Covid-19 tests are now almost as standard as face masks in Italy to reduce the spread of Coronavirus
There are different kind of COVID-19 test available in Italy. COVID-19 tests are done to detect either SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, or antibodies that your body makes after getting COVID-19 or after getting vaccinated. The type of COVID-19 test you will need, will depend on why you want to get a test. You may want to get tested if you have been in contact with someone who is infected with coronavirus, or if you have COVID-19 symptoms (fever, coughing, tiredness, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, headache, diarrhoea, difficulty breathing, chest pain)or maybe you need to show a negative result for regional or international travel. So, whatever your reason maybe, it is important to know the types of COVID-19 test available, the particular test you need depending on your reason and where to get any one of them. So let us now take a glance at the different types of COVID-19 test obtainable in Italy and how to get one.
PCR TEST(TAMPONE)
This tests can tell whether or not someone has the virus very early on in their illness as well as if you are actively infected with coronavirus. It involves taking a nose or throat swab and examining it for traces of the virus’s genetic material. The sample has to be sent to a lab for analysis, which means results take around a day.
PCR gives us a good indication of who is infected. It’s considered the most reliable form of testing, even if it’s not 100 percent accurate. A negative PCR test result can now get you an Italian health certificate or ‘green pass’ that is valid for 72 hours. You will need to do a PCR test if you intend to make an international travel.
LATERAL FLOW TEST(TAMPONE RAPIDO)
LFTs are similar to PCR tests, in that they’re both types of antigen test, designed to pick up active Covid-19 infection rather than antibodies to the disease. It is simpler and quicker process to the PCR tests which means you can get the result within half an hour. It involves taking a nasal swab where the sample is tested for proteins that are found on the surface of the virus.
It’s less accurate than a PCR test, but is cheaper, faster and can be carried out directly at doctors’ offices, pharmacies, airports or workplaces without the need for a lab.
The LFTs will get you a green pass that is valid for 48 hours from the time of your negative result and can be used within Italy to access workplace, travel, leisure and educational activities.
SALIVA TEST(TEST SALIVARI)
This is not a very common kind of testing in Italy that involves the use of saliva as test samples instead of a nose or throat swab. It is considered less reliable than the LFTs and PCR tests. When done, you will get a green pass that is valid for 48 hours from the time of your negative result and can be used within Italy to access workplace, travel, leisure and educational activities.
SELF TESTING KIT(AUTOTEST)
This involves a kind of test which can be done in your home without a medical professional present. The self testing kits can be purchased from pharmacies without a prescription. It is a rapid antigen test that involves taking a nasal swab which you can do on your own. If the test results comes out positive, you should get another test carried out by a professional. It is important to know too that a negative test result can not be used to obtain a green pass.
ANTIBODY TEST(TEST SIEROLOGICO)
An antibody test can detect antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in your blood. Unlike PCR tests, LFTs which commonly use swabs to detect Covid-19, blood samples are usually used for antibody tests. Antibody tests can not be used to diagnose a current infection, but may be used to indicate if you had a past infection.
If you have a positive antibody test result, you will still be required to take LFTs or PCR test to check if you still have the virus or not.
WHERE CAN I GET COVID-19 TEST
If you are a resident in Italy and have a reason to have a COVID-19 test, you can get a test through the national health service by obtaining a prescription(ricetta bianca) from your GP that will allow you take a test at a public facility. Alternatively, you can take a private test without a prescription at airports, pharmacies, labs, testing centers or even in your house by a private doctor. There are several test centers all over Italy. You can click on this link to find the nearest test center closer to you.
Here you go, these are the types of COVID-19 tests you can find in Italy and where you can get tested at a glance.
I would like to hear from you: What are your thoughts on this subject. You can share your thoughts and experiences with me and others in the comments section below!
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The single child allowance for dependent children will start in March 2022
The single child allowance has been talked about for quite some time now and finally the time is here. The single child allowance for dependent children will start in March 2022 with applications starting from January 1. Let’s now take a glance at what it is and how it works, who will benefit from it, on which children the new allowance will be taken and how to present the request.
WHAT IS IT?
The single child allowance is a new measure introduced by the government that will take the place of the deductions for family expenses referring to children, allowances for the family unit(ANF), bonuses for children (Baby Bonus, Mom Tomorrow Bonus) into one single allowance which will vary on the basis of the Isee of the family unit and the degree of disability a child. It will be paid by INPS upon request by the interested parties. These are families with children up to 21 years of age dependent on their parents. Pregnant mothers can also receive the allowance from the end of the seventh month of pregnancy.
HOW MUCH IS THE ALLOWANCE?
For children up to 18 years of age, the amount of the single allowance for each of them is equal to:
175 euros per month (Isee within the threshold of 15,000 euros)
To scale from 175 to 50 euros per month (Isee above 15,000 and up to 40,000 euros).
50 euros per month per child with Isee above 40,000 euros.
For families with three or more dependent children, the amounts are increased for all children (even the first two) to an extent of 85 euros for the first Isee bracket (up to 15,000 euros), decreasing from 85 to 15 euros for the second bracket and 15 euros for the third and last bracket.
Increases also foreseen according to the severity of handicap for disabled minors. This surplus is equal to 105 euros per month more for disability with the absence of self-sufficiency of the invalid. For the severely disabled, on the other hand, the monthly increase is 95 euros, while for average disabilities it is 85 euros. For disabled adult children, on the other hand, the increase is equal to 50 euros per month, but only up to 21 years of age. For disabled children over the age of 21, however, the allowance is paid to the extent of:
85 euros per month (Isee within the threshold of 15,000 euros);
To scale from 85 to 25 euros per month (Isee above 15,000 and up to 40,000 euros).
25 euros per month per child with Isee above 40,000 euros.
Surcharges also foreseen for families with both working parents (30 euros per month more for each child) or with families with four or more children (100 euros per month in total). Finally, with young mothers (under 21 years of age), an increase of 20 euros per month per child.
WHO CAN APPLY?
This new measure is opened to the following groups of people:
Italians;
Foreigners from an EU Member State;
Non-EU foreigners with the right of residence or with the right of permanent residence;
Non-EU citizens with a long-term residence permit
Non-EU foreigners who have a work or research permit with a duration of more than six months;
Foreigners with residence in Italy for at least two years.
Residence and domicile, including tax in Italy, are therefore necessary in order to have access to the single allowance for children.
Residence and domicile, including tax in Italy, are therefore necessary in order to have access to the single allowance for children.
CRITERIA FOR ADULT CHILDREN FOR ALLOWANCE
Children who are between the age of 18 and 21 fall under this category with special condition to be met to receive the allowance. They must be alternatively:
University students;
Struggling with school training courses;
Enrolled in professional training courses;
Struggling with internships, including paid internships, but with an income of less than 8,000 euros per year;
Workers with income below the threshold of 8,000 euros per year;
Unemployed people enrolled in employment centers as job seekers;
Struggling with the civil service.
HOW AND WHEN TO APPLY
Applications for the new single allowance for children can be submitted to INPS starting from January 2022.Parents (or one of them) or whoever exercises parental responsibility for minor children, can submit the request. Children who are of age can also ask INPS for direct payment in their name of the part of the allowance due. With your ISEE, present request to INPS through the appropriate online procedure of the Institute, if they are in possession of the device INPS PIN or by calling the INPS call center at 803164 free of charge from the landline or 061641164 for a fee via mobile phone. Or by contacting Patronati and CAF who will take care of you to send the application to INPS.
Here you go, this is all you need to know about the single child allowance at a glance.
I would like to hear from you: What are your thoughts on this subject. You can share your thoughts and experiences with me and others in the comments section below!
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The Italian National Health Service (SSN – Servizio Sanitario Nazionale) registration issued to non-EU foreigners will remain valid until the expiry of the permit to stay.
The Health card is a personal document issued to individuals entitled to benefit from the Italian National Health Service. The card contains several information, such as the biographical data and the tax identification number. It shall be valid for 6 years or until the expiration of the residence permit. In the case of changing your GP in a region other than that of residence, the validity will be one year. Also, for new-borns, at the time of assigning the tax code, a Health Card is sent with a validity of one year.
What is a Tessera Sanitaria ?
The Tessera Sanitaria is the Italian Health Insurance Card which can also be used as a replacement document for the tax code, that all residents need to show to access the Italian National Health Service. You will need it when going to a doctor, purchasing a drug in the pharmacy and used to record the purchase of drugs to be taken as a tax deduction, doing blood analyses, undergoing specialist examinations, diagnostics or requiring admission to a public hospital. The Tessera Sanitaria (Italian Health Insurance Card) is not required for seeing a private doctor, either a general practitioner or a specialist, and to buy medications or to do blood tests prescribed by a private doctor.
The Tessera Santaria is not required for seeing a private doctor, either a GP or specialist, and to buy medications or to do blood tests prescribed by a private doctor.
Can I access Health care with an Expired Tessera Sanitaria?
As specified by the Revenue Agency, in the guide published on 1 February 2021 , even in the event of the expiry of the health card, it is possible to access the services of the NHS in Italy. It can be used as a replacement document for the tax code used in pharmacies for the electronic registration of deductible purchases in the tax return. However, if you are travelling abroad you can not use it. You will need to request for a new one by contacting ASL (Local Health Office) who will issue you a replacement by giving you the European Health Insurance Card.
How do I renew my Italian Health Insurance Card?
The first thing to keep in mind is that to apply for the health card, you will need to already be a resident in Italy with the permesso di soggiorno (stay permit) to prove it. Before the expiration date, a new Card is automatically produced and sent for all subjects with active health care. The Inland Revenue(Agenzia Entrate) sends the Tessera Sanitaria to the taxpayer’s address but there are cases where this does not happen. You can immediately request renewal from the ASL(Local Health Office) or at any office of the Revenue Agency and ascertain the reason why it was not delivered to your residential address. The reasons why it was not delivered to you could be any of the following reasons:
Error in the communication of the tax code
Failure to register with the ASL
Change of residence
The ASL will temporarily issue you with a replacement certificate to be used until the valid document is delivered. They will also immediately notify the Health Card System of the renewal request and electronically send the assistance data to the TS System. The new valid healthcard will be delivered to the home address associated with the applicant’s tax code .
To renew the health care, you must bring to the ASL (Local Health Authority):
Your Passport
The documents confirming the request for renewal of the permit to stay, such as the receipt you get when you pay at the post office or the one issued by the Questura
Your Codice Fiscale (Italian Tax Code).
A certificate of residence or a self-declaration of residence in which you state to live at your current address.
How to check the issue and delivery status of the health card
To check the issuing status of your Card without going to the appropriate offices, the application ” To see the status of my Health Card “ is available on the internet .
To carry out this verification it is necessary to have your own tax code.
If no Health Card is issued, the TS System message is “There are no Health Cards”: it is necessary to contact the competent ASL
If it appears that the status of the Health Card is “being issued”, it is necessary to wait for the production and shipment to be completed.
If it appears that the status of the Health Card is “Sent” and it has not yet been received, it is necessary to contact any office of the Revenue Agency to verify the correct registration of your residence.
What to do in case of theft, loss or deterioration of the Health Card
In cases of theft or loss, the current legislation does not provide for an obligation to report to the competent authorities which, however, is a precautionary measure for the client.
The duplicate can also be requested by means of a specifically delegated person; in this case, the delegated person must show his / her own identity document and a copy of the applicant’s identity document, both of which are valid.
Citizens residing abroad can request a duplicate by contacting the Italian Consulate in the country of residence. The Card will be delivered, optionally, at the domicile in Italy or at the same diplomatic representation abroad.
I would like to hear from you: What are your thoughts on this subject. You can share your thoughts and experiences with me and others in the comments section below!
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Italy is a famous study abroaddestination among international students
Many students drop the plan of studying in Italy because they think they would need to learn the Italian language for studying. What if we say that you can study in Italy in English? Yes, in today’s competitive world the colleges and universities in Italy conduct their classes in the English language too.
Types of Italian Higher Education Institutions
The higher education system of Italy has 3 following types:
Universities
Higher Technical Institutes
Higher Education for Artists
Universities
A total of 96 universities are working in Italy. Of which 67 are public universities and 29 are private universities. The major focus of universities is on theoretical studies. Bologna process is implemented by universities. A process which seeks to bring more coherence to higher education systems across Europe. Universities issue the following degrees. Undergraduate Degree (Laurea): it is equivalent to a Bachelor of Science, which can be obtained in the 3-year program of study. Graduate Degree (Laurea Magistrale): It is equivalent to a Master of Science, which takes two years for completion. After completing, Graduate Degree program you can apply to a Doctoral program.
Higher Technical Institutes
The major focus of higher technical institutes is on practical stuff. These institutions prepare students for professional life. Practical assignments and internships enhance the skills of students. Teachers from companies interact with students to share their experiences and knowledge.
Higher Education for Artists
If you are an artist in any particular field, you can polish your skills in higher institutions of Italy. Courses about Dance, Music, Visual arts, Design, and Drama are available in these Institutions.
Application Process in University of Italy
The application process for a university is quite different in Italy as compared to other countries. First of all, you need to contact the Italian embassy to start your student application for a university. Student visas in Italy are issued by Italian Embassies or Consulate-General offices in your country of origin. You should submit a pre-application request to the Italian Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence and indicate what institution and program you’re applying to. After acceptance of the pre-application form, the Consulate issues a document, which is the statement of validity. The officials will forward your documentation to the institution, and you should confirm with your institution how and when the results will be posted. Typically, results are either posted by the Embassy or the institution and they will contact you directly. After that you will consult the International Student Office of your chosen university online or in some cases the embassy can forward the application itself. The university will send an email and ask for enrolment documents. The enrolment and merit requirements can be different according to your degree program about which you can take information from the Italian University you have chosen for admission.
Admission Requirements for Italy’s student Visa
There are bachelor’s degree courses and master’s degree courses for international students in Italian universities.
Admission Requirements for Bachelor’s degree course:
Bachelor’s programs with English as the medium of instruction are offered to international students. Each university can have different requirements. There are general requirements to apply for Bachelor’s degree course in Italy also called Laurea (equivalent to bachelor’s degree) program. You must hold a secondary school qualification released after a minimum of 12 years of schooling (overall). A valid school-leaving certificate means you are eligible to qualify for higher education studies in your home country. Minimum 58% marks are required for the higher secondary certificate to secure admission in Bachelors.
