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Italy, shaped like a boot, extends from southern Europe into the Adriatic, Tyrrhenian, and Mediterranean Seas. Its geography, with seas surrounding it and mountains dividing it into regions, has shaped its history.
The Alps run across the north, adorned with glacial lakes. Southward, the Apennines span the peninsula. West of the Apennines lie wooded hills housing historic cities like Rome. In the south, coastal areas are hot and dry, with fertile plains cultivating olives, almonds, and figs.
In 2020 Italy hosted the second largest population of Indians in Europe with over 200,000 Indians living there.
According to 2016 municipal register data, Italy has the highest number of Indians in continental Europe (151,000). Mass immigration from India to Italy started in the 1990s, but economic and political environments more conducive to the entry and permanent settlement of immigrants have resulted in more rapid growth of the Indian immigrant community in Italy.
Due to the unskilled and irregular nature of Indian immigration and the lack of integration policies for unskilled labour in both countries, the level of integration of Indian immigrants remains unexplored. In this research, we used a qualitative methodology to explore the integration level of Indian immigrants into different spheres of these host societies
We conducted 86 semi-structured interviews with Indian immigrants in seven cities with high concentration of Indian immigrants in both countries over 2016–2017. We found that the level of integration of Indian immigrants into the host societies is fragmented: some segments of the Indian community are integrated into specific spheres of the host societies, while the rest remain excluded
The main reasons for this fragmented integration are the absence of integration policies for unskilled immigrants, Indians’ provisional attitudes towards permanent settlement in these countries, the internal diversity of the Indian immigrant community and frequent international mobility through transnational networks.
Immigrating to Italy implies applying for a permanent residence before acquiring Italian citizenship. If you are interested in immigration to Italy and want to apply for one of the visas available for foreigners, our lawyers can guide you.
Below, our local lawyers who specialize in immigration matters in Italy offer a guide on how to obtain a permanent residence permit. We can also assist those who want to come to Italy as entrepreneurs or those who want to obtain Italian passports.
| Temporary residence permit types | – seasonal work, – self-employment, – study, – medical treatment, – family reunification, – refugee status, – humanitarian grounds, – elective residence |
| Time needed to obtain the temporary residence permit (approx.) | up to three months |
| Temporary residence permit validity | It depends on the reason of issuance and it varies from min. 6 months to max. 2 years |
| Documents for obtaining temporary residence | – the temporary residence application form, – the passport, – the visa, – recent photographs, – proof of paying a fee of EUR 14.62, – document attesting the purpose of stay |
| Mandatory registrations with state authorities (i.e. with the population/municipality register) | The state authorities vary based on the type of permit needed; they can refer to: – local municipalities, – Patronati offices, – Prefectures, – post office |
| Dependents can join the temporary permit holder | No – not available for first-time applicants (those who renew their residency from Italy can bring their family members in certain situations) |
| Temporary or permanent residency for investment purposes | Yes, for certain categories of visas (investor program) |
| Minimum temporary residence before applying for permanent residence | After 5 years of uninterrupted stay in Italy |
| Documents for obtaining permanent residence | – passport or identity document, – copy of the income statement, – evidence on housing in Italy, – the current residence documents, – proof of payment of fees |
| Naturalization requirements | – permanent residency for 5 years, – overall stay in Italy of 10 years, – tax residency in Italy, – proof of having at least the minimum income established in Italy, – proof of knowing the Italian language, culture and history |
| Citizenship after permanent residence | One can apply for citizenship after 5 years of being a permanent resident. |
Permanent residency is available for both EU and non-EU citizens who have lived in Italy for the prescribed periods under the country’s Immigration Law. Non-EU nationals have the right to apply for permanent residence permits after 5 years of continuously living in Italy, while for EU citizens the requirements are less stringent. They can apply for permanent residence if they intend to live in Italy for more than 90 days or 3 months.
Permanent residence for non-EU citizens is also available under the Golden Visa Scheme, however, this program targets wealthy individuals who want to move to Italy based on investments. The residence by investment program in Italy offers various advantages to the applicants.
Our immigration lawyers in Italy can offer expat support to non-EU citizens seeking to apply for permanent residence permits. Then, they can apply for Italian citizenship.
There are two types of residence permits which can be obtained in Italy: the temporary residence permit and the permanent residence permit. It must be noted that in order to obtain permanent residency in Italy, a temporary residence visa must first be obtained.
The temporary residency visa must be obtained by non-EU citizens when first arriving in Italy. EU citizens must only register with the police department in the city they live in without being required to apply for a temporary residence permit. However, both categories of individuals must live for a minimum period of 5 years before applying for permanent residence in Italy.
The residence permit can also be acquired by:
A country of outstanding natural beauty, historical wonders and a varied culture steeped in art, fashion, food and music – you’ll require specialist skills and a full grasp of the language if you have aspirations of working in Italy.
Despite the draws of a Mediterranean lifestyle, you’ll find that work for native English speakers is hard to come by due to the high competition for jobs. Foreign workers who can speak Italian and have the right combination of skills, qualifications and experience may still be able to find employment – especially in major cities such as Florence, Milan, Genoa and the capital Rome.
The global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has certainly had a major impact on the already-struggling Italian economy. It may be the world’s eighth biggest economy, according to the International Monetary Fund, but it relies heavily on its manufacturing and services industries.
Political and economic instability has resulted in an unemployment rate that’s into double figures – expected to reach 11.1% in 2020 and 11.3% in 2021 (Statista.com).
The contrast between the north and the south is stark – northern Italy is more industrialised and developed and known for its abundance of private companies, while the south relies heavily on agriculture and farming.
You’ll find that as the majority of the country’s 60.5 million inhabitants reside in the north, ambitious graduates are more likely to find work in large northern towns and cities such as Milan, Turin and Genoa.
Plus, as around 63 million travelers flock to Italy every year to see its famous sights, casual work and temporary contracts in the tourism industry are much easier to find than permanent employment in other sectors.
Depending on your background, finding vacancies for jobs in Italy might not be easy. Options for English-speakers include teaching English (other native language teaching jobs such as Italian are also available), working for a multinational company in sectors such as energy, finance or construction, or translation if you are bilingual. English teachers should look at BKC International and English First.
Sectors in Italy where there is higher demand include:
In St. Petersburg, there is a shortage of:
See below for an extensive list of construction-related job titles and occupations. Use this list to help power your job search.
| Profession | Euro per year |
| Dentist | 104,765 |
| General Director | 101,810 |
| Finance Director | 96,610 |
| Pilot | 51,305 |
| Auditor | 48,010 |
| Civil Engineer | 42,155 |
| Engineer | 39,085 |
| Chef | 36,950 |
| Nurse | 34,920 |
| Police officer | 34,740 |
| Teacher | 33,460 |
| Accountant | 31,925 |
| Waiter | 28,240 |
| Cashier | 25,455 |
| Porter | 24,890 |
| Secretary | 24,440 |
Citizens from different nations must have a job in Italy before applying for an Italian work visa. They also need a work permit, which the employer must apply using documents from the employee that works in their favor.
Along with the application, the employees will require the supporting documents like:
The permission to work and live in Italy involves a three-part process:
