How to Migrate to Italy – All You Need to Know

Historic Centre of Rome,

Natives of EU countries do not need a visa to move to Italy.
Italian work visas are limited by quotas
A student visa may be converted to a work visa at a later stage
To apply for an entrepreneur visa, a minimum of 50,000EUR is needed

Italy is a popular country with immigrants. The country has a rich history and a bright future. Read to find out more about how you can migrate to Italy.

Read: How To Get An Italian Startup Visa Or ISV

Italy, the land of pizza and the tower of Pisa. This European country is popular not only amongst tourists but also amongst migrants looking for a better quality of life. According to a census taken in January 2017, migrants accounted for 8.2% of Italy’s population.

This excludes the number of illegal immigrants in Italy. Most immigrants live in northern Italy, which is the most developed part of the country. Most people who migrate to Italy come from surrounding European states, Asia and Eastern Europe.

Years	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
Number of Immigrants in 1000s	3,023	3,402	3,648	3,879	4,052	4,388	4,922	5,014	5,026	5,047

Why Migrate To Italy

It is not surprising to note that the number of people who choose to migrate to Italy increases each year. Italy is as relevant today as it was in the renaissance period. It has some of the most beautiful cities in the world and Italians are quite friendly by nature.

In terms of education, 4 of the world’s oldest universities are in Italy. The cost of education is comparable to the rest of Europe and healthcare is affordable. Italians enjoy a good work-life balance and thus have a better quality of life than nationals of many other countries.

Do You Need a Visa To Migrate to Italy?

Italy is one of the Schengen Countries. Hence, different rules apply to citizens of other Schengen countries and citizens of non-Schengen countries. Simply put, citizens of other Schengen countries do not need a visa to migrate to Italy.

However, they will need to apply for work permits to work in Italy and a resident permit if they choose to stay in Italy for more than three months. Citizens of non-Schengen countries can apply for a Schengen National visa to migrate to Italy.

Top Ten Immigrant Origin Countries in 2017

Rank	Country	Number of Immigrants
1	Nigeria	17,100
2	Guinea	9,217
3	Bangladesh	8,870
4	Ivory Coast	8,753
5	Mali	6,461
6	Senegal	5,711
7	Gambia	5,649
8	Eritrea	5,616
9	Sudan	5,569
10	Morocco	5,193

Schengen National Visa

One of the main differences between the Uniform Schengen Visa and the Schengen National Visa is the duration of stay allowed. The former allows an individual to stay in Italy for a maximum of 90 days in a 6-month period through the actual visa may be valid for much longer. The National visa has no such rule and permits migrants to stay in Italy for as long as they want as long as the visa is valid.

A National Visa may be granted a single entry visa or a multi-entry visa. The latter allows the visa holder to travel in and out of Italy as they wish. While anyone can apply for a Uniform Schengen Visa, not everyone is eligible for a National visa. This is typically granted to international students, professionals, researchers, and people who want to migrate to Italy for work.

Italian Work Visas

The company employing the individual must apply for an Italian work visa. Italy follows a quota system for these visas. Hence, even if you fulfil the eligibility criteria, you may be granted a visa only if the quota of visas for your business sector has not been filled up.

Hence, the first step of applying for a work visa is to secure a job. This may be done while you are in Italy on a Schengen visa or before you get to Italy. The actual visa process is administered regionally, Hence the visa requirements may vary from place to place. Apart from a confirmation of a job, some of the common documents needed are:

A valid passport
Residence contract
Proof of having sufficient means of sustenance
Resume
Proof of qualifications

Along with the visa, people who migrate to Italy will also have to apply for a residence permit within a week of arriving in Italy.

Italian Student Visa

Since the number of work visas granted is limited, many people migrate to Italy on a student visa and later convert the same to a work visa. A student visa is usually valid for the duration of the course. The eligibility criteria for this visa include:

The applicant must be at least 18 years old
The applicant must be enrolled in a full-time course in an Italian educational institution
The applicant must have a valid passport
The applicant must have proof of adequate finances to support himself/herself
The applicant must have proof of accommodation
The applicant must plan to return to the country of origin after the course ends.

International students are permitted to work part-time for up to twenty hours a week on a student visa after getting a work permit.

Italian Entrepreneurial Visa

An Entrepreneur Visa can be applied for by the applicant directly or through a certified incubator.

The initial documents required to apply directly for an Entrepreneur visa are:

Completed Application form to migrate to Italy as an entrepreneur
Cover letter
Documentary evidence proving that the applicant has access to a minimum of 50,000EUR to develop the startup
Ppt Presentation deck that describes the main features of the proposed business, innovativeness and growth potential
Business plan including the costs of operation and revenues foreseen

When applying through an incubator, the documents required include:

Agreement from a certified incubator to host the applicant in its premises
Documentary evidence proving that the applicant has access to a minimum of 50,000EUR to develop the startup
Ppt Presentation deck that describes the main features of the proposed business, innovativeness and growth potential
Business plan including the costs of operation and revenues foreseen
Resume

The documents can be emailed to the Italian Startup Visa Committee. They will assess the application and obtain a provisional Certificate of No Impediment for entry to Italy by the local police headquarters. The applicant must then visit the Italian embassy with the following documents to apply for a visa:

Provisional Certificate of No Impediment for entry to Italy
Proof of accommodation in Italy
Proof of having sufficient means of sustenance
Hard Copy of the application form and cover letter submitted earlier
Valid passport
4 Passport sized photographs

A startup self-employment visa is usually granted for a period of 1 year. This may be renewed later. The applicant must also apply for a 1-year self-employment permit within a week of arriving in Italy.

Residence Permit

Anyone who wants to migrate to Italy for more than 90 days continuously needs to apply for a resident permit. This includes students and seasonal workers. Application kits for residence permits are usually available at national post offices. The different types of permits one can apply for are:

Permit to stay (Permesso di soggiorno) -This is necessary for non-EU nationals. It has a limited validity but may be renewed.
Non-EU permanent residence card(Carta di soggiorno) – Non-EU citizens need this type of residence permit after living in Italy for more than 5 years, It is valid indefinitely.
EU citizens permanent residence card (Carta di soggiorno Cittadini U.E.) – EU citizens who stay in Italy for more than 3 months require this permit.