Admission Requirements for Master’s degree course:
Admission requirements vary for each university for master’s programs. To study for a master’s degree at an Italian university, you will need to have a relevant bachelor or equivalent degree certification. Entry test from a university (if required). Many Italian universities offer a lot of programs in English at the master’s level. IELTS or TOEFL is not compulsory for a master’s degree in Italy. If your previous studies were not in English, you need English language tests like TOEFL or IELTS.
Documents Required for Italy’s Student Visa
These are general documents; you need to submit to get admission to a university for study in Italy. There can be additional documents for your application process, we recommend always doublechecking the university website to get information.
Visa Application Form
Two recent passport-size photographs.
Passport & CV & Motivation Letter
Work Experience (if any).
Two Reference Letters. From Teachers or previous Employers.
IELTS or TOFEL
English Proficiency Letter if previous studies are in English.
Acceptance letter of the concerned Italian University/Institute.
Proof of personal financial means or family resources.
Proof of accommodation near the university
Travel Insurance Policy, valid for all countries in the Schengen States.
I would like to hear from you: What are your thoughts on this subject. You can share your thoughts and experiences with me and others in the comments section below!
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Once you are resident in Italy, you should inform the original authorities each time you move.
Under Italian law, anyone who plans to stay permanently should register as an occupant within three months of moving in. That involves informing the local authorities i.e. your comune of your sanctioned address in Italy, and if you move, you’ll need to let them know.
Thankfully, changing your residential address within Italy isn’t too complicated and in many instances you can actually do it online when applicable.
Why do you have to register a change of address?
Where you’re registered as a resident determines where you can get some important services in Italy. Specially, if you subscribe for the public healthcare services. You’ll be assigned to the original health authority nearest your address and registered with a GP or medico base in the same quarter where you live.
You’ll also have to deal with whichever civil registry office, duty office, department of motor vehicles and so on and so forth, that is closest to your registered address. So registering your new address makes the biggest difference if you’re moving from one region to another, but indeed if you’re moving within the same region, it can still save you a trip across the city.
You might not be allowed to situate your auto for free or drive in certain areas unless you’re a registered occupant of your city. And there are also duty counteraccusations depending on what kind of property you’re registered as living in, and with whom. Not to mention that, especially if you’re a foreign national in Italy dealing with immigration procedures, you’ll want to be sure that all your paperwork is in order and sanctioned correspondence goes to the correct address.
How do you change your address in Italy?
First, the good news is, if you’ve formerly been through the process of transferring your occupancy to Italy from overseas, it gets a lot easier from then on out. You won’t have to prove you have the means to support yourself or access healthcare each over again.
Rather, you just need to show that you do live at your new address. That involves registering with the anagrafe (civil registry office) of the comune nearest to you in the city you’re moving to.
What documents do you need?
You’ll have to fill in a protestation of occupancy (‘dichiarazione di residenza‘), which you should be suitable to find on your comune ‘s website.
It may be the same form as the one you filled in the first time you registered your occupancy in Italy, but this time you’ll tick the option transfer of occupancy from a different region or change of address within the same city.
For evidence of address, you’ll need one of the following
Deeds in your name showing you enjoy the property.
Residency agreement showing you’re renting the property.
Written concurrence from the proprietor stating that you have their authorization to live there, inked and accompanied by a duplicate of their ID
On top of that, you’ll need these documents to prove your identity
For EU citizens, passport or Italian ID card.
For non-EU citizens, passport and residence permit.
Identity Card.
Still, you should also show your motorist’s license and vehicle enrolment documents – but only if they were issued in Italy, If you enjoy a vehicle.
Still, you can switch everyone’s address at the same time, If you’re moving with family members. Complete one operation at the same time, making sure to list each member and include photocopies of their ID and residence permit. If you’re moving in with someone differently formerly registered at your new address, they’ll need to give written concurrence. You should also make a duplicate of their ID.
Where I can make the request?
You can submit your form and all your supporting documents to the registry office in your new comune. Numerous municipal authorities allow you to do so via dispatch, with your documents as scrutinized attachments. Check your cumune’s website for the right dispatch address (look for one specifically for occupancy requests, if possible).
Some cumune indeed have web doors, allowing you to complete the whole process online. You may be required to have a digital ID (SPID) or electronic ID card (CIE) to register. Alternately, it may be suitable to submit your request by fax or registered post.
What happens next?
Your change of listed address is supposed to take effect within two working days of your anagrafe (civil registry) entering the request. After this point, you should be suitable to request for a document showing that you have requested a change of address.
But the change isn’t officially verified until your documents have been vindicated, and the local police have come to your new address to check if you’re living there (so make sure you put your name on the doorbell and/ or mailbox).
They’re supposed to do so within 45 days of your request. However, you can assume that your enrolment has been accepted, If you haven’t heard anything after that. These timelines are subject to detainments still, especially at the moment. External services may have reduced hours and considerable backlogs after the closures of the last 12 months, so anticipate regulatory procedures to take indeed longer than usual.
I would like to hear from you: What are your thoughts on this subject. You can share your thoughts and experiences with me and others in the comments section below!
It is hard to continue writing post like this without contributions from readers like you. If you enjoyed reading this and find it useful, please would you consider to make a donation of $2 or more, which is the price of your coffee! Your donation will help encourage and support us to continue on our work to support migrants with free educative post and trainings who can not afford subscriptions to get much needed information. Anyone can support us even YOU. Kindly support us today, it takes a few seconds, just click HERE to donate. Thank you!
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Buying a property in Italy only takes about six months
Considering moving to Italy to buy a house? It’s easy to see why, as this country of wonderful food and wine, vibrant culture and romantic scenery has many alluring attractions.
Whether you’re thinking of buying property in Rome, Milan, Naples, or anywhere in between, you’re likely to be greeted with a plethora of housing styles, ages, and levels of upkeep.
In Italy, over 70% of people own their homes, a statistic maintained by a culture of passing property down to family members. Plus, high rent prices in some areas can make buying more attractive, as the investment is quickly paid off and you can potentially use property to earn an income.
There’s a lot to work out when you start thinking about buying in Italy, so it’s worth sitting down and working out the smaller details, as well as big picture topics like where you will live and what type of property you should buy.
There’s a lot to work out when you start thinking about buying in Italy, so it’s worth sitting down and working out the smaller details.
Things to consider
To kick things off, five key questions are worth asking yourself as they will help you to direct your property search
Why are you buying?
Putting your thoughts into words can help crystallize what you want out of your move, so think about your motivation for buying in Italy. Is it enjoying better weather? Somewhere to have the family for holidays? A sound rental investment? Perhaps you want to ditch the 9-5 life and open a guest house? Or, maybe you just don’t want to regret not having tried moving abroad later in life
How will your property be used?
Think about what you want and need from your home as it could impact where and what type of property you opt for in Italy. Do you want to be able to pop over on the weekends? If so, you’ll want a nearby airport. Would you like somewhere for investment, then holidays and eventually retirement? You’ll need somewhere that’s easy to maintain and in an area with strong yields. Should you like the idea of staying a while yourself then letting out your property, you will need a region that has appeal for tourists.
What must your home have?
What are your absolute must-haves? Think about what features or practicalities your new Italian home needs to meet your needs, as this will immediately help you narrow down your property search — they’ll also help your estate agent.
For example
How many bedrooms or bathrooms do you need?
Would you rather have a local beach or a pool? Or both?
What about the style – traditional or bright and modern?
Do you need outdoor space, like a terrace or garden?
What don’t you need or want?
It can be quite liberating to write up what you don’t want! Similar to the “must-haves”, listing the no-noes for any potential property can help you to avoid wasted time in research and viewings. Again, they’ll help out any estate agent a whole lot, too.
What’s your budget?
You can’t plan without knowing how much you can afford. Right from the off, make sure you have a realistic idea of your budget. Doing so will ensure you do not begin searching for a property in Italy, find one you love, then realize you can’t afford it at a crucial later stage
What isthe purchase process?
Did you know that the process of buying a property in Italy only takes six months? This means that you may be able to purchase your dream home sooner than you think.
But first, you must begin to assemble your team of moving professionals, including an estate agent or realtor, notary, solicitor, and currency specialist. You may also wish to contact a mortgage adviser and financial adviser. These are the people who will ensure things run smoothly.
The realtor
A Realtor is a licensed real estate agent or broker who acts as an agent for the sale and purchase of buildings and land. If you’re a foreigner who doesn’t speak Italian but has decided to buy a house in Italy, you’ll likely need to contact a realtor (or more than one) who speaks English. Or — if you’re lucky —you can find a realtor who speaks your native language.
The notary
At this point, once you’ve found the home you want to buy, it’s a good idea to choose the notary who will close the deal on your property purchase. In Italy, when you buy a house, you must have a notary. It is the notary who seals the purchase contract. More specifically, a notary is a public official. Essentially, they are a lawyer who specializes in public deeds.
The notary does the legal checks, writes the final deed (and possibly the preliminary agreement as well), and has the escrow bank account to receive the money necessary to pay for the house and the taxes, pays the transfer taxes to the government, and registers the deed to the Revenue Agency.
In other words, it’s the notary who seals the final deed. Without a notary, it’s simply not possible to buy a house in Italy. You might need the help of a lawyer only if you have a very complicated purchase. In this case, you might hire a lawyer to undertake checks that are not overseen by notaries. Or, you might want to hire a lawyer if you are buying a house without the help of a licensed realtor or if, for some reason, you don’t trust your realtor.
What documents does a house need to be sold?
The realtor will conduct the price negotiation between you and the seller. Then, once a price is agreed upon, they will provide the notary with all of the necessary documents related to the house. For the most part, there are five documents that the notary will require:
ownership titles of the house
Floor plan of the house
cadastral document of the house
energy certificate
Building permits if the house was built after September 1967
Seller(s) and buyer(s) identification documents: Passports and tax codes (your realtor will provide you with a tax code for free if you do not already have; the process does not take long)
Furthermore, they don’t want to waste their own time (or the client’s time) starting negotiation on a property that can’t be sold. Therefore, a good realtor has previously seen the documents of the houses they’re advertising, and they know that these properties can be legally sold.
The purchase proposal
A purchase proposal is a contract where the realtor communicates in writing to the seller your intention to buy the property at a certain price and within a certain amount of time. The purchase proposal is not binding until both parties have signed it. The primary goal of the purchase proposal is to allow time to perform some preliminary due diligence and ensure that the seller won’t attempt to sell the property to anyone else until a certain date.
The preliminary agreement
The second step of the purchase process is the preliminary agreement. Once you have your verbal or written offer accepted, you’ve obtained a satisfactory survey, the notary has checked all house documents and provided a final estimate, you have all your funds in order, and you’re ready to buy, this is when you’ll proceed with the preliminary contract. The preliminary contract states all of the official data about the property, including the agreed upon price, the closing date, the deposit amount, existing mortgages, what’s included (furnishings and fixtures), and any other contractual points that need to be addressed or fulfilled.
Final deed of sale
At this point, when the preliminary agreement has been signed and the deposit paid, the notary will start to write the final deed. The signing of the final deed is the last step in the purchase process. It must be signed at the notary office in front of the notary. If you do not plan on being present during the closing, then you should give someone power of attorney to sign on your behalf. This person can be your realtor, an assistant to the notary, a friend, or anyone else in Italy you trust. If you plan to be present at the closing but you’re not fluent in Italian, you’ll still need to give power of attorney to someone who speaks Italian so that they can act on your behalf. Otherwise, if the notary allows it, you may appoint a translator to translate the title deed into English, which will allow you to sign the document. In this case, the translator must be present during the signing to act as an interpreter. Keep in mind that not all notaries will consent to this; therefore, always be sure to ask your notary what their particular policies are. Without a doubt, it is to your advantage to find a notary who speaks English. Not only will this allow you to ask any questions you have directly to the notary, but you also won’t need to hire an interpreter or translator. Moreover, your notary will be able to explain every step of the final signing to you as you close the purchase of your new property.
Do you need an Italian Bank to buy a house?
No. It is not necessary to have an Italian bank account to buy a house in Italy. Your notary can hold your funds in an escrow account and make payments to the seller as needed. With that said, you will certainly want to establish an Italian bank account eventually so that you can more easily pay utilities and other expenses associated with maintaining your property.
Taxes and Fees to buy a House
On top of the price of the house, you’ll have to pay extra taxes and fees. The taxes you’ll need to pay to include:
Land registry tax
Cadastral tax
Registration tax or stamp duty tax
Keep in mind that if you’re purchasing your home to be the main residency, this will be stated by the notary on your deed of sale. From this point on (the signing date), you will then have 18 months to apply for your residency in the house you’ve purchased. If you fail to do this, the government will demand the additional taxes you own — plus a fine. Once you do obtain residency status, remember that you’ll need to spend a minimum of 185 days a year in the house. As a final note, if you buy a house surrounded by land (such as an olive grove, a vineyard, an orchard, or just a large garden), you have to consider that land in Italy is taxed at 19% of its cadastral value. As a result, if you buy a property with a large amount of land, be prepared to spend a higher amount of money on your registration tax.
I would like to hear from you: What are your thoughts on this subject. You can share your thoughts and experiences with me and others in the comments section below!
It is hard to continue writing post like this without contributions from readers like you. If you enjoyed reading this and find it useful, please would you consider to make a donation of $2 or more, which is the price of your coffee! Your donation will help encourage and support us to continue on our work to support migrants with free educative post and trainings who can not afford subscriptions to get much needed information. Anyone can support us even YOU. Kindly support us today, it takes a few seconds, just click HERE to donate. Thank you!
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You are considered a tax resident if you stay in Italy for 183 days or more, registered in the Office of Records of the Resident Population, work or have a main business in the country.
If you are going to be living in Italy for at least more than 183 days, it’s only natural to want to know what the tax system is like in Italy because you will be required to pay taxes. Taxation in Italy is levied by the central and regional governments and is collected by the Italian Agency of Revenue (Agenzia delle Entrate), which is the national legal authority for taxation.
The taxation system in Italy can be divided into three different types:
Direct Taxes
Indirect Taxes
Other Taxes
Please keep reading as we take you through a simple guide to know all about the tax system in Italy, the various types of taxes, and the rates that apply to you.
