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I’ve been in Italy for 2 years on student visas and was never required to sign this agreement for my permesso (I”ve made two separate applications). Also, I have never been contacted for proof of anything before my permessos expired.
Hi Robin,
It is stated that anyone who is not EU, and who requests an Italian permit of stay for more than 12 months is required to sign the integration agreement.
The official wording: “As from 10 March 2012, with the coming into force of the regulation defining the integration agreement, foreign nationals aged over sixteen that enter Italy for the first time and file an application for the issuance of the residence permit with a duration of at least one year, shall sign an agreement with the Italian State.”
I had to sign this agreement too. But my big problem was, they forgot to give me the form until later and called me to come back. By then, the civil class I was assigned to was past. They said not to worry. Well, I did worry. And I never could figure out how to get reassigned. But in the end, I had enough points with the A2 test results, I bought a house and enrolled in Italian health plan. A big sigh of relief by me.
Hi Nancy,
Not the first time I’ve heard this. It is haphazard as to who is presented with it.
The Italian language test does provide quite a lot of points so yes, I can see how it worked out for you to use the points from that and from buying a house.
I have lived in Firenze since 2008. I speak adequate Italian and am well aware of these basic fact and many others like how to get internet installed. I have never heard of any of this but have renewed my PdS six times. I will be taking the language exams this year sometime and renewing in October so I will keep my eye open but this is all news to me. Kimberly Breeze
Hi, it started in 2012 so if your permesso (or you must have full residency now, right?) pre-dates that, then you’re exempt.
Hrmm…also, if a foreigner is considered to have a disability:
“EXEMPTED from subscription are those suffering from disease or disability that seriously limit self-sufficiency or cause grave difficulties in language or cultural learning, certified by a public health organisation or by a National Health doctor.”
So it looks like I don’t have to do the course or language requirement! (I’m a deaf American).
Hi Shiela,
Thanks for stopping by. I imagine that would exempt you. I checked out your website, what a great resource!
Thanks! My site is still WIP, but thanks for stopping by!
Hi Chandi
Thanks for the info, signed up for your website.
I was aware of the post office thing, also we made a visit to the cops last month when we were in Trapani and they told us, don’t come here go to somewhere else so it must be where you said.
My confusion is with the must do” stuff. The civil 5 hour thing is no problem and with the amount of points you get for signing up, doing it, getting a g which we will as soon as we get PDJ, and I plan to volunteer with animal rescue groups, there would easily be 30 points. I am willing to go to the local uni to take Italian classes if they give them its right near where we are going to live in Trapani but I suck at languages and will I’m sure get better as I live there but a written test scares the crap out of me. I lived in Sot Africa for 12 years wit 14 official languages but even my Afrikaner friends spoke English and my gardener was from Zimbabwe where they speak English and Zulu so I returned knowing English. If I can get enough points doing other things do I still have to pass a language test? Verbal not too scared , written terrified. My husband is already fairly proficient but he speaks Spanish.
Also we are bringing our dog. Do you have any experience with this or know anyone who has?
I brought my cats to SA this seems more complicated.
Thanks Holly McClean
Hi Holly,
Thanks for signing up!
I think you are at the overwhelm stage which is super normal. Believe me, I get it!
I can tell you that in some ways it gets a bit calmer when you get to Italy. Yes, there are still steps to deal with and things to get a grip on, but everything feels slowed down here and “piano piano” it will get done, just taking it step by step. I think it feels more frenzied before departure.
So, for the language, what may be best is to take classes and get the certificate from your teachers, after you’ve achieved a level of A2. That way you don’t have to take a test. It is my understanding that demonstrating that level of proficiency is imperative no matter how many other points you have from other things.
Hi chandi
Thanks for the info. I brought my cats to South Africa and my dog back to NYC 12 years later. But the Italian rules are alittle more complicated. Ill just have to do my best with the language.
We have a lease and have spent alot of time in Trapani over the past 6 years.
We will be both formally retirex as of Sept and will make sure we do it all right and hopefully get our elective residency .We have some friends in Trapani who are as we say in NYC “our guys” so that will help.
My vets are OCD and my husband is great at paperwork.
Thanks again
Holly McClean
I went to Trapani once on my way to Favignana. Loved Favignana. Will let you know if I get down that way!
We wont be there til mid Jan, but I will definately keep in touch and probably bombard you with ?s. I have 117,000 trip advisor readers on only 100 something reviewsonly part of it Im proud of is 12% of them are Italian.
Thanks again
Cant wait for a peaceful life by the sea, with no ketchup..
“with no ketchup” LOL!
We are planning a trip for 5 months, more than the 90 day no visa needed time, is this still all necessary ?
Hi Paolina,
My posts are about how to move to Italy. If you are not planning to move but want to stay longer than 3 months, you will have to understand the Schengen agreement and what your options are related to that. As you know the Agreement allows you to be Italy (or another country which is part of the agreement) for a max of 90 days.
I can make some “suggestions” here but I am NOT a lawyer or a border official or a consulate employee. Please take my suggestions only as things for you to look into and become more informed about.
