Work Permits
American citizens who have a job offer in Italy or wish to work in the country, either temporarily or permanently, must be provided with a Work Permit obtained by the prospective employer and must obtain a work visa from the Italian Consular authorities before coming to Italy. A written job offer or an employment contract is not regarded as a valid document for working in Italy. The prospective employer is required to apply for preliminary clearance from the provincial employment office (Ufficio Provinciale del Lavoro e della Massima Occupazione) in the proposed city of employment by submitting evidence that persons qualified for the position offered to a non-resident foreigner are not available in the local labor market. If clearance is granted, the prospective employer is further required to obtain a Work Permit with the approval of the regional and central authorities. The permit is then sent to the worker so that he or she may apply for the entry visa. There are Italian consular offices in most major cities in the U.S. The procedure for professional and self-employment is basically the same as that described above. A permit to reside in Italy for the purpose of employment is obtained after arrival in the country from the central police office having jurisdiction.
Italy uses a Quota System to define the number of foreign citizens that are admitted into the country for work purposes. A visa can be processed in two categories within the Quota System. The visa for Autonomous Workers is for those who intend to enter Italy to practice a profession independently or to set-up an enterprise and be self-employed. The application for this visa must be submitted to the Central Immigration Desk. The other visa category is for Subordinate Workers, those who intend to work for an employer and whose salary has been agreed upon between the employer and the employee. The Central Immigration Office processes applications for each of these visa categories on a “first come, first-served” basis. Details are available at the Ministero del Interno. You can open the page with Google Chrome or download a translation browser button to your browser.
You also can qualify for a Work Permit in special categories that are not included in the Quota System. The following categories of work are exempt from the Quota System:
- Highly qualified workers/managers
- Language University lecturers
- University professors who will hold an academic post in Italy
- Translators and interpreters
- Foreign home-helpers who have had a full-time engagement abroad for at least one year with Italian or EU citizens transferring to Italy
- Foreigners authorized to reside in Italy for professional training purposes
- Foreigner workers who are employees of organizations or businesses that operate in the Italian territory and are assigned to Italy to finalize a specific project or job.
- Foreign seamen
- Foreign workers assigned to an Italian Company to carry out specific services in the Italian territory on the basis of a services agreement.
- Foreign nationals who work for circuses or traveling shows
- Foreign cast and crew members for opera or drama shows, music concerts, ballet shows
- Foreign Dancers, artists and musicians working in entertainment facilities
- Artists who will be employed by musical, theatrical and film businesses in radio and television businesses and by cultural and folkloric demonstrations
- Foreign nationals engaged in any type of professional sports activity with Italian sports clubs
- Foreign press correspondents officially credited to Italy
- Foreign nationals engaged in research or occasional jobs, under the provisions of international treaties in force in which Italy is a partner
- Foreign nationals under youth exchange programs
You will need a Business visa if you plan to be in Italy for a short period of time for economic-commercial purpose, contacts or deals or verification of goods or products purchased or sold in the context of a commercial contract.
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