Direct Taxes
Under direct Taxes, we will take a look at the following:
Personal Income Tax or IRPEF(Imposta sui Redditti delle Persone Fisiche )
Personal income tax applies to salaries, pensions, interests, and dividends. It is progressive, which means the more you earn, the higher taxes you pay. These taxes are withheld monthly on the income you receive from your employer. If you are a permanent resident in Italy, you must pay taxes from income received abroad. While if you are a foreigner working and residing in Italy, you must pay taxes only on income you receive.
If you are a permanent resident in Italy, you must pay taxes from income received abroad.
Italy has several double taxation avoidance agreements in place with several other countries. It will be important to check if it applies to your specific situation. Useful information on double taxation can also be found in the Italian Revenue Agency web page dedicated to foreign citizens moving or already working and/or living in Italy
Rates are set annually by the government. Below are the current tax brackets in Italy:
Income EUR
Income USD
Tax Rate
1—15,000
1—1,650
23%
15,000—28,000
16,500—30,800
27%
28,000—55,000
30,800—60,500
38%
55,000—75,000
60,500—82,500
41%
Over 75,000
Over 82,500
43%
Besides these rates, which are established nationally, you have to pay regional taxes and municipal taxes on your income . These regional taxes are progressive as well and can go from 1.23% to 3.33%, depending on your income level. Municipal taxes range from zero to 0.9% depending on where you are residing.
Corporate Income Tax :IRPEG or IRES ( Imposta sur Redditi delle Persone Giuridiche )
Simply put, corporate income tax is the tax paid on the Income of limited liability and joint-stock companies – SRL or SpA. From 1 January 2004, the Irpeg was replaced by the IRES , in order to regulate the tax regime of capital and companies following the model prevailing in the member countries of the European Union .
Regional Tax: IRAP ( Imposte Regionale sulle Attività Produttive )
This is a business tax paid by production activity carried out in each region by companies and entities, including state bodies and administrations provided that there is a habitual exercise of an autonomously organized activity aimed at the production or exchange of goods or the provision of services.
The ordinary IRAP rate applied to the value of net production is 3.9%.
INDIRECT TAXES
Under indirect Taxes, we will take a look at the following:
Value Added Tax: VAT OR IVA
This is a consumption tax that applies to supply of goods and services and imported goods carried out in Italy. The standard VAT rate is 22%. however, some goods and services expressly listed in Presidential Decree n. 633/72 are exempt from VAT, for example education, insurance services, specific financial services, supply, leasing of particular immovable property.
In other cases, reduced rates are provided for several supplies of goods and services, such as 4% for listed food, drinks and agricultural products or 10% for electric power supplies for listed uses and listed drugs
Registration Tax(Imposta di Registro )
This is a tax required by the state for the registration of certain acts which affects transfers of wealth , for example, buying a house. The Register is kept at a specific Office of the Revenue Agency and lists all the deeds subject to registration in chronological order.
Mortgage and Land Registration ( Imposte Ipotecarie e Catastali )
The mortgage tax is paid when mortgages or real rights of use are established.Mortgage tax is payable at 2% of the secured amount (further 0.5% is due in case of deletion of the mortgage).
The land registry tax or in Italian “imposta catastale” is a fixed fee that varies from 50€ (if you purchase a house from a private seller) to 200€ (if you purchase the house from a registered company in Italy). This is due in order to change the ownership of the property in the cadastral lists.
Revenue Stamps (Imposta di Bollo)
The stamp duty is a tax of variable amount applied to the production, request or presentation of certain documents. The stamp duty can be proportional or fixed: for example, for promissory notes it is equal to eleven per thousand, for bills drawn it is equal to twelve per thousand, for appeals it is equal to 16 euros, for applications presented to the Register of Companies by joint-stock companies it is equal to 65 euros, for applications submitted to the Register of Companies by partnerships it is equal to 59 euros, for deeds authenticated by notaries it is equal to 230 euros, and so on.
Excise Duties (Accise o Imposte di Fabbricazione e consumo)
This is a tax on the manufacture , sale and sometimes of some particular imported consumer goods like energy products (including fuels and heating fuels), alcoholic products, manufactured tobacco and electricity and weighs on quantity rather than price. In Italy , in items of expenditure (eg in bills ) the duty is often replaced with “consumption tax” or “tax production ” or “tax revenue “. Excise duty constitutes an important financial instrument for the State that can also be effectively used for extra-tax purposes. In Italy, the management of excise duties is handled by the Customs and Monopolies Agency .
OTHER TAXES
There are other taxes payable to central, regional, provincial or local governments. These are usually paid once a year.
Car Tax (Bollo Auto), which includes the tax on your car radio and the stamp duty on your Italian driving license
Motorbike Tax (Bollo Moto)
Scooter Tax (Bollo Motorino)
TV Tax(Canone RAI)
Garbage Tax (Tassa Rifiuti)
Municipal Property Tax (Imposta Comunale Sugli Immobili- ICI)
I would like to hear from you: What are your thoughts on this subject. You can share your thoughts and experiences with me and others in the comments section below!
It is hard to continue writing post like this without contributions from readers like you. If you enjoyed reading this and find it useful, please would you consider to make a donation of $2 or more, which is the price of your coffee! Your donation will help encourage and support us to continue on our work to support migrants with free educative post and trainings who can not afford subscriptions to get much needed information. Anyone can support us even YOU. Kindly support us today, it takes a few seconds, just click HERE to donate. Thank you!
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PLUS, you’ll get instant free E-Book on staying in Italy legally, delivered to your email! This E-Book is guaranteed to help you to be informed of the existing rules to live a better life and to co-exist better with Italians. It only takes a few seconds!
Opening a bank account offers you a lot of benefits, besides the fact that it offers safety for your money
Whether you are a resident or non resident , you will need a bank account in Italy to make your financial transactions go smoothly while here. Opening a bank account offers you a lot of benefits, besides the fact that it offers safety for your money, having an account in Italy will allow you to set up direct debits and standing orders to help you pay all of your monthly utilities, and will make withdrawing money for day to day costs far easier. Plus if you ever need a credit, you can access one because you have an account.
Italy has an abundance of banks with a long history dating as far back as during the Roman Empire. The world oldest bank Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena is located in Italy and has been operating continuously since 1472. Italy has a thriving banking sector with national chains, hundreds of branches, and thousands of ATMs spread around the country.
What kind of Banks Can I Find in Italy?
There are three basic kinds of banks you will find in Italy.
In Italy, there are two postal Service: Poste Italiane and BancoPosta. They offer banking services while also functioning as a post office. Banca Sella with HYPE, or N26 allows you to open an account entirely online.
How Can I Choose the Best Bank?
The choice of a bank depends on your specific needs. If you need a bank account in which you can receive and transfer money locally, pay bills and withdraw money for your day to day expenses, then you will need to pay attention to different bank interest rates and banking fees, as well as customer satisfaction rates. Also, it is important to look more closely at the account opening process and the documentation they will need. When you begin your search for a bank provider it is also worthwhile asking friends, colleagues and neighbors for their recommendations and it is crucial that you choose a bank that offers reasonable fees, particularly for international money transfers and a bank that has a branch near to where you are located or has branches all over the country with easy accessibility of ATM machines.
What are the types of Bank Accounts in Italy?
There are two main types of bank account in Italy: Personal and Corporate account.
Personal account
This is the type of bank account for your normal day to day transactions. You have the resident account if you have a residence in Italy and a non resident account if you do not have a residence in Italy.
The different types of resident bank accounts includes:
Conto Corrente (current account)– a basic account for your daily transactions, payments, and operations
Conto di risparmio (savings account) – this is for your savings, on which you can earn a little bit more interest.
Conto di deposito (deposit account) – this is a less flexible type of savings account that might offer a higher rate of interest
Conto corrente cointestato (joint account) – this is a current account that you share with someone else
As a non-resident, you can open a basic current account called conto corrente non residenti. It’s worth noting that these non-resident accounts typically entertain higher interest rates.
As a non-resident, you can open a basic current account called conto corrente non residenti. It’s worth noting that these non-resident accounts typically entertain higher interest rates.
Corporate Account
The process itself is more or less the same, but the corporate account will require documents, listed below, that are not necessary for the personal account:
Company director’s passport
Company director’s proof of address
Tax number (codice fiscale)
Company’s registration certificate
Company’s certificate of good standing
Statements of the financial status of all shareholders with more than a 20% stake in the company
What are the Requirements for Opening an Account?
The basic requirement is that you should be at least 18 years old to open your own account and preferably, but not necessarily to be resident in Italy.
What are the documents needed to Open Personal Account?
The following documents will be needed:
Passport
Tax number (Codice Fiscale)
Proof of address (usually as a utility bill)
Proof of employment or a residence permit.
Proof that you’re studying, if you’re a student
Do I need to pay money to Open an Account?
It is very important to find out what fees and charges that are associated with the type of account you intend to have. Some banks impose different amount of fees for maintenance, withdrawal, transaction and both local and international transfers. Try to find an account where the charges works in your favor – for example, it could be in your interest to get an account that doesn’t charge so much for withdrawing cash.
When Do Banks Open in Italy?
Italian banks tend to be open on Monday to Friday from 08:30 – 13:30, and then 15:00 – 16:00. Some of the bigger banks do open on Saturday’s but usually only in the major cities, and between 09:00 and Midday.
Do I get a Cheque Book When I Open an Account?
Most banks would offer you a cheque book for most of the bank accounts offered by the bank on request with or without an extra cost incurred by the account holder. It is very important to be aware that is it illegal to bounce cheques in Italy. If your cheques do bounce, you can be banned from holding a bank account and prosecuted.
An overdraft account is an easy way to navigate this scenario. Although you would end up paying more in the long run as banks in Italy typically charge hefty interest rates and other extra fees on overdrawn accounts.
Can I Close my Bank Account?
This could happen for any reason. It’s best to review your contract carefully when initially opening the account to see how difficult it will be or if there will be any fees involved. You will need to send a registered letter –raccomandata, from the post office to the branch of the bank where your account is before appearing in person. If you have a joint account, then all those attached to the account will have to provide signatures.
I would like to hear from you: What are your thoughts on this subject. You can share your thoughts and experiences with me and others in the comments section below!
It is hard to continue writing post like this without contributions from readers like you. If you enjoyed reading this and find it useful, please would you consider to make a donation of $2 or more, which is the price of your coffee! Your donation will help encourage and support us to continue on our work to support migrants with free educative post and trainings who can not afford subscriptions to get much needed information. Anyone can support us even YOU. Kindly support us today, it takes a few seconds, just click HERE to donate. Thank you!
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This is so important to access the online services of the Public Administration portals in Italy
What is SPID?
SPID is an acronym that stands for Public Digital Identity System.SPID is a simple, safe and fast authentication system that allows citizens and businesses to access the online services of local and central administrations, public bodies, agencies, and private individuals with a unique digital identity. This digital identify consist of a username and password given to the user which can be used to access online services of Public Administration portals like INPS(National Institute for Social Security), Agenzia delle Entrate (National Revenue Agency), MIUR (Ministry of Education, University, and Research), INAIL (National Institute for Insurance Against Labor Accidents) in Italy wherever you are and from your computer, tablet or smartphones.
SPID is an acronym that stands for Public Digital Identity System.SPID is a simple, safe and fast authentication system that allows citizens and businesses to access the online services of local and central administrations, public bodies, agencies, and private individuals with a unique digital identity
What is SPID used for?
SPID can be used to access INAIL services (INAI), payment services, payment control, taxes and duties(PAGA ), services for families(FAMI), various INPS bonuses, health bookings, school enrollments, access to the public wi-fi network, teacher card, 18APP, sending and requesting documents and much more.
How secure is SPID?
SPID is very safe and secure. You do not have to worry about your personal data without protection as your privacy is fully guaranteed. To log in with your SPID and access online services, click on the “Enter with SPID” button on the relevant site or app.
Where can I request for SPID
You can request for SPID by contacting one of the identity providers and register on their site. Depending on the identity providers you chose, they offer several ways in which you can request and obtain SPIDs.
These providers are:
Post Office
Tim
Register
Aruba
Sielte
Lepida
Infocert
Understanding
Namirial
Is SPID Free?
SPID is free. You do not have to be an Italian citizen before you can get one. To request it, you must have the following:
Be of legal age
valid ID document (such as an identity card, passport, or driver’s license)
Health card or tax code card
Personal email address
Mobile phone number.
How do I register for SPID
To register for SPID, you must contact one of the Identity providers and register on their site.
You need to complete the following steps to register:
Enter your personal information.
Create your SPID credentials.
Verify your identity through the methods indicated by the provider.
The verification of your identity can be done in several ways depending on the identity provider you chose. Below is a list of the several ways you can verify your identity before you can obtain your SPID:
In person, at one of the offices of your digital identity provider.
Connecting via webcam with the identity provider through an operator
Using a video recording, combined with the bank transfer of a specific sum as an additional security measure.
Using an Electronic Identity Card (CIE) or electronic passport on the provider’s app.
Using an Electronic Identity Card (CIE), health card or digital signature through a USB token or smart card and the relevant PIN code.
Once verified, your SPID will be activated, and you’ll be able to use it to access public services online.
I would like to hear from you: What are your thoughts on this subject. You can share your thoughts and experiences with me and others in the comments section below!
It is hard to continue writing post like this without contributions from readers like you. If you enjoyed reading this and find it useful, please would you consider to make a donation of $2 or more, which is the price of your coffee! Your donation will help encourage and support us to continue on our work to support migrants with free educative post and trainings who can not afford subscriptions to get much needed information. Anyone can support us even YOU. Kindly support us today, it takes a few seconds, just click HERE to donate. Thank you!
SIGN UPto the MigrantDigest newsletter & receive updates & tips on news, jobs, finance, entertainment and free trainings.
PLUS, you’ll get instant free E-Book on staying in Italy legally, delivered to your email! This E-Book is guaranteed to help you to be informed of the existing rules to live a better life and to co-exist better with Italians. It only takes a few seconds!
It is no secret that most of these refugees go through torture and unimaginable hell in detention camps in Libya and crossing the mediterranean sea to arrive Italy.
Accepting refugees and asylum seekers into the EU or any Western country for that matter has been a long debate. With cost of welfare and other social, cultural and environmental issues cited as a problem for some of these countries affected by the influx of refugees, one very fundamental and important thing to deal with as been neglected over time.
