies, employment, religious motives or even political opinion, the main goal is to stay in Italy for more than 90 days per 6 months. Each type of a permit contains particular terms, limitations, documents and possibility to change you current permesso into a different one.
A residence permit in Italy is issued for 6 to 24 months. If prolongation is required, the documents are processed at the local police Department at least 1-3 months prior to the expiration date.
The procedure for obtaining an Italian residence permit goes like this:
The terms and procedure for processing documents are not exactly the same in every case, but the steps are similar:
the basis for moving –> the set of documents –> the visa –> moving and obtaining a residence permit.
A foreigner must have a valid reason to stay in Italy legally. Each case is different.
Always remember about restrictions of each option and look for an affordable way. The most budget-friendly option can be a comfortable and flexible solution for one applicant, and large investments in the Italian economy may not meet the expectations of another.
"The costs of the immigration procedure are not particularly high, but the overall cost of living in Italy is such that people who do not have sufficient stable incomes, as a rule, cannot afford to move here, especially long – term residence," Vadim says.
The cost of living in Italy also has a big role. "Although the standard of living in Italy is not the highest in Europe, prices are generally high. To pull it all off, you need significant income, and it is difficult to earn directly in Italy, many simply do not take on such a task. Our clients often earn money in their homeland, but live in Italy. The main thing is to find a suitable basis for a residence permit in accordance with your income and goals".
Students (whether it is college, school or university) apply for the student Type D visa for the duration of their course. At the same time, the can work during their stay (up to 20 hours per week).
You can already find a suitable job during your studies or work independently after the course of study and prepare a new set of documents for the extension of a residence permit for the reason of work. The possibility to convert (conversione) a residence permit from educational to working to lavoro subordinato for an employee or lavoro autonomo for an entrepreneur or self–employed specialist.
You can study in both public and private institutions. These may be long-term courses, but consuls usually no longer issue a Type D visa to study Italian. The status of an educational institution affects the possibility of converting a residence permit to another type outside the established quotas. The number of holders of a student residence permit will be able to issue lavoro autonomo is determined by an annual decree (decreto flussi). If the university is accredited and the course meets certain requirements, there is a chance to issue a document outside of quotas.
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Many clients choose autonomous work (lavoro autonomo), because the overall cost will not be too high, given the cost of study. Moreover, the registration of a self-employed specialist in Italy is free of charge. Until recently, to attend language courses in Italy you could get Type D visa without problems. Lavoro autonomo was also opened to almost everyone for the establishment of a new company, for the opening of an individual enterprise. Then Italian officials changed their tactics and began to take quotas and requirements more seriously, which they had previously turned a blind eye to. In Italy, there are many examples, when the law says one thing, but officials do differently.
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To live in Italy on the basis of an employment contract, you need to find an employer who is willing to take on a number of obligations.
If all the points are implemented, the employer receives a report on the absence of obstacles (nulla osta) for employment. The application process takes about 40 days. The employee then has six months to apply for a visa and move to Italy.
Given the relatively high unemployment rate in Italy (as of June,2020 it was 8.8%), the task seems pretty difficult. An important advantage of this permesso is the fact that loss of work does not deprive a foreigner of a residence permit until the end of its validity. The second bonus is that the employee is allowed to move their family.
"You can find a low-paid job, but living in austerity is not the best solution. Many expats are lucky: they meet the right people and get a contract. But do not forget about quotas: all working residence permits, except for special cases (for example, project employment, invited university teachers, heads of representative offices, branches of foreign companies) and holders of a blue card (Carta Blu UE), are issued in accordance with the norms of the annual decree on quotas (decreto flussi)," the expert says.
Lavoro autonomo is a good reason to move to Italy for an entrepreneur or freelancer. At the same time there are many more options to get a card: organize a startup, work as a manager or auditor in an Italian business, become an entrepreneur or a freelance professional; be invited as a professional athlete, artist, head of an Italian representative office or a branch of a foreign firm. Qualified translators also register lavoro autonomo. Some professionals can even issue a permesso outside of quotas.
Permesso autonomo is issued for a period up to two years and can be extended an unlimited number of times.
A visa to conduct a business requires you to develop a plan to invest your own funds in the amount of €500,000, as well as create at least three work places.
The program for free professionals (libero professionista) is suitable for those who fall into the list of regulated professions – professioni regolamentate (medical worker, lawyer, accountant, architect, engineer, etc.) or refers to employees, who have professional associations representing professions at the national level in Italy.
It is important to meet the requirements for the duration of the company, the type of organization and position. If a foreigner is appointed as a Manager in an Italian representative office or a branch of a foreign company, there are almost no special requirements for the applicant or the parent company.