1) This work-around would only apply to you if you had MORE time than 5 months: After your consecutive 90 days in Italy, you leave and go to a non-schenegen country like the UK or one of Balkan countries another consecutive 90-day period, and then you’d be allowed to re-enter Italy and spend up to 90 days again.
2) I have heard that it “may” be possible to get a 30 day extension to the 90 day tourist visa. You could inquire about this at an Italian Consulate. If this is possible you could reduce your visit to 4 months instead of 5.
3) If you don’t like numbers one and two, and want to remain in Italy beyond the 90 days you must apply at an Italian Consulate for a “long-stay visa” such as elective residency where you demonstrate that you have enough $ in the bank to support yourself. In my opinion this process is too involved to go through only for 2 extra months’ stay in Italy.
This is such helpful information! I’ve just started learning the language and wasn’t sure how critical it would be for a move, so I’m thrilled to hear that it will be important in the process. We’re just starting to look into the requirements and tips for moving to Italy, so this couldn’t be more perfectly timed! I can’t wait to dig into the rest of this series!
I have been taking Italian for years and could pass the A2 exam in writing. I would like to do this begore renewing my PdS. Do you know where I can take a test to prove proficiency? As I purchase a property before getting my ER visa, do I just show them my deed to qualify for those points? thanks!
Hi Liz,
Go to the site of the Ministero dell’Interno:
https://testitaliano.interno.it
To get signed up for the test or go to a local INAC office. See more here about who/what INAC is:
http://paradiseofexiles.com/permit-to-stay/
ottimo, grazie!
Dear Chandi, My name is Desere Rodrigues, I am an Indian, married to an Italian for the last 5 years. We moved to Rome, Italy 3 years agos and I recieved all my paperwork last november.
My son arrives from Toronto, Canada next week for us to start the process on his residency.
I have been issued a ‘permesso’ for 5 years as we have a minor child as well.
Just for my infomation, are the procedures you have mentioned going to be the same for my son, or does his ‘permesso’ go on what is called ‘family reunification’, I would appreciate if i could be given some more infomation on this.
Thank you in advance for your attention.
Regards. Desere Rodrigues
Desere,
I have not dealt with going through this process with a minor child. Any info I can give you will be basic and you may already know it.
What I know is that you can apply for the EU Long Term Residence Permit for your child who is under the age of 18 years and who is living with you. If you reside legally in Italy you can have your children included in your residence permit and/or that of your spouse provided they are under the age of 14.
After the age of 14, the child can get a separate residence permit for family reasons valid until age 18.
I believe (but check this with your local INAC office) that to apply for the child you have to demonstrate that you have been residing legally in Italy for at least 5 years, and that your income is sufficient to support yourself and your family members, and you have to show you’ve passed the language test.
Hi Chandi Wyant,
I am getting ready to renew my permesso di soggiorno for the third two year period. My Italian Visa is a resid elettiva. I have completed the integration program. I attended the five one hour classes and I have received my certificate of A 2 in the Italian language. I’ve been told that the only way to receive a residence permesso is to return to the USA and apply for a new “Visa”. The official at my questura laugh when I mention the integration agreement.
To receive Italian Medical I must pay €380 as must my wife. Still cheap but not residence cheap.
I am getting ready to read the rest of your Steps to living in Italy, however, I wanted to get you take on my integration agreement.
Thanks
George
Hi George, so interesting that you have an ER visa and have been given two-year periods as usually that visa is given for one-year periods. What consulate did you use? I imagine you know that after 5 years of successfully renewing, you can apply for permanent residency which means you no longer have to renew?
The questura guy laughing doesn’t surprise me. The enforcement of this law is really scattered. Some questuras enforce it and some don’t. But it’s better to do it. You never know, your questura could get a new official who suddenly wants to enforce it.
I have no idea what this info is that you received about needing to return to the US to get a residence permit. I am unclear about what’s going on there… within 20 days of getting your first permesso did you not apply for the residency certificate at the Ufficio Anagrafe? And each time your permesso is renewed you have to go back to the Ufficio Anagrafe to update them. Then when your 5 years are up, you apply for the permanent residency. If you are following that path no one should be telling you that you have return to the US for any of the bureaucracy.
Thanks Chandi.
Until now we have/had never heard of the Uffico Anagrafe! I also have no idea where it is in Arezzo, however, I will root it out. My visa story is
also odd. I lived in Utah and was directed to the San Francisco
Consulate from where I was told I would not receive a visa and
do not waste your money applying, (our savings are in my wife’s
name) so i went back a second time with all of the correct forms
filled out and asking for a family visa. Same answer, wrong form
this time really rude. Then went to Boston and received visa (with letter from my
wife that she would be responsible for me.) w/in a week! I do have the Carta
D’Identità from the Comune in Arezzo.
Hi George,
The ufficio anagrafe is the vital statistics office, Go here to read more about it: http://paradiseofexiles.com/italian-citizenship/
The Boston Consulate does seem particularly helpful, I noticed that too when I happened to contact them.