What could this be? The psychological and physical health of refugees! It is no secret that most of these refugees go through torture and unimaginable hell in detention camps in Libya and crossing the mediterranean sea to arrive Italy. Many who survive the journey alive are left with psychological injuries to go through life with, therefore been a danger to themselves and to the society at large.
Torture is not a disease. Those that have suffered it must have the possibility to regain their own identity. We help these people to treat their physical and psychological injuries and regain hope in the future and trust in others
This is why it is so important that these refugees and asylum seekers are treated of this psychological injuries and given hope for a brighter future.
To cover this gap, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the provincial healthcare authority (ASP) in the Sicilian city of Palermo have opened a clinic specializing in the rehabilitation of migrants and refugees that have suffered torture and/or acts of violence.
The services offered free of charge with the support of cultural mediators, range from psychotherapy to general and forensic medicine, from physical therapy to social and legal assistance.
Men, women, and children, including unaccompanied minors, that have suffered torture or inhumane and degrading treatment in their home countries or in their nations of destination and who are suffering repercussions on their psychological and physical health will be attended to.
“Torture, experienced by many in Libyan detention centers, leaves indelible signs. Lacking specialist assistance, the results of traumas and violence may severely affect these people’s health,” MSF psychotherapist Ester Russo, who works at the Palermo center, said.
“Torture is not a disease. Those that have suffered it must have the possibility to regain their own identity. We help these people to treat their physical and psychological injuries and regain hope in the future and trust in others.”
Palermo local health authority director Daniela Faraoni stressed that the ASP attempts to help all those suffering, noting: “the victims of intentional violence and torture will be accompanied on a path for reception, support, and treatment to enable them to take back their lives and move forward with a new spirit towards the future.”
If you are a refugee or an asylum seeker living in Italy and would like to visit the Clinic, you can contact the clinic by email: progettosiv@asppalermo.org, or by their telephone numbers: 0917035497 or 3458025855.
I would like to hear from you: What are your thoughts on this subject. You can share your thoughts and experiences with me and others in the comments section below!
It is hard to continue writing post like this without contributions from readers like you. If you enjoyed reading this and find it useful, please would you consider to make a donation of $2 or more, which is the price of your coffee! Your donation will help encourage and support us to continue on our work to support migrants with free educative post and trainings who can not afford subscriptions to get much needed information. Anyone can support us even YOU. Kindly support us today, it takes a few seconds, just click HERE to donate. Thank you!
SIGN UPto the MigrantDigest newsletter & receive updates & tips on news, jobs, finance, entertainment and free trainings.
PLUS, you’ll get instant free E-Book on staying in Italy legally, delivered to your email! This E-Book is guaranteed to help you to be informed of the existing rules to live a better life and to co-exist better with Italians. It only takes a few seconds!
Every year, many people set about to make a new year resolution and one of the most popular resolution to make is to learn a new skill. One of the new skills most people opt for is to learn a new language. Learning a new language comes with a lot of benefits. No one could have said it better than Frank Smith, who said ” One language sets you in the corridor for life, two languages open every door along the way”.
One language sets you in the corridor for life, two languages open every door along the way
If you have ever travelled abroad either for holidays, part time work or perhaps for family reunion then you would understand the importance of learning a new language as it can make your life much more fun and convenient as compared to making your life a living hell with frustration. Learning a new language as never been easier, as you can even learn from home with so many language apps like Innovative, Duolingo, Mondly , Memrise, Babbel and Rosetta Stone, online teachers on italki, and so many other language tools. However without a clear cut strategy, you may be disappointed at the end of your journey to learn a new language. In this blog post, we will take you through the 3 most important strategy to learn a new language and how to make your efforts count and bring you maximum success.
1. Be Actively Engaged
Consistent hard work is one of the biggest factors that determines someone’s success, and it’s true for language learning too. While it’s important to choose a course and study method that’s right for you, at the end of the day, the results you see are a product of the effort you put in. However the quantity of time spent studying a new language doesn’t necessarily determine the quality of your study. Spending three hours a day watching movies doesn’t help you learn much if you’re not actively engaging with the language. You might be familiar with the phrase “feel the burn” or maybe “no pain no gain.” Study hard to learn a new language like you would study for any other course you would take, and in no time you will begin to see the results.
2. Practice Active Listening
One of the easiest ways to push your language skills is to practice active listening. “Active listening” is when you listen to spoken language and do your best to understand what you hear. The best way to accomplish this is by using audio that you can’t completely understand on the first listen. Preferably, you want to use audio that has subtitles or transcripts in your target language for you to double check your understanding after you listen to it. You can use movies, YouTube clips, or lessons from italianpod101.com During this exercise, you might feel like you’re able to pick out only a few words here and there. During this practice session, you should listen to the audio several times. The first time around, it’s okay if no words or just a few words stick out to you. Simply make a mental note of any words or sounds you recognize. The second time you listen, you’re likely to recognize a little more than you did the previous time. Expect similar results with your third or even fourth time listening. When you reach a point where you can’t understand any more words, go ahead and look at the subtitles or transcripts. Listen to the audio again and read along with the text. Odds are that you’ll see words in the text you know but didn’t hear correctly. You’re also likely to encounter words that are new to you completely. As you play back the audio and read along, try to guess what these words mean from the context of the words around them. After you’ve read along a couple of times, look up the unfamiliar words in a dictionary or translator app. This active listening exercise routine is a great way to increase your listening and comprehension skills (while picking up some new vocabulary along the way). It also allows you to learn new words in context, which itself is a powerful way to help you retain what you studied.
3. Practice with Native Speakers
Practicing with native speakers is the best way to push your language skills. Using what you’ve studied to communicate in real time is how you’ll really challenge yourself. Try to connect with a native speaker on a weekly basis. Remember, consistency is important when you’re learning a foreign language. If you live in a large metropolitan area, then there’s a chance that there are some local native speakers nearby. Try visiting a local language exchange or meetup group to make the necessary connections. If you’re unable to find a practice partner locally, then you can take your search online. There are a number of sites that help you find and connect with other language learners from around the world. For example, if you’re a native English speaker learning a new language, you can find a native speaker of your target language who is learning English. There are tons of language learners around the world who have learned or are learning a second language. You’re likely to find someone who knows your target language and is looking to improve his or her English. Learning a new language isn’t always easy, but it’s the discomfort that comes with pushing your ability in the language that produces results in your studies. Don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. It’s okay to move far outside of your native language! You’ll expand your mind and your skills. Also, remember that language learning is in every way, a lot like an adventure. There will be fun times and times when it feels like you’re swimming upstream. It’s by keeping your head up through these ups and downs that you will experience the satisfaction that comes with learning a foreign language. Just keep moving ahead!
I would like to hear from you: What are your thoughts on this subject. You can share your thoughts and experiences with me and others in the comments section below!
It is hard to continue writing post like this without contributions from readers like you. If you enjoyed reading this and find it useful, please would you consider to make a donation of $2 or more, which is the price of your coffee! Your donation will help encourage and support us to continue on our work to support migrants with free educative post and trainings who can not afford subscriptions to get much needed information. Anyone can support us even YOU. Kindly support us today, it takes a few seconds, just click HERE to donate. Thank you!
SIGN UPto the MigrantDigest newsletter & receive updates & tips on news, jobs, finance, entertainment and free trainings.
PLUS, you’ll get instant free E-Book on staying in Italy legally, delivered to your email! This E-Book is guaranteed to help you to be informed of the existing rules to live a better life and to co-exist better with Italians. It only takes a few seconds!
Do you ever just sit down and worry about the constant rejection from employers? Have you ever wondered what are the important tip to consider for a perfect European CV? If you fall under this category, take a deep breath, relax and read this;
Writing an European CV could be tiring, but it’s also another thing to construct your CV in a way that your employer is in awe of your experience, use of language, and mostly the format and style used in writing your CV.
Studying and working in European countries is a major desire for many, both national and international alike, but this privilege comes with a lot of requirements and criteria. Thus this channels our mind to the important tips of a good European Curriculum Vitae (CV).
Before we take a look at the most important tips to look out for a perfect CV, it is important to bear in mind that despite the fact that employers look for the same qualities in applicants, different CV format and style exist within the various countries in Europe. So, it is important to pay attention to what entails in the country you intend to send your application.
it is important to bear in mind that despite the fact that employers look for the same qualities in applicants, different CV format and style exist within the various countries in Europe
In writing a European CV, the following must be paramount;
Table of Contents
1. Adapt your CV to the Europass template
The Europass CV is one of the widely used CV format in Europe. It is easy-to-use and familiar to employers and education institutions. With this template, you are been guided to fill up the necessary information such as your skills, educational background, training and work experience. It is as easy as it goes!
2. Language
After you have chosen your template, the next thing that should be duly considered, is the language in which to write your CV. Special attention should be paid to the language in which the employer wants. When applying for a job in an English speaking country like the US or UK, your CV must obviously be in English. If you are applying to non English speaking country in Europe like Italy, Spain, and France etc., it should be in the language of the country. However, if you are applying for an international role (E.g. consulting, supply chain…) in an American or British company located in Europe , sending your CV in English is generally well perceived. Some countries in Europe such as Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Switzerland and Scandinavia, often accept their CVs in English as well.
However, if you are applying for an international role (E.G. CONSULTING, SUPPLY CHAIN…) in an American or British company located in Europe , sending your CV in English is generally well perceived.
3. Profile or Objective.
When writing your CV, in UK or in America for example, your profile or objective usually comes first and it’s detailed with some highlights about your background and goals. It is an introduction about you and aims in a few lines. While writing the objectives, it is advisable to use friendly keywords to seek the attention of your employers. However, this may not be applicable in most European countries. For example in Italy, you are required to put your name as the title while in France it is common to state the role you are applying for.
4. Photograph.
Most European Countries like Italy, France, and Germany etc. always like their applicants to insert a small-sized passport photograph at the top right hand corner of their CV. whereas in the UK and in the US, this is unattainable because of legislative laws of equal opportunities for every applicant. It can be argued that by just looking at your picture, applicant could be subjected to unintentional bias from your would be employer. I would say this is something you should least worry about as every applicant in European countries are treated fairly. With that said, if you are adding a photo, just ensure it is a nice looking photo of you.
5. Personal Details
In some European countries like Italy, Spain etc. you are required to give valuable information about yourself. Information such as your date of birth, marital status, nationality, marital status, and number of kids are sometimes required. However, the most important message to provide are your right residential address, mobile number, email, and website should not be omitted in a CV. It is often advisable to go through your CV and deliberately ensuring you kept the right address and telephone number because that is the only way the company can reach out to you.
6. Work Experience
In this section, you are to list the companies and organizations you’ve worked with starting from the most recent one, positions held, and the year you started work and ended. While detailing your work experience, you should always use powerful verbs to emphasize your previous roles in the Organization by using words like organized, planned... and ensure you relate them to the new job you are applying for to gain favor in the company you’re sending your application to. For example, even working in a shop or a restaurant involves working in a team, providing quality service to customers and dealing with complaints.
7. Educational Background
This is considered to be one of the most important parts of your CV. In European countries like France or Germany, Education comes first in a CV. Your education background hints at the employer an idea of your education, qualifications, and date. Your educational background should include your academic result for both college and post-graduate alongside the name of the institutions.
8. Key Skills
Your key skills are a necessity and very important so make them sound powerful while writing your CV. Your key skills should entail what you are capable of doing and also mirror on areas you’ve added value. You should have at least three to five skills in bullet points.
9. Achievements
As they say, CV is a document to market you. So are your achievements. You can show off your accomplishments using strong adjectives such as “excellent writing skills”. Proof of your accomplishment includes copies of your educational certificates, certificates from different fields or competitions you partook in are usually requested for, and can be presented at the interview stage.
10. Number of pages
The number of pages of an European CV depends on what is attainable in the country you are applying. For example in the UK it is best to have a 2 pages CV. In France you might need to stick to one page. Whereas in Greece, the more the better with 3 to 5 pages allowed.
In conclusion, having mention ten important tips to consider for a perfect European CV, here are a few more to consider:
Do not use dull colors and too many colors for your CV
Do away with ambiguous words as your CV must be clear and easy to read
Keep your CV updated.
The perfect European CV is attainable by following the relevant steps in scripting it down. Each step stated above is a major key in getting not just a good, but a Perfect CV, from adapting your CV to Europass template down to determining the number of pages, are sacrosanct to a CV. Wishing you the best of luck in your next dream job!
I would like to hear from you: What are your thoughts on this subject. You can share your thoughts and experiences with me and others in the comments section below!
It is hard to continue writing post like this without contributions from readers like you. If you enjoyed reading this and find it useful, please would you consider to make a donation of $2 or more, which is the price of your coffee! Your donation will help encourage and support us to continue on our work to support migrants with free educative post and trainings who can not afford subscriptions to get much needed information. Anyone can support us even YOU. Kindly support us today, it takes a few seconds, just click HERE to donate. Thank you!
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Over the years, relocating to European countries has been a dream for a lot of people especially if your reasons are for job or career, business, adventure, starting a new life, family reunion or whatsoever your reasons might be. But if your reason is a search for job, I can assure you, you are not alone. Thousands of people move each year to European countries for better jobs and opportunities. Who wouldn’t do that if you had the opportunity to do so, we all want a better life, right!
Finding a job can be a really difficult exercise most especially if you are planning to relocate to Europe in search of a new job. With the right map in your hand and with a good guide, you are sure of finding that hidden treasure or whatever it is you are looking for.
There are multiple job opportunities available for foreigners in European countries. Most popular job categories are accounting, administrative and clerical, banking, cleaning and housekeeping, construction, engineering, customer service, health, medical and fitness, human resource, hospitality and leisure, manufacturing, sales, marketing, supply chain and warehousing. Anyone who is an expert in these fields or with a professional experience or skill can make a sound income from the opportunities available.
Anyone who is an expert in these fields or with a professional experience or skill can make a sound income from the opportunities available.
As vast as Europe could be, one thing that must be duly considered before relocating is the availability of jobs in the country you intend to relocate to. With the right information in hand, you can make the best choice of the European country that meets your needs and desires. This blog post hopes to give you a general insight of the ten European countries with the easiest access to jobs. However, further enquires may be needed on your part to make a decision about your dream European country of your choice.
