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Fast, reliable, diligentImmigrate to Italy
Italy attracts a great number of foreigners on a yearly basis. The good economic and labor conditions the country offers, together with the legislation which encourages foreign investments to attract many overseas individuals who relocate to Italy for work or business reasons. Italy is also part of the European Union which facilitates the transition to other member states.
With the help of our immigration lawyers in Italy, foreigners can benefit from complete services related to moving to this country. With a vast experience in immigration matters, our Italian lawyers can offer the necessary support to those interested in relocating to Italy for various reasons.
Who is required to apply for a visa for Italy?
Italy is an EU member state which means that citizens from EU countries need not obtain residence permits when relocating here. However, they do need to register with the local police station in the city they live within 8 days from their arrival in the country.
For citizens of non-EU countries, the requirements are more stringent, meaning that these persons need to apply for one of the available types of visas prior to entering the country. Luckily, Italy is one of the most open European countries when it comes to immigration. The government provides for various types of visas that can be obtained by citizens of non-EU countries.
Through these visas, foreigners can simply reside, work or start their own companies in Italy.
With the help of our immigration lawyers in Italy, foreign citizens can discover the best visa to suit their immigration needs.
Immigration services available in Italy
- assistance in obtaining various types of visas for immigrating to Italy;
- assistance in obtaining Italian citizenship under the local legislation;
- assistance in applying for residence permits with the Italian authorities;
- assistance in applying for appeals related to immigration to Italy;
- assistance in applying for work-related permits in Italy;
- guidance in corporate and business immigration to Italy - obtaining golden visa for Italy.
All the services offered by our specialists in immigration to Italy are personalized.
Types of visas in Italy
Foreign citizens interested in Italian immigration can solicit one of the following types of visas with the authorities, under the Visa Code of 2009:
- the Schengen visas, which are divided into 3 categories: A, B and C and which grant foreigners from non-EU countries to travel through the EU without applying for other visas;
- the limited territorial visas which are usually issued for humanitarian purposes;
- long-term residence visas which are issued for periods of more than 3 months and which allow for multiple exits and entries in Italy;
- temporary and permanent residence permits which have a validity period of 5 years and which can lead to citizenship in Italy.
If you want to apply for one of the types of visas or residence permits mentioned above, our Italy immigration attorneys can advise you.
Document requirements for obtaining Italian visas
In order to apply for any type of Italian visa, a foreigner will need to prepare and submit various types of documents. These will depend on the visa applied for and the reason for coming to Italy. For the tourist visa, for example, the requirements are less stringent, and the foreign citizen will need to submit the application form issued by the Italian Immigration Office, the valid passport, the flight ticket, the travel insurance and the proof of accommodation. The tourist visa is quite easy to obtain.
When it comes to other types of visas, foreign citizens will need the valid passport (the usual validity period of a passport ranges between 5 and 10 years), the reason for which they are entering Italy (supporting documents, such as invitations and official letters), recent photographs and a valid insurance policy. Foreigners will also need to prove that they are self-sufficient, meaning they have enough money to support themselves during their stay. A bank receipt will usually suffice in this case.
In the following cases, specific documents will be required:
- for students, the enrollment forms and sponsorship from the university are required;
- for employees, the employment contract must be submitted with the visa application form;
- for sole traders, the valid business license is required as a proof;
- for retired foreign persons, the pension coupons of the last 6 months are also required.
Those who want to bring their children along must have the children’s birth certificates on them. In case one of the spouses travels alone with the children, a court order allowing the parent to take the children out of the country and the consent of the other parent are required.
The documentation needed to be submitted when applying for an Italian visa is not complicated, however, the applicant must pay attention to their status and the reasons they enter Italy for in order to prepare in accordance. This is why in most cases specialized advice is needed. Our specialists in immigration to Italy can help foreign citizens from third-countries to prepare and put in order the documentation related to applying for any type of visa.
We have also prepared a scheme showing the main ways of immigrating to Italy:
The residence permit or permesso di soggiorno in Italy
The residence visa or permesso di soggiorno is one of the most sought types of visa for Italy. This document allows third-country nationals to legally live and work in Italy. Moreover, it guarantees the right to travel to other EU countries without being required to apply for additional visas.
The residence permit can be obtained based on a temporary visa, the applicant is required to go to the nearest police station in the city or town he or she lives in order to be taken into evidence. The maximum number of days allowed to live in Italy based on any type of visa apart from the residence permit is 8.
Do not hesitate to reach out to our immigration lawyers in Italy for more information on the requirements related to appearing before the police officers in order to be taken into evidence.
The work permit in Italy
A foreign citizen who has applied and obtained a job with an Italian company will be issued a work permit or employment visa. In this case, the procedure is different, as the employing company must conduct the necessary procedures in order to obtain the work permit on behalf of the foreign worker.
The foreign citizen will need to contact the Italian Embassy or Consulate in his or her home country in order to apply for the work visa there. Our immigration attorneys in Italy can guide in this procedure.
How to obtain residency by investment in Italy
In 2017, the Italian government created a program through which foreign citizens who want to relocate to Italy can apply for a residence permit by investment. The conditions for this program are:
- the minimum amount to be invested is 2 million euros in bonds issued by the government, bonds or shares issued by companies;
- investments in innovative startups are also allowed – the minimum amount required is 500,000 euros;
- investments of 1 million euros can be made in cultural projects or activities;
- the investment must be kept for a minimum period of 2 years.
Based on any of these investments, the businessman will be issued a 2-year investor visa which can be renewed for an additional period of 3 years.
Self-employment in Italy
One of the main ways of immigrating to Italy is through a self-employment visa. This one of the most important options for those who want to have a small business after relocating to Italy. In order to obtain such a visa, a foreign citizen must meet certain requirements.
Foreign citizens interested in immigration in Italy through a self-employment residence permit must know that there is a limited number of activities they can undertake. Among these, handcrafts and professional activities that require qualifications. It is also possible for those applying for a self-employment visa for Italy to engage in various trades and commercial activities. The good news about this visa is that it can be obtained by sole traders immigrating to Italy.
The self-employment visa is also available for foreign citizens coming as employees of Italian companies in which they take directorship roles.
The documents required to obtain such a visa imply submitting proof of sufficient financial resources and qualifications when it comes to professionals.
Our lawyers in Italy can explain all the requirements related to obtaining a self-employment visa in this country.
The student visa in Italy
Italy is not attractive for those looking to immigrate for work reasons only, as some of the Italian cities are recognized as university centers in which the number of foreign students increases by the year. For those who want to study here, the student visa is the most suitable option.
In order to obtain a student visa for Italy, a foreign citizen must first enroll with a university in this country and be accepted, after which the foreign student must present proof acceptance with the Italian consulate or embassy in their home countries. Other documents must also be presented, however, most students do not know they need such proof.
There are also other conditions to be accepted in Italy based on a student visa and these conditions can be explained by our lawyers.
It is good to know that the student visa is the only type of visa that can be converted into a work permit. In other words, a student finishing the courses of an Italian university can work in Italy after converting the student visa into an employment permit.
How to retire to Italy
Italy is one of the few European countries to provide for special conditions for senior citizens to immigrate to Italy after they have retired from work in their home countries. In order to retire to Italy, a foreign citizen must submit proof of pension where the minimum amount of money earned per year is 31,000 euros.
Foreign citizens can retire with their spouses, however, Italy also welcomes their children to provide that an additional amount of money is presented as proof of sustenance.
Schengen visas for Italy
Italy is not only an EU member state but also a Schengen area member which means that the government has adopted the policies related to immigration based on Schengen visas. The most required Schengen visa is the national one which enables foreign citizens to travel to other member states freely.
Our immigration lawyers in Italy can help foreigners apply for any type of visa based on their eligibility criteria.
How can our Italy immigration lawyers help you?
