For people planning to live in Italy to practice medicine the following information on permits and citizenship would be extremely helpful. Non-EU students who wish to work in Europe might also find that it would be easier in the long run to obtain EU citizenship, but also those of us who end up falling in love with the country, it culture and its people, and feel very much at home by the end of our studies may want to settle into Italy. Many find that they became familiar with the Italian system, the bureaucracy, the healthcare, the lifestyle around food, aperitivos and ferragosto, and may think that it is easier to stay in Italy rather than move to a different country and learn everything from scratch.
Basic Overview and Terminology
Residence Permit – This is a permit that non-EU people need to be able to enter and live in the EU.
- Study Permit – This allows you to live in Italy for study purposes, you can only work 20 hours a week under this permit.
- Attesa di Lavoro – This is issued after you graduate, for you to find a job in a field related to your degree in the meanwhile. It is valid for a year.
- Work Permit – This allows you to work full time in Italy. You will also have to pay taxes to the Italian govt.
- Carta di Soggiorno – This is a long term, 5-year renewable permit that allows you to work and live in Italy.
- Citizenship – Issued after a residency of 5 years for EU and certain other citizens, and 10 years for non-EU citizens. Italy is one of the harder nations in the EU to get citizenship for from just residency (living there).
Attesa Lavoro - The residence permit for awaiting employment
The residence permit to search for subordinate work or self-employment may be requested by non-EU citizens who have obtained a degree in Italy, upon expiry of their study permit. This permit is to search for an occupation or for starting a business “consistent with/ in the same field of the completed training course”, and has a duration of between 9 and 12 months.
The conversion of one’s “study permit” into a “residence permit to search for subordinate work or self-employment” must be requested from the Police Headquarters through an authorized post office by filling in the appropriate modules (kits), demonstrating a minimum annual income not lower than the social allowance (€ 5.889) demonsrated through a tax form (CU, 730 etc.) and not just a bank statement, compulsory insurance, and registration in the employment lists (DID).
The documentation certifying the possession of the qualification can be presented within sixty days of the request, if it is not immediately available.
How do you get it
The application for a residence permit for pending employment must be submitted to the post offices, within 60 days of the expiry of the residence permit for study reasons, by completing the postal kit. If your permit has already expired, the residence permit for awaiting employment must be requested directly at the Police Headquarters, providing adequate reasons as to why the request was submitted late.
Necessary documents
- copy of the expiring residence permit;
- copy of the passport;
- 4 passport photos;
- declaration of hospitality or certificate of residence (not just a registered contract but a certificated through the municipal office);
- Photocopy of the qualification
- Photocopy of certificate certifying immediate availability to carry out work and to active policy measures and work in employment services (Dichiarazione di Immediata Disponibilità (DID))
- Photocopy of the tax code (Codice Fiscale)
- Photocopy of the previous year’s income (pay slips, single certification, 730, etc) also of family members cohabiting
- Photocopy Insurance policy, valid throughout the country, against the risk of illness and accidents
Costs
- receipt of the payment of 30.46 + 40 euros (for the issue of residence permits in electronic format and for the issuance of a one-year residence permit);
- payment of 30 euros at the post office for shipping costs;
- € 16 revenue stamp.
The post office will issue the payment receipt as well as the appointment for the immigration office. If the request is successful, the competent Police Headquarters will issue a permit for pending employment lasting one year. It is a permit that can be converted into a residence permit for subordinate work purposes in the event that you find work, in the meantime, it is possible to find a new job.
Carta Soggiorno
The carta di soggiorno also allows you to take advantage of welfare and social security benefits.
You can request it through a post office, where the forms necessary to forward the request are distributed free of charge (kit with yellow band).
Necessary documents:
Citizenship
If you are planning on applying based on residence, you must meet at least one of the following requirements:
- were born in Italy and have legally resided in Italy for at least 3 years;
- are children or grandchildren in a straight line of Italian citizens by birth and legally resident in Italy for at least 3 years;
- are adults who as children were adopted by Italian citizens and resident in Italy for at least 5 years;
- are EU citizens legally resident in Italy for at least 4 years;
- are holders of refugee status and have resided in Italy for at least 5 years;
- are foreign citizens legally resident in Italy for at least 10 years and without interruption.
Documents required for citizenship by residence
After registering on the website of the Ministry of the Interior, it is necessary to attach the following documents:
- extract of the birth certificate translated into Italian and legalized by the Italian diplomatic or consular authority of the applicant’s State;
- copy of a valid passport or identity card;
- copy of the valid residence permit;
- historical certificate of residence;
- self-certification of the current family status completed and signed;
- Income documents: CU model, Unico and model 730 (of the last three years) depending on the job position of the applicant;
- certificate of knowledge of the Italian language at a level of at least B1, issued by a public or certified school;
- criminal certificate issued by the country of origin;
- copy of the payment of the contribution of 250.00 euros made out to the Ministry of the Interior;
- Marca di Bollo of 16 euros.
To prove 10-year uninterrupted residence in Italy, it is necessary to know the precise date of registration at the registry office of the Municipality of residence. If you have changed your address within the same Municipality, the dates of the transfer from the old to the new address must be indicated. Income required To apply for citizenship by residency, you must prove that you have a minimum income. That is:
- € 8,263.31 for the applicant for citizenship without a spouse or dependent children;
- € 11,362.05 for the applicant for citizenship with a dependent spouse;
- € 516.00 euros more for each dependent child of the applicant for citizenship.
How to apply for citizenship
Exclusively online, through the website of the Ministry of the Interior.
At the end of the procedure, the number of the case will be issued which will be used to verify the progress of your request.
The application for citizenship can take up to 2 years to be proccessed.