Now, let us get into it and discover the countries you can get jobs easily in Europe without hassle;
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MALTA
If you’re looking for the easiest country in Europe to get a job in, I think it’s safe to say that you’ve made the right decision if Malta is at the top of your list. It is a great place to be and living in Malta is very much affordable. It helps that the cost of living remains one of the lowest in Europe, with groceries, furniture and utilities amongst the cheapest in the EU. It currently has the highest employment rate in Europe. Nevertheless, it is known for its Pretty Island and mind-blowing architectural sites.
GERMANY
Talking of great countries in Europe to get a job, never forget to mention Germany. Germany offers better job opportunities to foreigners in almost every sector. Whether its management, engineering, agriculture, medical sector, or IT fields as far as you have the right qualifications and knowing how to speak German will give you more access to work due to fact that German is their official language. It has ranked steadily at the top of the list for years and it is no news that Germany currently has 1.2 million job vacancies. Asides from the low unemployment rate, the advantages of working in Germany include the provision of job security to hard-working employees, fewer working hours, affordable housing, entitlement to lost earnings, and a lot more.
SPAIN
Looking for another great country in Europe? Look out for Spain! Apart from its beauty and incredibly relaxing spots, Spain has a whole lot to offer such as reasonable living costs, great health care, a great automotive industry, and housing. Like every other country, you have to get your passport ready and all the necessary credentials before deciding to work in Spain. Fluency in Spanish will grant you more access to be employed in several business organizations.
NETHERLANDS
One of the easiest countries to find a job in Europe is the Netherlands and that’s because its unemployment rate is about 2.98%. According to the World Economic Forum, Netherland tops the best place to earn a living. It’s really so fascinating in a country whose unemployment rate is quite low. Asides from being fluent in Dutch, no worries, you can still get a job due to the fact that many international companies accept English speakers. There are a lot of advantages that come with working which include healthcare, car, work-life balance and it is a country that has one of the highest life expectancies.
NORWAY
When it comes to the most successful country in Europe, pick Norway! That’s because Norway has a thriving economy. If you choose to work there, you’ll be in good company and that is because it has the best work balance. What’s there not to love? From its rich economy to its advanced technology. The good news is that a lot of Norwegians speak English, so if you’re looking for a country in Europe to get a job in, Norway should be among your top pick considering that its unemployment rate is only 3.3%.
SWITZERLAND
Considering a fat salary? Switzerland got you! Switzerland has the third-highest salary and job security in Europe which is why the unemployment rate is very low. It is a country to look out for when in search of job opportunities. Most jobs in Switzerland are often flexible and that’s because the country offers excellent balance with a healthy lifestyle.
FRANCE
A popular French proverb, ‘‘Qui n’ance pas, recule’’ is translated as ‘‘who does not move forward, recedes’’ meaning advancement. So is France, France never recedes. Although it’s one of the most popular countries in the world known for its great beauty and aesthetics. France might be the busiest country in the continent, but nevertheless, finding a job in France can be said to be easy, with the advent of the internet, job seekers have higher chances of coming across vacancies in firms and business places.
Networking has helped a lot of people in the world and with exquisite tourist centers in France it allows a wide range of people to come together in a particular location thus which serves as a great edge to job seekers. A point to note is people in France are hard workers, thus the industries and availability of jobs are strong as compared to other countries of the world. Lastly, finding a job in France not only boost your confidence and put a meal on your table but you get satisfaction in your career and it exposes you to a different aspect of life, plus you get to eat good meals and hear their beautiful accent daily. J’aime le francais .
IRELAND
Getting a job in Ireland is more stress-free than you probably thought. A lot of companies in Ireland embrace foreigners and one thing you need to know is that Ireland is very accessible whether you’re a student trying to balance school and work or a graduate trying to build a career, relax! Ireland is actually looking for workers. The country has made it easy for foreigners who want to work there temporarily so Ireland is a great pick if you’re anxiously in search of a job in Europe.
GREECE
How cool would it be to work in Greece? I mean from working with very friendly people to eating delicious food and looking at beautiful island and its historical landmark. You’ll definitely fall in love with the people of Greece! Asides from the fun of living and working in Greece comes better opportunities which are there
POLAND
Poland is actually one of Europe’s best. It is a large country endowed with a successful economic system. Asides from the cost of living which is shockingly low, Poland offers job employment to foreigners. Little wonder its unemployment rates fall at 3.04%. To be comfortable in a country like Poland, you have to work in order to enjoy the country. Speaking of co-workers, they are extremely passionate and always ready to help visitors. Working in Poland is much more affordable than in all of Western Europe.
Europe is one of the most powerful continents plus having the best countries have kept the name of being methodical in how they perform their duties to their various countries. Working in Europe is exciting and it comes with unique experiences. Working in Europe gives one the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of new cultures, new friends, new surroundings and in some cases a new you. The cost of living in Europe can be affordable and provides a means to enjoy your stay with various means of saving up. I will always recommend working in Europe to anyone, Anytime!
I would like to hear from you: What are your thoughts on this subject. You can share your thoughts and experiences with me and others in the comments section below!
It is hard to continue writing post like this without contributions from readers like you. If you enjoyed reading this and find it useful, please would you consider to make a donation of $2 or more, which is the price of your coffee! Your donation will help encourage and support us to continue on our work to support migrants with free educative post and trainings who can not afford subscriptions to get much needed information. Anyone can support us even YOU. Kindly support us today, it takes a few seconds, just click HERE to donate. Thank you!
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Are you a foreigner whether you are living in or outside Italy and planning to get married? Then, this blog post is just for you. Italy is full of many splendid wedding venues from the open fields to the ancient villas and cathedrals plus its perfect weather conditions to its rich arts and culture, food and wine just to mention a few. It is a dream destination for many couples.
Just like any other weddings, getting married in Italy requires advanced planning with a budget in mind and in this case a basic understanding of the Italian law and the type of wedding you would want to have.
Now let us take a look at the type of weddings in Italy.
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WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF WEDDINGS IN ITALY
There are basically three kinds of weddings you can have in Italy according to the Italian law. There is the civil wedding, the religious and the non religious weddings. The non religious weddings are mainly symbolic and usually do not have any legal binding.
The non religious weddings are mainly symbolic and usually do not have any legal binding.
CIVIL WEDDINGS IN ITALY
Civil Weddings are quite popular in Italy
Civil weddings are celebrated by a State official for example a Major of a city or town officer and comes with some administrative procedures prior to the wedding. It usually takes place in a town hall or registry office but in some Regions (very few) weddings are allowed to take place in a hotel or villa provided it is done indoors.
If you planning to have a civil wedding and you live in Italy, you must request the banns of matrimony to the Municipality of the city where you have residence or that of your spouse. This should be done at least three weeks before your wedding. Banns of matrimony are needed to let everyone know that you want to get married so that if anyone has any reason to oppose the marriage, they can come forward to say so.
To request for banns of marriage, you should have the following documents with you:
1. A valid passport or national ID card for both parties
2. Original birth certificate for both parties
3. Divorce papers or death certificate if you have been previously married and divorced or widowed
4. An affidavit, Nulla Osta or Dichiarazione Giurata sworn before a consular office of your home country, stating that there’s no legal impediment to your marriage in your home country
5. An Atto Notorio signed by two witnesses, further confirming no legal impediment to your marriage
6. A declaration of intent to marry that will go to the civil registrar.
Two weeks after the publication of the banns of matrimony, then you’ll get your Certificate of Bann Publication. This certificate should be given to the Officer of Civil Status of your Municipality at least within 180 days from the certificate release date, after which you are free to set a date for your wedding.
If none of you is Italian or residents of Italy, banns are waived and you just need the authorization usually called a NULLA OSTA issued by a consular of foreign authority in Italy.
RELIGIOUS WEDDING IN ITALY.
Most religious weddings take place in a Catholic church as a result of the vast majority of Catholics in Italy. This, along with its vast array of beautiful Catholic churches, makes Italy the perfect place for your Catholic wedding. But if you are not a Catholic or your spouse, Italy recognizes religious weddings from all faiths, including Jewish, Hindu and Muslim religions.
It is importance to note that a civil ceremony must be incorporated into the other types of marriages before a wedding is officially legal except it is a Catholic wedding. You’ll be required to prove you’re civilly married before you can celebrate in a religious house of worship.
A Catholic wedding requires time because of the back and forth communication between your local parish and the parish you intend to get married here and there are lots of paper work involved too. I would advice that you consult with your local parish at least 9 months to your preferred date of wedding.
It is also important to note that, if neither of you is Catholic or one of you is divorced, you will not be able to get married in a church in Italy.
Catholic weddings may also require some or all of the following documentation:
1. Baptism certificates
2. Confirmation certificates
3. Letter of no impediment to marry
4. Proof of attendance of a premarital course
5. Local bishop’s permission to marry abroad
For a non Catholic wedding, the marriage process under these religions is similar in any country, including Italy. It is advisable to contact your local place of worship to find out the requirements for a wedding.
Italy recognizes religious weddings from all faiths, including Jewish, Hindu and Muslim religions.
NON RELIGIOUS MARRIAGE IN ITALY
In Italy, they are basically symbolic blessings kind of ceremonies that gives couples a lot of flexibility. You can choose to have your wedding any where you want, when, and how you want it based on your preferences, cultural background and values. The only down side to it is that it is not legally binding.
However, you can make it legally binding if you follow the civil administrative procedure prior to the wedding.
You can choose to have your wedding any where you want, when, and how you want it based on your preferences, cultural background and values
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MARRIAGE IN ITALY.
Couples must be 18 years old to be legally married, and under-18s must have written parental consent. Muslim individuals aged 16 can marry with the permission of sharia authorities.
It is importance to note that a civil ceremony must be incorporated into the other types of marriages before a wedding is officially legal except it is a Catholic wedding
Women who are divorced or widowed cannot marry for 300 days after their divorce or as soon as they become widows. The reason for this is to ensure that the woman isn’t pregnant with another man’s child which could result in a paternity suit.
if you are a widow or widower then you will need to produce the death certificate and marriage certificate for your previous spouse.
It is important to note that all documents originating outside of Italy (birth certificate, divorce decree, etc.) must be legalized for use in Italy and must be translated into Italian.
COST OF MARRIAGE IN ITALY
The cost of weddings is such an important factor to consider when planning to get married. Unfortunately, there is no straight forward guess as to an actual cost or estimate for a wedding in Italy as there are too many variables to consider. For example the cost of your location, catering, music, photographer, flowers etc.
My advice would be to contact a wedding planner. The average cost to hire one would be between 700- 1,500 euro. A wedding planner would help you go through all the list of items needed, and with a budget in mind would help you in your plans to have that perfect wedding you have always dreamt up. To find a list of wedding planners in Italy, you can click on this link here wedding planners in Italy.
I would like to hear from you: What are your thoughts on this subject. You can share your thoughts and experiences with me and others in the comments section below!
It is hard to continue writing post like this without contributions from readers like you. If you enjoyed reading this and find it useful, please would you consider to make a donation of $2 or more, which is the price of your coffee! Your donation will help encourage and support us to continue on our work to support migrants with free educative post and trainings who can not afford subscriptions to get much needed information. Anyone can support us even YOU. Kindly support us today, it takes a few seconds, just click HERE to donate. Thank you!
SIGN UPto the MigrantDigest newsletter & receive updates & tips on news, jobs, finance, entertainment and free trainings.
PLUS, you’ll get instant free E-Book on staying in Italy legally, delivered to your email! This E-Book is guaranteed to help you to be informed of the existing rules to live a better life and to co-exist better with Italians. It only takes a few seconds!
THERE ARE VARIOUS KINDS OF FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE TO CITIZENS AND NON-CITIZENS IN ITALY
Italy has been known as a country to have assisted the poor and the weak through their various programs and policies for so many years. Migrants too have benefited a lot from various financial aid with different type of support and assistance from the government either in the form of monthly stipend, housing and accommodation and so on and so forth.
It is very important to be aware of the financial aid that the government guarantees in support for families with low income or earners who need help from the government in other to benefit from it. You can only ask if you know and get what is available.
Therefore, the purpose of this post is to address the financial aid available for low income families and earners for free, who are entitled and how they can be requested for.
So let’s take a look at these financial aid, bonuses, contributions, concessions, bill discounts, tariff reduction or whatever you may call it that is available in Italy for the year 2020 and beyond.
These financial aid can be claimed by Italian citizens, citizens of a member state of the European Union and Non- EU citizens with a regular resident permit.
BONUS BEBE/BABY BONUS 2020 FINANCIAL AID.
WHAT IS IT?
The birth allowance (also called “Bonus Baby “) is a monthly allowance reserved for new parents who have a new child, adopted or in pre-adoptive foster care.
The allowance is due from the month of birth or entry into the family of the adopted or entrusted child for one year. The application must be submitted within 90 days from the birth or from the date of entry of the minor into the family, following the adoption or pre-adoption custody.
In any case, if the application is submitted beyond 90 days, the check starts from the month of submission of the application.
WHO IS IT FOR?
For families who have an ISEE income of up to 25,000 Euro per year. The financial contribution is equal to 120 Euro per month while for those who have an ISEE income of 7,000 or less, the baby bonus is 160 Euro per month, for higher incomes it is equal to 80 Euros. There is a 20% increase for the second child baby added to the family. For example for an ISEE income of 7,000 or less, 192 euro will be paid per month for second child.
HOW DO I APPLY?
To request the INPS birth allowance, the families concerned must present the INPS baby bonus application, through the appropriate online procedure of the Institute, if they are in possession of the device INPS PIN or by calling the INPS call center at 803164 free of charge from the landline or 061641164 for a fee via mobile phone. Or by contacting Patronati and CAF who will take care of you to send the application to INPS.
REDDITO DI CITTADINANZA/CITIZENS INCOME FINANCIAL AID.
WHAT IS IT?
Though the name is often mistaken for a form of universal basic income, the payment is in fact more like unemployment benefit schemes seen in many other European countries which in this case are designed to alleviate poverty and address unemployment in Italy.
The amount that can be claimed ranges from up to €780 for single people and €1,300 for a family with two children. The money will be paid into bank accounts which can be accessed using a special debit card. Any money left on the cards at the end of the month goes back to the state which is an incentive to spend the full amount which the government hopes will help boost the economy.
Recipients must also enroll in job training, and will lose the benefit if they turn down more than three job offers. The benefit will last for 18 months, but claimants will then be able to reapply if still eligible.
WHO IS IT FOR?
