Process For Business Immigration

All foreigners intending to enter Italy must provide the documentation required to justify the reasons and duration of their stay as well as, in some prescribed cases, the availability of adequate economic means and lodging.

Employers who wish to employ foreign nationals from abroad must submit the following documents to the Immigration Desk at the 'Prefettura' in their own province:

• Application to employ a foreign national with full details of the worker to be employed.
  

• Photocopy of the worker's passport / travel document.
  

• Copy of the employment contract signed by both employer and employee.
  

• Statement in which the employer undertakes to pay for the worker's return trip home in case of repatriation.

If a foreign worker becomes unemployed, he/she and his/her family members do not lose their residence permits.

No matter whether the foreigner's unemployment is due to dismissal or resignation, he/she can apply to be registered at the employment office for as long as his/her residence permit remains valid and, in any case, for a minimum of one year (except for seasonal workers).

Step by Step Procedures

What to do in Mexico:

• Valid passport.

• Four, identical, recent passport-style photographs.
  

• Proof of reason for the visit. 
  

• Proof of means for traveling to and returning from visit (transportation tickets or financial proof that money is available to make the necessary travel arrangements).
  

• Proof of where you will be staying (hotel accommodations, rental agreement, invitation from family or friends).
  

• Proof of financial resources  for duration of stay in Italy (bank statements, Travelers Cheques, credit lines, receipts for prepaid services in Italy).
  

  • For each day in Italy the applicant must prove to have a minimum of € 27,89 (euro).

  • Two or more applicants traveling together-will need to have a minimum of € 17,04 (euro).
    

• Complete Schengen visa application 

  •  The fee for Long-Term Stay visas (type D) must be paid in at time documents are submitted.
    

    • $1387.55 (PESO) per application.
      

• All foreign documents must be translated into Italian, legalized and certified by the Italian Consulate in the country of origin or residence of your family member or members.
  

• Applications and all other documentation must be submitted in person at the Embassy:
  

Città del Messico - Embassy of Italy
Address: Paseo de las Palmas, 1994 - 11000 Mexico D.F.
Tel.: 00525555963655
Fax: 55 55967710 /55 55962472
Website
E-mail 

• You will be interviewed at the Embassy and the Diplomatic Mission will do a security check with the Schengen Information System (SIS) to verify you are not on the list of aliens not allowed to enter the Schengen area.

• Once the application has been approved, you will be issued a visa within 90 days of application.

All foreigners to Italy staying longer than 90 days must apply for a residence permit.

Once in Italy, you have 8 days to apply for a residency permit.

What you will need when you apply for a residencey permit in Italy:

• Your valid passport /travel document.

• Schengen visa.

• 4 recent and identical passport-size photographs.

• €27.50 (euro) fee for the electronic residence permit fee.

• Receipt for €14.62 (euro) electronic Tax stamp on your passport-to be obtained in Italy- from a post office or tobacco shop. 

You can apply for this permit at:

• Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione (Immigration Desk) set up in every Italian province at the Prefettura 
  Staff will assist you, free of charge, in the completion of your.  You will have to pay a fee of €30 (euro) for the visa, which will be sent via registered mail.

• 'Patronati' (institutions offering advice and social assistance to workers).  Staff will assist you, free of charge, in the completion of your application.  You will have to pay a fee of €30 (euro) for the visa, which will be sent via registered mail.

• Municipalities ('Comuni') which provide this service  Staff will assist you, free of charge, in the completion of your application.  You will have to pay a fee of €30 (euro) for the visa, which will be sent via registered mail.

• Post Offices where you receive the kit containing the application form. All post offices have the yellow kit. It consists of an envelope with a yellow stripe which contains two forms and a list of instructions. After you have filled out the application form, you can hand it in at any one of the post offices bearing the 'Sportello Amico' logo. 

You can apply at the above places if you are applying for a residency permit for the following reasons: 

• Pending employment

• Pending re‐acquisition of nationality

• EC residence permit for long‐term residents (formerly known as “carta di soggiorno”)

• Family

• Family, minor aged 14 – 18

• Self‐employment

• Employment

• Seasonal employment

• Mission

• Religious reasons

• Elective residence

• Application for stateless status (renewal)

• Special cases provided for by Art. 27 of the Immigration Law

• Study

• Vocational training

• Political asylum (renewal)

• Guardianship 

• 'Questura' - the central police station set up in every Italian province.  

