The procedure

PATH TO OBTAINING A RESIDENCE PERMIT

A visa is an authorization granted to foreigners allowing entry into the Schengen Area and the Italian Republic.

TYPES OF VISAS FOR ITALY

Our legal system recognizes 20 different types of Visas

SHORT-TERM STAY (Uniform Schengen Visa)

Business Visa
Entry into Italy to a foreigner who intends to travel for economic-commercial purposes
Sports competition Visa
Entry into Italy to foreign sportsmen/sportswomen, who intend to take part in individual competitions or series of sporting events recognised by the Italian National Olympic Committee
Visa by invitation
Entry into Italy to a foreigner who has been invited as a guest at particular events of political, scientific or cultural nature
Transit Visa
To transit throught the territories of the Contracting Parties during a journey from a third State to another third State
Transport Visa
Entry to a foreigner intending to travel to Italy for a short period of time in order to carry out a professional activity connected with the transport Transport Visa
Tourist Visa
Entry to a foreign national who intends to travel for tourism purposes

LONG-TERM STAY (NATIONAL VISA)

Visa for adoption
Entry into Italy with the adoptive or foster parents of the foreign child.
Diplomatic Visa for accreditation or notification
Entry into Italy for a foreigner holding a diplomatic or service passport, assigned to serve in their country’s diplomatic or consular representation, either in Italy or at the Holy See.
Re-entry Visas
Entry into Italy to foreign nationals who hold a valid residency permit or card whose validity has expired
Visa for elective residence
Entry into Italy to a foreigner who intends to settle in our country and is able to support him/herself autonomously, without carrying out any work activity
Working holiday Visa
Working holidays visas allow entry, for a long-stay, to nationals of countries with which Italy has concluded specific agreements on the subject
Investor Visa
Entry to foreign individuals who invest in Italy on: Italian State bonds of minimum 2 million Euro, minimum 500’000 Euro in an Italian Limited Company, minimum 200’000 Euro in an Italian innovative start-up, charity donation of minimum 1 million Euro

OTHER VISAS

Types of Visa that can be both National Visa or Unifrom Shengen Visa, based on the necessities of the applicant:

Visa for medical treatment
Entry to a foreigner who needs to undergo medical treatment at accredited Italian healthcare institutions
Visa for self-employment
Entry to a foreigner who intends to carry out a professional or working activity of a nonsubordinate nature
Subordinate work Visa
Entry to a foreigner who is called to Italy to carry out a subordinate work activity
Visa for missions
Entry to a foreigner who, for reasons linked to his political, governmental or public function, must travel to Italy
Visa for religious reasons
Entry to foreigner clergy and minister of religions to participate in religious events
Research Visa
Entry to a foreigner, in possession of a higher education qualification, who is called to Italy to carry out research activities by an university or research institute
Student Visa
Entry to foreign nationals wishing to follow university courses in Italy. Study Visas are also granted to attend university courses at Vatican’s univestities, foreign universities in Italy or private universities
Volunteers Visa
Entry, for a period of no more than one year, to a foreigner agen between 20 and 30 years, authorised to take part in a volunteer programme

THE PROTOCOL

The activity is fully carried out by the attorney in Italy, who will have to go to the Chamber of Commerce for the issuance of the authorization that will have to be produced at the office of the Ministry, competent for the purpose of issuing the residence permit;
Having said that, our firm’s activity will extend to establishing contacts with real estate agents to search for properties in the areas of greatest interest, such as Rome or Bari. Obviously, choices will always be shared with the client;
After the issuance of the residence permit to the main applicant, we will manage the position of the family with the program called “Ricongiungimento Familiare”.
Condicio sine qua non for the purposes of the issuance of the residence permit is, by express regulatory provision, the stipulation of a lease or purchase contract, as well as the possession of additional economic requirements referred to in Legislative Decree 286/1998 (these are minimal requirements such that the foreigner is found to be in possession of economic resources above the thresholds for access to the institution of exemption from health care costs);
Once the lease contract has been stipulated and the declaration of suitability of the accommodation has been obtained from the competent municipality (also this activity is managed
by the attorney in Italy), the attorney will go to the Ministry office requesting the issuance of the “nulla osta”, the validity of which will be 90 days;
By the aforementioned deadline, the applicant will have to go to the Italian embassy in the country of residence in order to apply for the issuance of the Visa for Italy;
The appointment is booked by the attorney in Italia with the assistance of the Ministry office.

Regarding timing, I’d like to highlight that:

This phase can only commence once the accountant has completed the process of obtaining the VAT number and registering the sole proprietorship with the relevant Business Registry.
After the completion of the aforementioned activities, we estimate that it will take less than six months to issue the residence permit.
Following the issuance of the residence permit to the primary applicant, we anticipate that family reunification will take approximately two months.
It is important to note that these estimates also depend on the timeframe for finalizing the lease or purchase contract for real estate.
In general, we estimate the following timelines: (i) 1 month for the issuance of documentation by the relevant Chamber of Commerce; (ii) 1 month for the issuance of the accommodation suitability declaration by the relevant Municipality; (iii) 1 month for the issuance of the nulla osta by the relevant Ministry office; (iv) 1 month for the issuance of the visa by the competent Italian Embassy.

Recommendations

For economic reasons, we recommend purchasing or renting property in the southern or central regions of Italy, such as Bari or Rome, which we strongly suggest. These areas generally have a lower cost of living. Additionally, please note that family members will be reunited within the same property, as specified in the call.

Requirements:

The applicant must engage in self-employment activities in Italy.
The applicant must hold a clearance issued by the Chamber of Commerce.
The applicant must have earned more than €8,500 gross in the year prior to the visa application.
iv. The applicant must have a contract for the lease or purchase of a residential property.

Stefan Valente

Editor