Hi Chandi! Done my civic class today. I thought they will give us certificate for that but i didnt receive anything. I remember it only when im at home already thats why not able to asked about it from the facilatator. Another question, just got my PDS last month and it will expire on april, as i will renew it do i have to present my A2 certificate already? Thank you
Ciao Fatima,
I too did not receive any proof of having taken the civic life course.
Yes, it is my understanding that you should be ready to present your A2 certificate when you go to renew the permesso. Be sure to start the renewal process at least two months before the expiry date.
Hi,
I am from India and I have been here in italy for 1 year on study visa. I got a form like this from the questura . I just wanted to know about the civic 5hr class and the italian language exam ,when and where should i do it.
Dears,
I joint to civil training, passed A2 Exam, registered to ASL and chosen GP, signed multi year tenancy agreement and submitted CAF. However, I still see zero points on website (https://accordointegrazione.dlci.interno.it/). How did you register your points? What should I do?
HI Chandi, I am having a lot of trouble finding out information so perhaps you can tell me …
Australia has an agreement for a 12months working holiday visa in Italy. Maximum 6 months work and $$ in the bank etc. No requirements for language courses etc. My 18 y.o. twin daughters got this at the consulate in Sydney. It all sounded very straightforward with an appointment at the questura, take your photos, copies of passports etc. to the Questura, buy a stamp, post it off and wait for your permit to stay to arrive.
So, upon arriving in Italy went to the Questura in Brescia but they were sent to the Workers Union. I don’t think the Workers Union really knew what to do with them! They refused to take their photos etc. but filled out paperwork for them, told them to buy their stamps and lodge it with the post office, which they did.
They received their postal receipts but having next to no Italian on arrival didn’t attempt to read it so missed their appointment date at the questura. One of girls received a letter telling her to present at the Questura within 28 days which she did. Her sister went with her but the Questura refused to talk to her telling her to come back when she had her letter.
The one that did have her letter eventually saw someone who shoved paperwork at her to sign, asked for her photos etc. told her to sign something, gave her a wad of papers and sent her away.
She had signed an integration agreement!
This is quite different to the Working Holiday Visa. I have contacted the Italian consulate in SYdney but they haven’t answered. The Australian embassy just said ‘ask the questura”. But they won’t talk to the girls and their Italian isn’t good enough to argue with them. Do you think there any way she can get it changed to what she actually was supposed to get? How should we do it?
Or should she just go with the flow!?
Hi Annette, I don’t know why they were sent to the workers union. perhaps the person at the questura was unfamiliar with this type of visa. I am not familiar with it myself, but I highly recommend they go an INAC office (also known as Patronato) see my post about it here
I strongly recommend getting help from INAC first before going to the questura. At INAC there is a person in charge of helping immigrants and that person will fill out the questura forms and tell you exactly what you need to bring to your appointment, and in the case of your daughters, hopefully the person at INAC would be familiar with that type of visa and would be able, at this point, to sort out what your daughters need to do. Then, since they don’t speak Italian, I recommend that they bring someone with them to their appointment who speaks both English and Italian.
Also, since their appointment has come and gone, they could try just showing up, with a person who speaks both languages, and see if some questions can be asked. At smaller questuras, in my experience, this is possible. For example at the Lucca one, if I showed up in the last hour before they closed, it was possible to ask some questions without an appointment. But I’d first head to an INAC office.
Ciao Chandi, I really enjoyed reading your blog on the The Integration Agreement, it was vey helpful. My wife and I just bought our apartment in Cefalu and will close the last week of June. My grandfather Rosario Bellini was born in Castelvetrano and I am going to get my Citizenship over the next 3 years through Naturalization using the The Integration Agreement and the residence permit. I wanted to ask if there is a specific questura that I have to go to for Cefalu? The reason I ask is I have read that the questura in Palermo is not very friendly and very crowded and I prefer to go to a questura that is in a smaller town. Also I need to learn Italian at a level of A2 (and receive a certificate from the instructor) and wanted to ask if it is better to wait and take the course once I arrive in Sicily? My wife and I will be traveling back and forth from the States to Sicily making sure to not be away from Italy more than 6 months of course each year. I will be working remotely from Cefalu in the company that my wife owns doing accounting, payroll and other clerical duties for the company remotely. Thank you again for sharing youe experiences. We are very excited. David and Carolina Bellino (My family name is Bellini from my Grandfather Rosario Bellini but when he arrived at Ellis Island they misspelled our last name and he was so happy to be in the States he didn’t dare say a word. lol.)
Hi David,
I am glad you found the post helpful. If Cefalu does not have its own questura and if it is the questura of Palermo that acts as the questura for Cefalu and if your address is in Cefalu then yes, you need to use Palermo’s questura. If you want a questura in a small town then you need to get an address in a small town.
Regarding learning Italian, I wouldn’t wait. There’s no time like the present to start the process of learning Italian. My understanding is that you don’t have take their specific course. Like if you already speak Italian, you would just take the test to show that you have the A2 level. So start learning it however you can. If you can get yourself to an A2 before you move there, you should be able to just take the test.
Where is your base in the US?
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