The first thing to do when interested in immigrating to Italy is to get in touch with us and present us your situation. Based on that preliminary discussion, our lawyers will propose the best way for you to immigrate to Italy.
An important aspect to consider when immigrating to Italy is that the visa will depend on whether you are an EU or non-EU citizen, so our lawyers know how to guide you in the best possible way and present all of the options available based on your citizenship.
Once our solution has been tailored to your needs and requests, you will be required to send us the documents imposed by the law, so we can start the immigration or permanent visa application procedure.
Our immigration attorneys in Italy will keep in touch with you through all the phases of the procedure.
Why choose our immigration services in Italy?
As mentioned earlier, all our services are personalized, therefore your case will be treated individually from the beginning to the end. Also, once you have decided to work with us all your personal information will be confidential and disclosed only to the authorities upon filing the documents needed for immigration to Italy.
Why immigrate to Italy?
There are many reasons for which foreign citizens seek to immigrate to Italy and according to the National Statistics Office, the number of migrants has increased at a steady pace in the last few years, in 2017 being registered one of the largest numbers of migrants of 301,000 persons.
Here is what you need to know if you want to immigrate to Italy:
- as a student, you will need at least 900 euros per month as proof of self-sustenance;
- for investors, the minimum amount of money required is 50,000 euros invested through the StartUp Visa Program;
- foreign citizens must register with the local police station within 8 days from arriving in the country;
- the validity period of a temporary residence permit for Italy can be of 5 years for non-EU citizens.
What are the main benefits for immigrating to Italy?
- access to a large labor market – Italy offers plenty of temporary and permanent jobs for immigrants;
- the possibility of entering other European Union countries, considering Italy’s membership;
- Italy is one of the most open European countries for migrants from EU and non-EU countries;
- the easy integration with the locals is one of the main advantages of immigrating to Italy;
- the possibility of immigrating to Italy through a wide range of visas (Italy offers a great number of visas compared to other countries);
- Italy has a special program for citizenship for investors, thus addressing all types of immigrants;
- safety – Italy is one of the safest countries in Europe and the European Union at the moment.
There are also other reasons for which one can decide to immigrate to Italy and our lawyers who specialize in immigration matters can help them no matter their nationality.
Italy’s labor market is very appealing
There are several types of work visas a foreign citizen from a non-EU country can apply for if he or she wants to immigrate to Italy. From short-term to temporary work visas, a foreigner can find a job in some of the most important industries in Italy: trading, agriculture, and fishery.
We kindly invite you to seek the help of our immigration lawyers in Italy if you want to apply for a work visa.
We kindly invite you to seek the help of our immigration lawyers in Italy if you want to apply for a work visa.
Easy access to other EU countries
Being a member of the European Union, from Italy, the holder of a residence permit can freely move in the other states. They can work or set up companies in other EU countries while living in Italy without the need of obtaining residence permits in those countries.
Italy has a friendly approach toward immigrants
Not only has Italy adhered to some of the most important international treaties and conventions on immigration, but its own policies and legislation are welcoming towards foreign citizens. Our immigration lawyers in Italy can offer information on the legislation concerning immigration.
Italy offers easy integration with the local community
We mentioned above Italy’s friendly approach towards immigrants and some of its policies refer to the creation of various programs which help them integrate with the local community. Cultural activities and assistance in learning Italian are just two of the programs created with this purpose.
Italy offers various types of visas
The greater the number of visas to apply, the easier it is to immigrate to a country, and this is the case of Italy. Foreign citizens have various options in terms of visas: from work visas which can be obtained under the form of religious or scientific research visas to family reunification visas, a foreigner can choose the best type of permit for immigration to Italy.
Our lawyers in Italy can offer complete information on all types of visas you can apply for, but most importantly, can help you select the one that suits your interests best.
Italy’s citizenship by investment scheme
Recently, Italy has enabled a citizenship by investment program through which non-EU investors can move to Italy by purchasing a property or setting up a business. The great advantage of this program is that the investor can choose the way to spend their money while making a significant contribution to the Italian economy.