  • You must be apply for a residency permit at the Questura if you are applying fora residency permit for the following reasons: 

    • Medical treatment

    • Sport competitions

    • Justice

    • Integration of minors

    • Minor age

    • Humanitarian reasons

    • Application for stateless status (first issue)

    • Working holidays

    • EC long-term residence permit (carta di soggiorno) for family members of Italian or EU nationals

    • Political asylum (application and issue) 

Depending on the business reason,there are additional documents you will need when submitting your application for a Schenegen visa for business reasons.

Business reason and the additional documents you will need:

• Contributory employee on an Italian cruise ship for maritime service and employee of a Mexican  subcontractor

  • A copy of the contract between the Mexican subcontracting company you currently work for and Italian ship owner you will be working for in Italy (this document must show the dates that you will be working in Italy).

  • Proof that the Italian ship is in International Register (this can be obtained from the Italian ship owner).

  • Once you have applied for your visa the Italian ship owner must request your entry clearance in Italy. The owner will do this at the Unified Immigration Desk in Italy.  The Unified Immigration desk will send the entry clearance and the job contract to the Embassy of Italy in Mexico City. 

• Contributory journalists and correspondents of an accredited Italian broadcasting company and employed by Mexican press organizations for tv and radio broadcasts

  • Entry clearance, to be requested in Italy by the Italian broadcasting company at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press and Information Service This office will send your entry clearance to the Embassy of Italy in Mexico City.

  • A copy of your Mexico press card.

• Contributory workers not specifed above

  • Entry clearance, to be requested in Italy by the Italian employer. The Unified Immigration Desk will send the entry clearance and the job contract  to the Embassy of Italy in Mexico City. 

• Self-employed professionals

  • Proof of certification, licenses’, and or associations in the business field you claim.

  • Entry clearance issued by Police Commissary in Italy within the last 90 days-this is requested by the Embassy of Italy in Mexico City at the time you submit your application for a Schengen visa.

• Self-employed business persons, merchants, artisans

  • Statement declaring how much money will be needed to maintain the business, commercial or artisan activity, issued by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the providence in which the activity is to be carried out. These resources must not be less than the annual unemployment subsidy (€4,962.36 euro).

  • Proof of being able to provide the resources needed to maintain your business in Italy (bank statements, Travelers Cheques, credit lines, receipts for prepaid services in Italy).

  • Entry clearance issued by Police Commissary in Italy within the last 6 months-this is requested by the Embassy of Italy in Mexico City at the time you submit your application for a Schengen visa.

• Self-employed athletes

  • Statement of consent by CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee) on behalf of the athlete issued by the Italian Diplomatic/Consular Representation, indicating the athlete’s personal data, sport, and details and address of the firm of destination.   This statement must be accompanied by the entry clearance issued by Police Commissary within the last 90 days- this is requested by the Embassy of Italy in Mexico City at the time you submit your application for a Schengen visa.

• Self-employed consultants and partners of Italian firms

  • Will need a statement from the legal representative of the Italian firm that the compensation surpasses  the minimum level to qualify for participation in health services contributions (€8,400 euro).

    • Include a copy of the latest balance sheet filed at the Business Registry by the Italian firm.

  • The business must have been operational for at least three years and certified by the Business Registry.

  • Copy of the declaration of responsibility already sent by the Italian contract provider to the Labour Inspection Service of the Italian DPL Provincial Labour Office showing that the applicant will not be employed as a subordinate worker Declaration of Responsibility. 

  • Adequate lodging documents.

  • Rental contract or land owner title.

  • Statement by Italian citizen that suitable lodging will be provided to professional that meets the basics requirements of housing regulations.

  • Entry clearance issued by Police Commissary within the last 90 days- this is requested by the Embassy of Italy in Mexico City at the time you submit your application for a Schengen visa.

• Self-employed entertainment industry personnel

  • Proof that your Italian compensation surpasses the minimum level to qualify for participation in health services contributions (€8,400 euro).

    • this can be provided by showing the terms of your contract with the Italian business.

    • include a copy of the latest balance sheet filed at the Business Registry by the Italian firm.

  • Proof of certification, licenses’, and or associations in the business field you claim this will be validated by the Italian Consular Authority.