To be qualified you must be 18 years of age, being unemployed or unemployed. Also, you must have an ISEE of less than 9,360 euro which is an income below the poverty line established by ISTAT in Italy. For foreigners, it is necessary to have residency in Italy for at least 10 years with an EC residence permit, of which the last 2 years you have continuously lived in Italy. No citizenship income for anyone that is unemployed for voluntary reasons.
HOW DO I APPLY?
To request the citizens income, the families concerned must present the INPS citizens income application, through the appropriate online procedure of the Institute, if they are in possession of the device INPS PIN or by calling the INPS call center at 803164 free of charge from the landline or 061641164 for a fee via mobile phone or by contacting Patronati and CAF who will take care of you to send the application to INPS.
This is a form of an income support service or family allowance, reserved for employees and assimilated persons, and pensioners, if in possession of certain income requirements, family composition etc. determined each year by Italian law. It consist of the payment by INPS of monthly allowances to families with a total income below the bands predetermined by law and indicated in the ANF INPS amount tables, published annually by INPS.
WHO IS IT FOR?
The family allowance is payable to employees, including agricultural workers and domestic workers, registered under separate management, pension holders and workers in other direct payment situations.
HOW DO I APPLY?
To request the house hold allowance, the families concerned must present the INPS house hold allowance application, through the appropriate online procedure of the Institute, if they are in possession of the device INPS PIN or by calling the INPS call center at 803164 free of charge from the landline or 061641164 for a fee via mobile phone or by contacting Patronati and CAF who will take care of you to send the application to INPS.
MOMS TOMORROW/ BONUS MAMA DOMANI FINANCIAL AID.
WHAT IS IT?
It is a birth premium or bonus of a prize of 800 euros to be paid by the government through bank account or prepaid card with IBAN to future mothers expecting a baby or adopted or fostered a minor regardless of income for the cost of exams and diagnostics and expenses for the baby, starting from the 7th month of pregnancy
WHO IS IT FOR?
For pregnant women, mothers who give birth during the year as long as they are resident in Italy, with Italian or EU citizenship, with non-EU citizenship with political refugee status and subsidiary protection, with non-EU citizenship in possession of the EU residence permit for long term residents or residence card for family members of EU citizens.
HOW DO I APPLY?
To apply, you must fill out the application form electronically and attaching the health certification issued by the specialist doctor of the National Health Service, certifying the expected date of delivery. If the application is submitted after the birth, the mother must self certify in the application the date of delivery and the general information of the child
NURSERY BONUS/ BONUS ALL” ASILO FINANCIAL AID.
WHAT IS IT?
This is a bonus payment of fees for kindergartens and home care for children under three years of age suffering from serious chronic diseases whose underage ISEE does not exceed 25,000 euro and family income not exceeding 40,000 euro.
Nursery voucher which is 3,000 euro for families with ISEE incomes of up to 25,000 and 2,500 euro for families between 25,000 to 40,000 and 1,500 euro for families with incomes over 40,000 euro
It is important to note that the monthly contribution paid cannot in any case exceed the expenses incurred for the payment of the single fee for the child.
WHO IS IT FOR?
The nursery bonus is a contribution that can be requested for one of the following cases:
1. Payment of fees: related to the frequency of public and private authorized kindergartens;
2. Use of forms of support: at home for children under the age of three, affected by serious chronic diseases.
HOW DO I APPLY?
To request the nursery bonus, the families concerned must present the INPS house hold allowance application, through the appropriate online procedure of the Institute, if they are in possession of the device INPS PIN or by calling the INPS call center at 803164 free of charge from the landline or 061641164 for a fee via mobile phone or by contacting Patronati and CAF who will take care of you to send the application to INPS.
STATE MATERNITY ALLOWANCE FINANCIAL AID
WHAT IS IT?
This is a subsidy for working mothers, which is due for a maximum of 5 months equal to 80% of pay payable for 2 months prior to and 3 months after the date of birth or 1 month prior to and 4 months after.
WHO IS IT FOR?
If you are an employed worker and, under certain conditions, if you are an agricultural worker, domestic worker or caregiver, if you work from home, are unemployed or are a worker with a suspended employment contract.
If you belong to the categories of independent workers, freelancers, workers with a fixed-term contract signed up to a separate INPS scheme, you are not obliged to take a leave of absence from work.
The fundamental requirement to be entitled to the allowance is to be resident in Italy and to be Italian. EU or non- EU citizens with an EC residence permit are also entitled.
If you belong to the categories of independent workers, freelancers, workers with a fixed-term contract signed up to a separate INPS scheme, you are not obliged to take a leave of absence from work.
HOW DO I APPLY?
To apply for the maternity allowance status, submit to INPS electronically within 6 months of the birth of the child or in the case of adoption or foster care, from the date of entry of the minor into family.
MUNICIPALITY MATERNITY ALLOWANCE FINANCIAL AID.
WHAT IS IT?
This is a contribution that is due in case of pregnancy to unemployed mothers and housewives who do not qualify for other maternity support measures or mothers who are not in possession of the requisites to access the state maternity allowance. The common maternity allowance is 338.89 euro for 3 months which is summed up together and paid once but we await the new 2020 amounts.
WHO IS IT FOR?
The check is due to unemployed mothers and housewives mothers that have an ISEE of no more than 16,995.95 euro, or receive other social security benefits or another INPS maternity allowance.
HOW DO I APPLY?
The application must be submitted to the Municipality of residence within 6 months of the birth of the child and the entry into the family of the minor, if adopted or in foster care.
RENTAL BONUS FINANCIAL AID.
WHAT IS IT?
This is a new measure included in the House package called Urban Revival, which will start in 2020. A large part of the resources put into the new House plan will finance the rental bonus in order to facilitate access to rental for families in difficulty especially during this pandemic.
WHO IS IT FOR?
Basically this measure is to help families who are in difficulties to pay house rent due to the effects caused by the Covid- 19 pandemic which will also benefit the landlords as well. Different parts of the country namely: Lombardy, Tuscany, Milan, Lazio, Rome, Campania and Sicily have all announced their different criteria and requirements for applicants. For example. In the Lazio region, family with income of 28,000 Euros gross or less for the year 2019 and a reduction of more than 30% of the total household income for causes attributable to the Covid-19 emergency within the period that goes from 23 February to 31 May 2020 are eligible to apply. Applicants should also possess Italian citizenship, EU country citizenship or a regular residence permit.
HOW DO I APPLY?
Applications are to be made directly to Municipalities and the rent bonus contribution will be paid directly to the families upon presentation of a specific application. The resources will directly reach the families through the definition of municipal rankings updated every three months
BILL DISCOUNTS FOR ELECTRICITY, WATER AND GAS FINANCIAL AID.
WHAT IS IT?
This is simply a discount on electricity and /or gas bills
WHO IS IT FOR?
For families who have certain ISEE requirements and conditions. To access the gas bonus published on the AEEG website, you must have an ISEE income of 8, 107.5 or less, not more than 20, 000 Euros for large families with more than 3 children load. The new ISEE threshold of 8,107.5 and the increase in the discount to 30% are also in force for light.
HOW DO I APPLY?
You can apply by contacting the CAF and Patronati who free of charge, will send the application to receive the bonus from the electricity and/ or gas distributor.
OTHERS
RAI FEE EXEMPTION.
You are entitled for this exemption if you are over 75 years old and have an income of up to 8,000 euro. Those who do not own a television set in the home, or have multiple electrical users registered, must send a specific request for exemption.
WASTE TAX REDUCTION
Each Municipality or Region, upon approval of a specific resolution, can arrange for the reduction or exemption of the waste tax. Therefore, citizens interested in requesting the exemption or reduction must check with their Municipality the methods of payment of any tariff relief.
50% REDUCTION IN TELECOM TELEPHONE FEE
This is a low income family aid that is only due if the family income is 6,713.94 euro, if there is a person with a civil disability pension or social allowance or with more than 75 years old or if the head of the family is unemployed.
BONUS BOOKS.
This is a discount for families to buy school books and school supplies for children attending compulsory school. The measure of the bonus and the modalities of granting and disbursing the contribution are up to the municipalities, which with specific deliberation, set the ISEE family income requirements and limit to access the benefit.
I would like to hear from you: What are your thoughts on this subject. You can share your thoughts and experiences with me and others in the comments section below!
It is hard to continue writing post like this without contributions from readers like you. If you enjoyed reading this and find it useful, please would you consider to make a donation of $2 or more, which is the price of your coffee! Your donation will help encourage and support us to continue on our work to support migrants with free educative post and trainings who can not afford subscriptions to get much needed information. Anyone can support us even YOU. Kindly support us today, it takes a few seconds, just click HERE to donate. Thank you!
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When a foreign person enters Italy, it does not matter whether legally or not, he has the right to apply for international protection to the Italian State by Law. And if you are planning to come to Italy for what so ever reason and intend to stay for more than 90 days, you will definitely need to apply for and have a resident permit. Resident permit or permit of stay is an official document that non-EU citizens must request on their arrival if they are going to stay in Italy for more than 90 days. The duration of the permit can range from 6 months to 5 years which is subject to renewal when it expires.
If you are already in Italy and have your residence permit , you must renew it before it expires. You must apply for renewal at least:
90 days before expiry date if your residence permit is valid for 2 years;
60 days before expiry date if your residence permit is valid for 1 year;
30 days before expiry date in all other cases.
Table of Contents
TYPES OF RESIDENT PERMITS IN ITALY
Foreigners require different permits depending on their national status and on how long they have lived in Italy. The permits can be categorized into four categories:
Resident permit for international protection
Resident permit for special cases
Resident permit for regular cases
EU Long term resident permit
RESIDENT PERMIT FOR INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION.
The Italian Constitution by law gives right to asylum or international protection to a foreigner who, in his home country, is denied the actual exercise of democratic freedoms. There are basically two types of resident permits given on humanitarian grounds:
Permesso di Soggiorno per Asilo Politico
Permesso di Soggiorno per Protezione Sussidiaria
Permesso di Soggiorno per Asilo Politico
The Permesso di Soggiorno per Asilo Politico is for people who are recognized as refugees in Italy. For you to be recognized as a refugee, the foreign citizen must have a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, belonging to a certain social group, or political opinion, and outside the territory of the country of which s/he is a national and cannot or does not, because of this fear, avail himself or herself of the protection of that country. This permit guarantees you a legal stay in Italy for 5 years which can also be renewed when it expires.
It’s very important to keep in mind that returning to your country of origin, or trying to contact the embassy of your country of origin in Italy for your country passport is forbidden when you hold this permesso or stay permit. Instead you should request for a travel document called a Documento di Viaggio, which will act a substitute for your national passport.
The permit entitles the holder to:
– Carry out both autonomous and subordinate work.
– Access public employment.
– Access the National Health Service.
– Access the INPS assistance services.
– Access to study.
– Family reunification: the political asylum holder can request the entry into Italy of his family members without having to demonstrate the accommodation and income requirements required for holders of other types of residence permits.
– Italian citizenship: the time required to apply for Italian citizenship by naturalization is reduced by half, since it takes 5 years to stay in Italy instead of 10.
HOW TO RENEW PERMESSO SOGGIORNO PER ASILO POLITICO
To renew this kind of permesso, you need to go to the questura of the city where you are registered as a resident and apply for renewal. When you go, you’ll need to bring your permesso di soggiorno and any other ID documents you have. The questura may ask you for more documents.
Permesso di Soggiorno per Protezione Sussidiaria
You are entitled to subsidiary protection and the Permesso di Soggiorno per Protezione Sussidiaria if you don’t fulfill all the requirements for refugee status, but still face a real risk of suffering serious harm if you return to your country of origin.
Serious harm means the risk of death penalty or execution, torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Serious and individual threat to your life by reasons of indiscriminate violence in situations of international or internal armed conflict.
This permit guarantees you a legal stay in Italy for 5 years which can also be renewed when it expires.
Holders of this permit may travel to their home country but if you’re planning to travel back to your home country, make sure you first get in touch with a lawyer who can advise you on your situation as it may affect your permesso from being renewed.
The permit entitles the holder to:
– Carry out both autonomous and subordinate work.
– Access public employment.
– Access the National Health Service.
– Access the INPS assistance services.
– Access to the study.
– Family reunification: in this case too, the holder of subsidiary protection can request the entry into Italy of his family members without having to demonstrate the accommodation and income requirements required for holders of other types of residence permit.
It is possible to convert the residence permit for subsidiary protection into a residence permit for work reasons, thus renouncing the status of subsidiary protection
HOW TO RENEW PERMESSO SOGGIORNO PER PROTEZIONE SUSSIDIARIA
To renew your Permesso per Protezione Sussidiaria, you’ll need to make an appointment at the questura. When it reviews your renewal request, the questura may:
1. Ask the Territorial Commission whether the situation in your country of origin has changed, and whether you would still be in danger if you returned.
2. Check whether you have been convicted of any crimes since receiving subsidiary protection.
3. Examine whether you have traveled back to your country of origin since receiving subsidiary protection.
As of October 5, 2018 — the date the Salvini Decree went into effect — Italy no longer issues humanitarian protection or Permessi di Soggiorno per Motivi Umanitari. This permesso is valid for 2 years. If you hold this permesso and it has not yet expired, it is still valid . When it expires you can convert it into a Permesso di Soggiorno per Lavoro, or work permit, if you have a job or business that satisfies certain conditions.
RESIDENT PERMIT ON SPECIAL CASES.
Instead of humanitarian protection, Italy now grants several permits on special cases as follows:
Permit for medical treatment. It is released to foreigners who are able to demonstrate their state of health of exceptional seriousness such that a return would entail a serious risk of compromising his health. The permit in this case has a duration equal to the time certified by the health certification, and in any case not more than one year, and is renewable as long as the health conditions of exceptional severity persist. It is not clear whether this permit can be converted into a work permit.
Permission for disasters. It is issued to foreigners who come from countries that are in a situation of “contingent and exceptional calamity”, a condition that of calamity, still not well defined and which will probably be defined by legal practice. It is not specified, for example, whether it refers only to natural disasters or to other exceptional events. This permit lasts six months and cannot be converted into a work permit.
Permit for acts of particular civil value. It is released to foreigners who perform acts recognized as having great civil value, such as risking their lives to save someone in danger, to prevent or limit a possible public disaster, to contribute to the arrest of wanted persons. This permit lasts for two years, is renewable and can be converted into a work permit.