Italy is a safe country to immigrate to
Compared to other European countries, Italy is quite safe and cheap for those seeking to move to Europe, which is why it is quite appealing for foreign citizens, including those in other European countries.
If you need more advantages of immigrating to Italy, you will be interested in knowing that immigration has had a positive impact on the local economy considering:
- non-EU immigrants have contributed with 16,5 billion euros to the Italian economy in recent years;
- compared to that amount, the Italian government has spent 12,6 billion euros with them;
- more than 600,000 pensions have been received by Italian citizens thanks to the value added by immigrants to the economy;
- considering 1 in 10 Italians is over the age of 75, immigrants have contributed to the rejuvenation of the population.
What are the main aspects to consider when preparing to immigrate to Italy?
There is no definition of a “correct” preparation for immigration, however, there are a few steps which can help applicants know the documents required and what to expect during the procedure.
Our lawyers in Italy strongly advise you to:
- verify the Italian legislation which is applicable to your country of residence;
- check the type of visa you are interested in and see if you qualify for it (each visa comes with different requirements);
- obtain firsthand information from specialists at the Italian Embassy or Consulate in your country and specialists in Italy (our lawyers can assist in this sense);
- start preparing the documents you will need to obtain the visa (the passport, first of all);
- prepare for the interview with the authorities (most visa applicants will go through an interview).
If you check at least the first 3 points of the advice above, you will find it easier to go through the actual visa application process. With the help of our immigration lawyers in Italy, the preparation for immigrating to Italy can be easier.
Immigrants and the Italian legislation
One of the most important aspects to verify when preparing to immigrate to Italy is the laws of the country. We can tell you that Italy has a friendly approach to foreign citizens coming from both EU and non-EU countries, with the mention that visa requirements apply for non-EU immigrants.
When it comes to the type of visas required, there are several types of visas under which a foreigner can enter Italy, according to the laws here.
If you need more information on the legislation and immigration policies in Italy, our lawyers can guide you or can direct you to the regulations applicable to your country of origin.
Choose the right type of visa for Italy
One of the most important aspects when preparing to immigrate to Italy is to select the right visa. This will not only maximize your chances to immigrate but will also help you speed up the process.
Italian visas are usually granted for 4 purposes:
- for doing business;
- for employment;
- for residence;
- for studying.
The student visa is simpler to obtain if you enroll with an Italian school a few months before applying for the visa.
Businesspersons interested in immigrating to Italy, on the other hand, must prepare more thoroughly, because the Italian immigration authorities, meaning the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, will carefully review all the documents they submit.
When it comes to employment visas, a work contract which must comply with specific requirements must be in place at the moment the visa application is submitted. It is also important to know that the Italian employer will play an important role in the visa application procedure.
Those aiming at immigrating to Italy for simple residential purposes have the possibility of applying for an elective residence visa which also comes with various requirements.
As you have read here, the preparation for obtaining a visa for Italy depends entirely on how good your research and information is. This is why our lawyers are at your disposal with updated information.
How can an immigration lawyer prepare you for relocation to Italy?
First of all, our immigration lawyers in Italy will offer tailored advice, meaning that they will address your specific situation. Then, we will help you prepare all the documents you need for a successful application (we will even review every document). The last stage will be preparing you for the visa interview.
Here is what you should know about Italian visas:
- your passport must have at least a 3-month validity period at the time you apply for the visa;
- if you are a non-EU citizen, you will also need health insurance which covers medical expenses of at least 37,500 euros;
- you must register with the police station in the Italian city you have moved to within 8 days from your arrival;
- temporary residence permits have different validity periods which start at 6 months and up to 2 years.
For full details on the immigration services available in Italy and for a personal consultation, do not hesitate to contact us anytime. Our immigration lawyers in Italy can offer detailed information on the investor visa which can be obtained under this program. We also have the necessary experience in assisting with obtaining other types of visas for Italy.
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