  • Certification of the firm's enrollment in the Business Registry.

  • Copy of the declaration of responsibility already sent by the Italian contract provider to the Labour Inspection Service of the Italian DPL Provincial Labour Office showing that the applicant will not be employed as a subordinate worker Declaration of Responsibility. 

  • Entry clearance issued by Police Commissary within the last 90 days- this is requested by the Embassy of Italy in Mexico City at the time you submit your application for a Schengen visa. 

• Self-employed managers of companies based (or with branches) in Italy

  • Copy of the declaration of responsibility already sent by the Italian contract provider to the Labour Inspection Service of the Italian DPL Provincial Labour Office showing that the applicant will not be employed as a subordinate worker Declaration of Responsibility.  

  • Entry clearance issued by Police Commissary within the last 90 days- this is requested by the Embassy of Italy in Mexico City at the time you submit your application for a Schengen visa.

• Self-employeed Spanish tutors, translators, interpreters or professors and researchers with an academic position in Italian universities

  • Copy of the declaration of responsibility already sent by the Italian contract provider to the Labour Inspection Service of the Italian DPL Provincial Labour Office showing that the applicant will not be employed as a subordinate worker Declaration of Responsibility.  

  • Entry clearance issued by Police Commissary within the last 120 days- this is requested by the Embassy of Italy in Mexico City at the time you submit your application for a Schengen visa. 

EC residence permit for long-term residents

Since 8 January 2007, the permanent residence card ("carta di soggiorno") has been replaced by the EC residence permit for long-term residents..

The new permit is permanent..

You can only apply for this permanent permit if you have been legally living in Italy for five years.

Your application must include:

• Your valid passport /travel document. 

• A copy of your income tax statement bearing evidence that you have a minimum income higher than the social allowance ("assegno sociale").

  • For domestic workers and caregivers: INPS (National Social Welfare Institution) payment receipts or INPS itemized statements.

• Copy of criminal records and pending charges, if applicable.

• Evidence of appropriate accommodation.

• Copies of pay slips for the current year. 

• €27.50 (euro) fee for the electronic residence permit fee.

• Receipt for €14.62 (euro) electronic Tax stamp on your passport-to be obtained in Italy- from a post office or tobacco shop. 

You can apply for this permit at:

• Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione (Immigration Desk) set up in every Italian province at the Prefettura.  Staff will assist you, free of charge, in the completion of your application.  You will have to pay a fee of €30 for the visa, which will be sent via registered mail.

• 'Patronati' (institutions offering advice and social assistance to workers) Staff will assist you, free of charge, in the completion of your application.  You will have to pay a fee of €30 for the visa, which will be sent via registered mail.

• Municipalities ('Comuni') which provide this service Staff will assist you, free of charge, in the completion of your application.  You will have to pay a fee of €30 for the visa, which will be sent via registered mail.

• Post Offices where you receive the kit containing the application form.  All post offices have the yellow kit. It consists of an envelope with a yellow stripe which contains two forms and a list of instructions. After you have filled out the application form, you can hand it in at any one of the post offices bearing the 'Sportello Amico' logo. 

What happens after submitting your application for a EC long-term residence permit:

• You will receive a letter at home from the Questura asking you to report to the Police on a given date.

• The letter will mention any document that was missing from your application and you will need to bring those to your appointment at the police station.

• If this is your first time in Italy, you will be fingerprinted, too.

• You will receive your electronic residence permit; this is similar to a credit card. The machine-readable magnetic strip will house your personal details, photograph and fingerprints.. 

EC long-term residence permit entitles you to:

• Enter Italy without a visa.

• Work.

• Social benefits/services supplied by the Italian government.

• Participate in local public life.  

Exclusions and refusals

You cannot apply for an EC long-term residence permit on the following grounds:

• You are considered a threat to the public and State security.

• Study/vocational training.

• Temporary protection.

• Asylum/refugee.

• If  you have a short-term residence permit.

• If you have a diplomatic, official and service passport.

• Hold laissez-passer issued by international organizations of a universal character. 

 
Your EC long-term residence permit may be revoked in the following cases:

• Fraud.

• Expulsion from Italy.

• Leave  the territory of the European Union for a period of 12 consecutive months.

• You have acquired long-term resident status in another European Union member State.

• You have been absent from Italy for a period exceeding 6 years.