Social protection permit. This permission was already foreseen in the 1998 law that introduced humanitarian protection and was confirmed by the Salvini decree. It is released to foreigners who need protection, for example from organized crime or from associations for the exploitation of prostitution. In this case, the permit lasts six months renewable for one year and can be converted into a work permit.
Permit for victims of domestic violence. This permit was also already provided for in the 1998 law, and is issued to foreigners who make sure that they are victims of situations of violence or abuse such as to represent a danger to their safety due to his report of such violence or abuse. The permit lasts one year and can be converted into a work permit.
Permit for labor exploitation. Like the previous ones, this permit was already present since 1998 and is issued to foreigners who have reported cases of serious labor exploitation. The permit lasts six months renewable for one year and can be converted into a work permit.
It is more difficult, if not impossible in some cases, to renew the permit and not in all cases the special permit can be converted into a work permit, effectively condemning the people who expire to irregularity.
HOW TO RENEW RESIDENT PERMIT ON SPECIAL CASES.
Applications and renewal requests can be submitted through the Post Office (by compiling the yellow kit “Kit Giallo” which is also available at approved institutions. The application kit must be submitted at the Help Desk (Sportello Amico) at the Post Office, in an open envelope. The applicant must be identifiable by a valid passport or similar document. When the Post Office accepts the application, the foreign national is issued with a legally recognized receipt. The receipt also shows the code required to check the progress status of the application on the website www.portaleimmigrazione.it as well as the appointment date to be photographed at the Police Headquarters (Questura).
The documents to be attached to the application and to be subsequently presented at the photograph appointment at the Police Headquarters (Questura) differ according to the type of residence permit held. These are listed in the application kit or on the website: www.portaleimmigrazione.it.
RESIDENT PERMIT ON REGULAR CASES.
There are several types of permits to stay on regular cases, the most commonly issued ones are:
Permesso di soggiorno per turismo – for tourists. Technically anyone visiting Italy for over a week who isn’t staying in a hotel, boarding house or an official campsite should apply for one, although in practice this rarely happens;
Permesso di soggiorno per coesione familiare – for the foreign spouse and children of an Italian citizen when they move to Italy together;
Permesso di soggiorno per lavoro – a work permit for an employee;
Permesso di soggiorno per lavoro autonomo/indipendente – for independent or freelance workers;
Permesso di soggiorno per studio – for students;
Permesso di soggiorno per ricongiungimento familiare – for the spouse, children (under 18) and dependent parents of foreigners married to Italian citizens and also for family members from overseas who come to join others already in Italy;
Permesso di soggiorno per dimora – for foreigners establishing residence in Italy who don’t intend to work or study.
HOW TO RENEW RESIDENT PERMIT ON REGULAR CASES.
Applications and renewal requests can be submitted through the Post Office (by compiling the yellow kit “Kit Giallo” which is also available at approved institutions. The application kit must be submitted at the Help Desk (Sportello Amico) at the Post Office, in an open envelope. The applicant must be identifiable by a valid passport or similar document. When the Post Office accepts the application, the foreign national is issued with a legally recognized receipt. The receipt also shows the code required to check the progress status of the application on the website www.portaleimmigrazione.it as well as the appointment date to be photographed at the Police Headquarters (Questura).
The documents to be attached to the application and to be subsequently presented at the photograph appointment at the Police Headquarters (Questura) differ according to the type of residence permit held. These are listed in the application kit or on the website: www.portaleimmigrazione.it.
EU LONG TERM RESIDENT PERMIT.
From February 16th 2007, the EU Long Term Residence Permit replaces the residence card (Carta Di Soggiorno) for foreign nationals. It is issued by the local Police Headquarters (Questura) to persons who have been legally resident in Italy for at least 5 years. The EU Permit does not have an expiry date (it is open-ended) and allows the holder, among other things, to:
Enter Italy without a visa;
Enter another country within the European Union and reside there for tourism reasons for a period of no longer than 90 days;
Apply for maternity benefit;
Apply for disability benefit;
Work (subject to conversion) in countries who comply with the European Directive 2004/38/CE
HOW TO APPLY
You must be able to demonstrate that:
you have been residing legally in Italy for at least 5 years;
your income is sufficient to financially support yourself and your family members;
you have not been accused of any crime for which you could be arrested or charged, and you are not awaiting trial or sentencing;
you pass an Italian language test, equivalent to the A2 level standard approved by the Council of Europe for language learning across the Union.
REVOCATION
absence of the foreign national in the European Union for a period of 12 consecutive months;
acquisition of the EU Long Term Residence Permit in another European Member State;
When the foreign national is deemed to be a danger to public order or national security.
RESIDENT PERMIT CONVERSION
Many types of residence permits allow the holder to carry out various activities without having to apply for conversion. Converting one’s residence permit is possible if specific requirements are met. These differ according to the type of residence permit held.
Nevertheless, if the foreign national wishes to convert the category of his/her residence permit, he/she can apply for conversion. The law allows a limit of 60 days for the issuing, renewal and conversion of residence permits.
LOSS AND DUPLICATION OF RESIDENCE PERMIT
When a residence permit is stolen or lost, you must make a statement as soon as possible with the Police Force.
A duplicate can be applied for by completing the relevant forms that are available in the local Post Office.
The following documents must be attached to the application for a duplicate:
1. Copy of passport
2. Copy of the statement regarding the loss or theft
3. The duplicate is issued subject to payment of residence permit tax stamp of €16.00
A new identify photograph will be taken and a new residence permit will be issued (therefore new photos are required). Average time required for reissue is 60 days.
I would like to hear from you: What are your thoughts on this subject. You can share your thoughts and experiences with me and others in the comments section below!
It is hard to continue writing post like this without contributions from readers like you. If you enjoyed reading this and find it useful, please would you consider to make a donation of $2 or more, which is the price of your coffee! Your donation will help encourage and support us to continue on our work to support migrants with free educative post and trainings who can not afford subscriptions to get much needed information. Anyone can support us even YOU. Kindly support us today, it takes a few seconds, just click HERE to donate. Thank you!
Subscribe to the MigrantDigest newsletter & receive updates & tips on news, jobs, finance, entertainment and free trainings.
PLUS, you’ll get instant free E Book on staying in Italy legally, delivered to your email! This E Book is guaranteed to help you to be informed of the existing rules to live a better life and to co exist better with Italians. It only takes a few seconds! Sign up below at the footer.
Family reunification is an essential tool to allow family life, as it helps to create a socio-cultural stability that facilitates integration into the State, thus allowing the promotion of economic and social cohesion.
Family unity is a fundamental right recognized and protected by Italian law and which is fully recognized also for foreigners who wish to reunite with their families.
This right can be exercised by any foreign national to request reunification who is in possession of:
1. Resident permit for employment or self-employment work, with duration of not less than one year
2. Residence permits for political asylum
3. Residence permits for subsidiary protection
4. Residence permits for study reasons, or for religious reasons
5. Residence permits for family reasons
6. EC residence permits for long-term residents
7. Residence permits for waiting for citizenship.
Table of Contents
WHO CAN BE INVITED FOR FAMILY UNIFICATION?
The following relatives can be invited for family reunification:
1. The spouse, who is at least 18 and not legally separated
2. Children under 18 years of age, including those born from another partner upon prior consent of the other parent
3. Dependent children aged over 18 who for objective reasons are not able to address their own basic needs;
4. Dependent parent provided that:
There are no other children in their country of origin or provenance. Or the children residing in their country of origin are not able to address their needs due to documented health issues. They are aged over 65 with proof of health insurance coverage when they arrive in Italy.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF FAMILY REUNIFICATION?
There are two ways to which you can unite with your family. The first one is called family reunion or Ricongiungimento familiare, and the second one is family cohesion or Coesione familiare.
FAMILY COHESION CASE
Family Cohesion
In this case, your family enters Italy with you under tourist visas and later they convert tourist visas into Permesso di Soggiorno’s. If your family didn’t arrive directly into Italy under tourist visas not directly (no Italian stamp in the passport, i.e. through another Schengen country) then you should get Dichiarazione di presenza from Questura. Later you would attach it to the application documents.
FAMILY REUNION CASE
Family Renion
The Ricongiungimento familiar involves applying for an entrance permit for your family (Nulla Osta) online. With this the family member can apply for a family visa in their home country. Italian long stay visa, which is also known as a national or D-visa, allows the holder to enter Italy with the purpose of remaining longer than three months and joining a family member already residing in Italy.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY FOR FAMILY REUNIFICATION?
In both cases you have to prove:
Sufficient family income:
Financial requirements cannot be lower than the annual amount of the social allowance. The social allowance is a welfare provision put in place by the Italian legislator for elderly people with low income. Therefore, foreign nationals will be considered to have ‘sufficient resources’ available when their annual income is higher than the maximum income required to be entitled to social allowance. You must make at least € 5.830,76 a year and then have 50% of that amount for any family members who will join you in Italy. So, if your spouse and one child will join you, you must have €11,661.52.
PLEASE NOTE: The amount of the social allowance is established yearly and is subject to ISTAT revaluations.
Suitable private housing:
Your private housing must be in line with hygienic requirements established by Italian law. You must also have a big enough apartment to accommodate all your family members.
The table below explains it a little better.
Number of family members in the apartment
Minimum area required
Minimum number of bedrooms
2
45m2
1
3
55m2
2
4
60m2
2
5
65m2
2
6
75m2
3
7
90m2
3
8
95m2
3
9
105m2
4
10
115m2
5
NOTE: The dimensions are meant as net floor area.
After which you would need to get a document called Idoneità abitativa from the commune where you live. The Idoneità abitativa or certificate of habitability is a certificate that demonstrates that the home you live in meets the requirements of the law for residential construction. The documents are related to the living conditions, energy efficiency, and a property plan. In most cases, the landlord or the real estate agent that rents the house is well aware of the documents required, so, just ask for them as early as possible.
In case of reunification in favor of only one child under 14, the municipal certificate can be replaced by a declaration of hospitality by the owner of the apartment. The applicant must also attach to the application a copy of the lease or loan agreement or ownership of the building, for a period of not less than six months, starting from the date of submission of the application.
It is not necessary to demonstrate possession of the appropriate housing requirements and income for refugees.
HOW DO I APPLY?
Family Reunion
If all the above requirements are satisfied, it is possible to apply for family reunification by getting an authorization in Italy which allows them to join you. This is called a Nulla Osta and it is basically a clearance from the competent Italian authorities, allowing your family members to join you in Italy. You must apply for a Nulla Osta at an Italian Immigration Desk (Sportello Unico per l’immigrazione) or online by linking to the Ministry of the Interior address https://nullaostalavoro.interno.it. If the Immigration Desk issues the authorization, they will electronically forward it to the appropriate Italian embassy or consulate where your family members will submit the visa application.
The application for nulla osta must be submitted with all the documents attesting the applicant’s eligibility. The competent authority must issue the nulla osta or notify its rejection within 60 days from the application submission.
If, on the other hand, the request is rejected, against the refusal of the authorization, it is possible to appeal to the ordinary Court of the place of residence of the applicant regularly residing in Italy.
The Nulla Osta is valid for six months. Your family members must apply for an Italian Family Visa at their home country within this period.
Please note: In case you are bringing your parent/s to Italy:
Original copies of your birth certificate, proof your parent/s is dependent on you (such as money transfers), a written statement from your parent/s, declaring they are dependent on you. In the case in which the possession of the required conditions cannot be proved in a certain way through certificates issued by competent foreign authorities, or in any case of serious doubts on the authenticity of the above-mentioned documentation, the diplomatic or consular representations provide for the issue of certifications, on the basis of the DNA test and of necessary checks.
The application process for an Italian Family Visa goes as follows:
Book a visa appointment at an Italian embassy or consulate in their country.
Download and complete Italy Long-Stay Visa Application Form.
Gather all the necessary documents. For example proof of family relationship, as applicable: Birth certificates for children and marriage certificate for your spouse duly legalized.
When the date of the appointment comes, submit the application in person.
Pay the Italian visa fee.
Enter a visa interview.
Wait for processing.
Once the foreign national has received the visa for family reunification and entered Italy, he/she must go to the Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione within 8 days and present the following documents to the competent post office.
An identity card;
The completed postal-kit with the payment of tax issuance;
A copy of the security clearance (Nulla Osta) to enter in Italy;
A copy of their Visa;
The whole passport.
The competent desk will issue a receipt with the data of the first appointment to the competent police Headquarters, for their personal appearance and the fingerprints. After this appointment, the police headquarters will contact them for the withdrawer of their electronic permit card.
The new comer should also go to the following offices to:
Municipality (“Comune”) of residence to apply to be registered in the Civil State Registrar
Azienda ASL (local sanitary district) to apply to be registered in the National Health Service ( to obtain the Health Card)
Family Cohesion
The procedure for issuance of the relative authorization is similar to the procedure for issuance of the authorization for family reunification. The application must be sent electronically to the Single Desk for Immigration, by means of the online procedure available on the website of the Ministry of the Interior. Before you travel to Italy, you must prepare all the required documents
1. Your marriage certificate OFFICIALLY translated into Italian AND legalized
2. The birth certificates of your children OFFICIALLY translated into Italian AND legalized
Official translations are made in the Italian Embassies or by authorized translators. The legalization can be done by the Italian Embassies or, if your home country has signed The Hague Agreement, with the “Apostille” stamp applied by the competent Ministry of your country both on the original and on the translation into Italian.
WITHOUT THIS DOCUMENTATION NO FAMILY COHESION WILL BE POSSIBLE AND YOUR FAMILY WILL HAVE TO GO BACK AT THE EXPIRY DATE OF THE TOURIST VISA (up to max 90 DAYS).
The foreign national residing in Italy with a residence permit for family reasons has access to assistance services, study courses or vocational training, job opportunities.
The duration of the permit is the same as the duration of the permit for the foreign national who has applied for family reunification and it is possible to renew it along with the latter.
Well, now you have more than a bit of information in case you are planning to bring your family to Italy either now or in the future. The process can be cumbersome for some; you may decide to employ the services of a migration lawyer, if you will.
I would like to hear from you: What are your thoughts on this subject. You can share your thoughts and experiences with me and others in the comments section below!
