ITALY
This profile has been created as an introductory guide to the common corporate immigration procedures for Italy. The intent is to provide a general outline of immigration processes only, since rules and requirements in every country are constantly changing and each case must be assessed on its own merits. For in depth advice relating to your specific queries, and details of other visas not listed here, please contact us.
Which Immigration Category?
The most common immigration route for non-EU foreign nationals to work temporarily in Italy is as an intra-company transferee on a Work Permit (Nulla Osta al Lavoro).
It must be noted that requirements for Italian work permits are different according to the Italian region of assignment or consulate application and for more specific regional information, you should contact your Newland Chase consultant.
Visa exemptions apply for various nationalities.
A) Overview of Work Permit Applications
General Points
- The employee must have worked for the overseas company for at least 6 months, or in some cases 6 months experience in the same field is accepted
- The employee must remain on the home company’s payroll
- The employee should be high qualified, generally to degree level
- The overseas company must be linked to the receiving company by common ownership
1. Work Permit Application
This must be applied for before the assignee enters Italy. Our agent would submit the application at the local Preffetura (government office), which would then be forwarded to the Italian Immigration Office (Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione). On approval, our agent would send it to the assignee in his current country of residence.
Processing times can take around 10-16 weeks, but may vary.
2. Work Visa Application
Once the Nulla Osta is issued, the assignee can then apply for a work visa – the Visa Nazionale – at the relevant Italian Consulate in their current country of residence. Until this visa is issued, the assignee cannot work in Italy. The visa must be applied for within 180 days of the issue date of the work permit.
Processing times for this stage are around 3-15 days from the date of submission.
3. Registration at the Prefettura and signing of Contract
Within 8 days of arrival in Italy, the assignee and any accompanying dependants must register at the local Prefettura. The assignee will have to sign his/her job contract (Contratto di Soggiorno).
4. Application for the Permit of Stay (Permesso di Soggiorno)
After registration, our agent would accompany the assignee to the Post Office for submitting the application for the Permit of Stay. This document serves as the ‘ID card’ for foreigners living in Italy and should be carried at all times.
The Permesso di Soggiorno allows the assignee to legally remain in Italy to live and work. However, before the final card is issued, the receipt should be carried at all times instead.
Around 6 months after submitting the application, the assignee will be invited for fingerprinting at the local Questura.
Processing times for the Permit of Stay are between 6 to 12 months.
What is the duration of a Work Permit?
Initially, the Work Permit can be requested for a maximum length of 24 months, which can be renewed up to a maximum of five years in total.
Dependants
In respect of Dependants who wish to accompany a foreign migrant worker to Italy, spouses, children up to the age of 18 and, in some circumstances, parents aged over 65 years old can apply to accompany the principal applicant. Once a Permit of Stay has been approved, Dependants may seek work without a work permit.
However, unmarried partners and same sex partners will not qualify for a dependant visa.
Non-compliance
Non-compliance with Italian immigration rules could incur penalties such as fines, revocation of visas or deportation. It is therefore of the utmost importance that your company is always up-to-date on the latest immigration requirements, and Newland Chase can take care of all your compliance needs. For details, please contact us.
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