Another way for permesso autonomo is to open a startup in Italy. Bear in mind that the risk of rejection is very high (in 2019, about 40% of applications were rejected).
Nothing will work without savings. By law, it is necessary to confirm the availability of funds for the implementation of the project in the amount of at least €50,000. It is also important to meet the requirements for innovation and create a reliable business plan. If the Italia Startup Visa Committee approved it, then no more than five people get a visa (in exceptional cases, up to ten, but it is extremely difficult to justify such an expansion of the team). Failure of the project in this case does not entail deportation until the expiration of the residence permit, and if there is income from other activities, the residence permit will be extended without any connection to the previously declared startup.
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I believe that a startup visa is a fairly easy way to move. If there is the project meets the requirements, the Committee will issue a positive conclusion. The size of threshold depends: you must show the ability to invest at least €50,000 in the project, but it is not stated anywhere that the applicant is required to invest this amount.
With our help, various projects were approved: an application that serves as an interactive guide to Italian cities; a program for learning foreign languages based on comics; a system for helping people with disabilities, based on the recognition of brain signals. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the link to a specific country does not matter (the innovation does not necessarily have to be related to Italy, its history, culture, etc.).
Even if the project fails, the applicant will remain with a residence permit. No one checks the results of the startup team and does not revoke the residence permit in case of failure to achieve any indicators. In case of failure with the project, you can work for hire or organize your own small company.
Residenza elettiva (relocation based on the chosen place of residence) is intended for financially independent applicants. You need a high passive income from €31,000 per year. Remote work and a salary from your local employer are not accepted, but interest on deposits, dividends, company shares, rent and retirement assets are ok. You also need to rent for a long time or buy a house in Italy.
You can't work in Italy using this type of "permesso", but you can move your familyб if the Consul considers the applicant's income sufficient (add 20% for the spouse and 5% for each child). It is very difficult to convert such a card to another type. Tax resident status is acquired automatically, if you have registered at your place of residence for 183 or more days a year.
According to Vadim Romanchuk, this residence permit is suitable for those who really want to move to a new country and ready to spend a lot of time there. This is an option for seniors, non-working parents with children and people who can work remotely.
But a foreigner should also consider the disadvantages: it is not always possible to show a stable legal income that meets the criteria and isn’t related to a salary. Also, the role of the personal subjective view of the Consul on a final decision is huge. Finally, not everyone will be satisfied with the ban on working in Italy and the inability to convert a residence permit.
Entry permits are issued on the basis of financial documents and written consent for future investments in the Italian economy. You must invest a large amount in business, a fund or government bond within 90 days of arrival. “Golden residents” can enjoy preferential taxation of foreign income at a fixed rate €100,000 per year for 15 years.
The first time the card is issued for two years, and for three after renewal (while maintaining investment). The “Golden visa” is the most expensive route to the Italian coast. But in May 2020, it became more accessible after the Decree on revival (Decreto Rilancio). Now the investment threshold is lower for some options.
Three options to use it:
You can apply for a Type D visa for a spouse, children and dependent parents of the "accompanying family members" (familiari al seguito) before the main applicant enters Italy. A disadvantage: waiting for a response from the Prefecture may take several months. An advantage: all family members go on the trip at the same time.
The second option is "family reunion with permission" (ricongiungimento familiare). As it implies, first the foreigner enters by themselves, issues their residence permit, and then the visa is received by relatives. A disadvantage: the scheme also takes a long time; it is necessary to provide the authorities with proof of sufficient income in Italy (from €9,000 per year for a family of two people).
The third way is to reunite with your family on the spot (coesione familiare). Family members issue a residence permit already in Italy, but they can enter on any legal basis, including a tourist visa. The main applicant receives a residence permit, prepares documents confirming a sufficient level of income in Italy, and their family has the right to apply for a residence permit even after the expiration of a tourist (or other entry) visa.
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Although the method seems the easiest, there are a number of difficulties. It is not easy to find an Italian who is ready to marry immediately. In half of the cases, these are people who are divorced, and in Italy, the divorce procedure (separazione) lasts several years. At this stage, Italians are already looking for new life partners, although they cannot officially remarry.
It should be understood that in Italian law the principle of protecting the unity of the family is one of the main ones. The rights of children and their right to live with their parents are sacred to the Italian justice system, and the law will always be on their side.
It should be understood that in Italian law the principle of protecting the unity of the family is one of the main ones. The rights of children and their right to live with their parents are sacred to the Italian justice system, and the law will always be on their side.
Photos: pixabay.com