It is hard to continue writing post like this without contributions from readers like you. If you enjoyed reading this and find it useful, please would you consider to make a donation of $2 or more, which is the price of your coffee! Your donation will help encourage and support us to continue on our work to support migrants with free educative post and trainings who can not afford subscriptions to get much needed information. Anyone can support us even YOU. Kindly support us today, it takes a few seconds, just click HERE to donate. Thank you!
Subscribe to the MigrantDigest newsletter & receive updates & tips on news, jobs, finance, entertainment and free trainings.
PLUS, you’ll get instant free E Book on staying in Italy legally, delivered to your email! This E Book is guaranteed to help you to be informed of the existing rules to live a better life and to co exist better with Italians. It only takes a few seconds! Sign up below at the footer.
A codice fiscale is a personal identification number similar to a Social Security number in the US or National Insurance number in the UK designed by and for the Italian tax office or what is called the Agenzia delle Entrate.
It is an alphanumeric code of 16 characters. The code serves to identify unambiguously individuals residing in Italy irrespective of residency status.
In the past, each person in Italy was handed a plastic card with a magnetic strip, bearing the tax code as well as the surname, given name(s), sex, place and province of birth( or country of birth if foreign), date of birth and date of issue. Today, the fiscal code card has been replaced by a combined Italian health insurance card for qualifying residents which shows an expiration date.
An Earlier Italian Health Insurance Card
It is important to note that because it is issued by the Italian tax office it’s not just for paying tax only. Whether you’ll be working or not, the code is essential for everyday life in Italy.
A Health Insurance Card issued in Sicily as a Smart Card
Table of Contents
Why Do I need One?
If you are going to be living in Italy, you’ll need it to do practically anything; from opening a bank account to buying property, and even making purchases online. Also importantly used for uniquely identifying individuals in the health system and even for identifying natural persons i.e an individual person who can act as a private or public organization who act as parties in private contracts or work contracts.
Is It Difficult to Get?
The good news is that it’s relatively easy to get hold of. You can get your own codice fiscale even if you don’t speak much of the language – and even if you’re not in the country
How Do I Apply?
If you’re in Italy, go to your local Agenzia delle Entrate (tax office) armed with a photocopy of your ID and an application form. Some offices even have them available in English.
Non-EU citizens may also need to show a valid passport with visa and a valid residence permit.
You can also apply from outside of Italy, either by visiting the Italian embassy in your country or having a legal professional in Italy obtain the tax code on your behalf.
When Will I Get My Codice Fiscale?
You should be assigned your code immediately if you’re applying in person. The tax office will print out a piece of paper with your number.
A plastic card carrying the same information will be posted a few weeks later to the address you wrote on the form.
If you later apply for a tessera sanitaria, or Italian state health insurance card (and you should if you’re going to be here for more than three months), your codice fiscale will also be printed on the back of that.
Well, that is all you have to know about the Italian tax code or Codice fiscale. Now I want to hear from you. Kindly share in the comment section how easy or difficult is it in obtaining the codice fiscale in your province or city where you live and share your experiences if any.
I would like to hear from you: What are your thoughts on this subject. You can share your thoughts and experiences with me and others in the comments section below!
It is hard to continue writing post like this without contributions from readers like you. If you enjoyed reading this and find it useful, please would you consider to make a donation of $2 or more, which is the price of your coffee! Your donation will help encourage and support us to continue on our work to support migrants with free educative post and trainings who can not afford subscriptions to get much needed information. Anyone can support us even YOU. Kindly support us today, it takes a few seconds, just click HERE to donate. Thank you!
Subscribe to the MigrantDigest newsletter & receive updates & tips on news, jobs, finance, entertainment and free trainings.
PLUS, you’ll get instant free E Book on staying in Italy legally, delivered to your email! This E Book is guaranteed to help you to be informed of the existing rules to live a better life and to co exist better with Italians. It only takes a few seconds! Sign up below at the footer.
Are you planning to obtain the Italian citizenship? Or are you currently a UK citizen and worried about your status living in the country after Brexit comes into effect? This post takes a look at the ways to Italian citizenship, a complete guide for you to achieve your dream.
In case you are wondering what I will gain to become an Italian citizen, well, here is a few of the benefits to become one:
1. Automatic citizenship of the European Union with the right of free movement,
2. Settlement and work without the hassle of work visa,
3. Free medical benefits including free healthcare,
4. Potentially cheap or free higher education,
5. Easy to buy properties,
6. Access to certain financial investments rights,
7. Ability to transfer citizenship to all children below 18 years old and the exercise to vote for the Italian parliament.
What’s more, you can even keep your previous nationality and have dual citizenship. Whatever your reason, becoming an Italian citizen can take a long process, requiring plenty of paper work and bureaucracy but certainly worth it.
Like many countries, Italy has a number of paths you can take to citizenship. Basically, there are three main ways: through your ancestry, through marriage or by living legally in Italy for a certain number of years and in other cases by a law under some certain circumstances.
If I have two passports, which should I use when I travel?
“If you plan on traveling to Italy or to any other EU country, bring both your native passport and your Italian passport with you. Show your native passport when leaving your country. On the plane, put away your native passport and take out your Italian passport, which you should then use when entering Italy or any other EU country. It is probably in your best interest NOT to mention to customs that you are carrying two passports. It is not illegal for you to do so, but a lower-level official may not know this, which could result in delays while he or she confirms this. Use your Italian passport when you travel to parts of the world where citizens of your native country are unpopular or prohibited from entering (for example, Americans in Cuba). It’s always a good idea to carry photocopies of both passports with you when you travel.”
Table of Contents
QUALIFICATION BY ANCESTRY
To become a citizen by ancestry, your parents or parent must still hold their Italian citizenship. Also, to qualify through your mother, you must have been born after January 1, 1948, i.e. the date of entry into force of the Constitution. However, children of Italian emigrants who may have been citizens of other countries due to birth can also lay claims to Italian citizenship with proof of ancestry thus introducing an importance exception to the principle of single citizenship.
How to Appy/ Requirement
By submitting your application to the Consular Office of the district in which the foreigner of Italian origin lives, accompanied by the required complete documentation designed to prove the ancestry which in this case civil status documents of birth and marriage duly legalized and accompanied by an official translation. The applicant may also need to certify that neither he/she nor the ancestor has ever renounced Italian citizenship through appropriate certificates issued by the competent Italian diplomatic and consular authorities.
QUALIFICATION BY MARRIAGE OR CIVIL PARTNERSHIP
To become a citizen by marriage, you must have been legally resident in Italy after marriage for 2 years. If you live abroad, you must have been married for 3 years. The time requirements can be cut in half under the following requirements:
If you have children from the marriage or adopted by the spouses
Validity of marriage and registration of the marriage certificate with competent Italian Municipality.
Certified knowledge of the Italian language at a level not lower than B1
Absence of obstacles related to the security of the Italian Republic.
Absence of convictions for offences leading to maximum penalty of 3 years of prison or convictions by a foreign judicial authority for over one year.
How to Apply/ Requirements
The applicants shall register on the dedicated portal, called ALI, at the following URL address https://cittadinanza.dlci.interno.it and, after logging in, they will have access to the e-procedure for submitting the citizenship application.
The user shall complete all the fields envisaged by the form and enclose the following four mandatory documents indicated by the Interior Ministry to submit the application for citizenship
birth certificate of the country of origin duly translated and legalized
criminal record of the country of origin and of any third countries of citizenship, duly translated and legalized
receipt of payment of 250 euro;
certified copy of the identification document
diploma, degree or qualification issued by a public or equivalent educational institution or certification issued by a certifying body.
After submitting the application electronically, the user will be summoned by the diplomatic-consular Mission that received the application for the identification and the other requirements and procedures necessary for completing the application, including the acquisition of the original documents attached to the application submitted online and of any other document useful for processing the application.
QUALIFICATION BY NATURALIZATION
To become a citizen by naturalization, you must have lived in Italy for 10 years for non EU nationals, for EU nationals, four years. For refugees or stateless persons, five years. For people who have an Italian parent or grandparent, three years. For people born in Italy to foreign parents, either the first 18 years of their life or three years’ residence as an adult. No period of residence is required for foreigners who have worked for the Italian State for a period of at least 5 years, even abroad.
How to Apply/ Requirement
Requirements are based on the number of years of residency, an absence of criminal records for all countries of past and present residencies, payment of tax in Italy in tax forms for the last 3 years of residency, and knowledge of the Italian language. Scanned copies of all documents should be uploaded during the online application. During the process the applicant should attend an appointment at the local Prefettura and submit all originals certificates. Italian authorities should make a decision within 4 years of the online application
QUALIFICATION BY LAW
We will look at qualification by law under the following categories:
CITIZENSHIP THROUGH RECOGNITION OF JUDICIAL RULING ON PATERNITY / MATERNITY.
CITIZENSHIP BY ADOPTION.
GRANTING OF ITALIAN CITIZENSHIPS PURSUANT TO SPECIAL MERITS
GRANTING OF ITALIAN CITIZENSHIPS TO FORMERLY LOST INTALIAN REGIONS
Citizenship Through Recognition of Judicial Ruling on Paternity/ Maternity.
To qualify , you must be declared to be of an Italian parentage through a judicial ruling on maternity/ paternity. If the child of an Italian citizen, recognized subsequently by his/her birth, is a minor, the acquisition of citizenship is automatic and retroacts to the moment of birth. Conversely, if the recognition of the judicial statement occurs with an adult child, he/she maintains one’s nationality but is allowed (within one year as from the recognition, the judicial statement or the acknowledgement of efficacy of the foreign measure) to chose the Italian citizenship. It should be noted that the recognition or judicial ruling may have been issued abroad: in this case the one-year period within which to make the declaration of election of citizenship shall be calculated from the date on which the foreign ruling is made effective and binding in Italy.
Citizenship by Adoption
Italian citizenship is granted to any minor child adopted by an Italian citizen by means of a ruling of the Italian Judicial Authorities or, in case of adoption abroad, by means of a ruling issued abroad and made effective and binding in Italy, through an order (issued by the Juvenile Court for minors) for enrolling in the Civil Status Register.
Conversely, if the child adopted is an adult, citizenship can be acquired by naturalization after 5 years of legal residence in Italy after the adoption.
Granting of Italian Citizenship Pursuant to Special Merit
Italian citizenship may be granted by Decree of the President of the Republic – after hearing the Council of State’s opinion and upon resolution of the Council of Ministers, upon proposal of the Interior Minister, jointly with the Foreign Minister – to foreigners who rendered eminent services to Italy, or when there is an exceptional interest of the State.
Granting of Citizenship to Formerly lost Italian Regions
Italian citizenship is granted under law for the persons born and formerly living in the territories of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire and their descendants annexed to Italy at the end of the First World War in compliance with the Treaty of San Germano.
Also, the Italian nationals living in Istria, Fiume and Dalmatia from 1940 to 1947, who lost their property when those territories were assigned to the Yugoslav Republic in accordance with the Treaties of Paris of February 10, 1947, and their descendants.
The Italian nationals living until 1977 in the so-called “Zone B” of the former Free Territory of Trieste, who lost Italian citizenship when said territory was assigned to the Yugoslav Republic pursuant to the Treaty of Osimo of November 10, 1975, and their descendants.
The applications shall be submitted to the Italian diplomatic-consular authorities if the applicants live abroad, or to the Municipality if living in Italy.
The applications submitted are examined by an interministerial committee set up within the Interior Ministry, which provides its opinion on the existence of the requirements set by law. If the opinion is favorable, the Interior Ministry issues authorization to the granting of citizenship
As long as you can lay your hands on all the documents required, and follow the processes clearly set out which is easy to follow, you can get your Italian citizenship and passport with a little bit of patience.
Good luck on becoming an Italian citizen!
I would like to hear from you: What are your thoughts on this subject. You can share your thoughts and experiences with me and others in the comments section below!
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The 20th of June every year is set aside to celebrate the world Refugee day. In a world where violence forces thousands of families to flee for their lives each day, it is only just and right to show some support and solidarity with refugees all over the world. Many may not understand the plight of refugees, but in the words of Warsan Shire the poet “No one leaves home unless home is the mouth of a shark.
We challenge everyone today to take a moment to reflect on the real struggles and plight of refugees all over the world by reading the poem “Home” by Warsan Shire which captures the life of refugees living all over the world.Join the Migrant community here.
After reading this poem, kindly share your thoughts and experiences with us and others in the comment section in any way it has touched you. Happy reading!
Home, by Warsan Shire (British-Somali poet)
No one leaves home unless
Home is the mouth of a shark.
You only run for the border
When you see the whole city running as well.
Your neighbors running faster than you,
The boy you went to school with
Who kissed you dizzy behind
The old tin factory is holding a gun bigger than his body,
You only leave home
When home won’t let you stay.
No one would leave home unless home
Chased you, fire under feet,
Hot blood in your belly.
It’s not something you ever thought about doing,
And so when you did –
You carried the anthem under your breath,
Waiting until the airport toilet
To tear up the passport and swallow,
Each mouthful of paper making it clear that
You would not be going back.
You have to understand,
No one puts their children in a boat
Unless the water is safer than the land.
Who would choose to spend
Days and nights in the stomach of a truck
Unless the miles travelled meant something more than journey.
no one would choose to crawl under fences,
be beaten until your shadow leaves you,
raped, then drowned,
forced to the bottom of the boat because you are darker,
be sold, starved, shot at the border like a sick animal,
be pitied, lose your name, lose your family,
make a refugee camp a home for a year or two or ten,
stripped and searched,
find prison everywhere and if you survive and
you are greeted on the other side with go home blacks,
refugees dirty immigrants,
asylum seekers sucking our country dry of milk,
dark, with their hands out smell strange,
savage – look what they’ve done to their own countries,
what will they do to ours?
The dirty looks in the street softer than a limb torn off,
the indignity of everyday life
more tender than fourteen men who look like your father,
between your legs, insults easier to swallow than rubble,
than your child’s body in pieces – for now,
forget about pride your survival is more important.
I want to go home,
but home is the mouth of a shark
home is the barrel of the gun and
no one would leave home unless
home chased you to the shore
unless home tells you to leave what you could not behind,
even if it was human.
no one leaves home until home is a damp voice in your ear
saying leave, run now, I don’t know what I’ve become.
Warsan Shire is Kenyan-born Somali poet, writer and educator based in London. Warsan is also the unanimous winner of the 2013 Inaugural Brunel University African Poetry Prize.
