Researcher in Italy

Visa

Once you have signed a hosting agreement with a selected research body, you must apply for an entry visa at the Italian embassy in your country of origin .

Residence permit

Within eight days of arriving in Italy, you must apply for a residence permit for scientific purposes at the Local Immigration Police Headquarters (Questura) of the competent province where you will work as a researcher. The application will be processed through the Italian Post Office (see the Italian Immigration Portal - Portale Immigrazione - in Italian).

As a general rule, visas to enter the Italian territory (excluding Uniform Schengen Visas) cost €116. As for residence permits, their cost is €40 for stays between 3 and 12 months; €50 for stays between 12 and 24 months; and €100 for long-term residence permits, highly-qualified workers and intra-corporate transferees. In addition, administrative costs amount to €30 for the sending of the postal kit; €16 for the tax stamp; and €30.46 for issuance costs.

You will need to show:

• hosting agreement with a selected research body in Italy;
• health insurance;
• housing;
• sufficient financial resources (including the cost of return to your country of origin);
• Authenticated copy of the diploma.

The permit of stay covers the whole research period stated in the hosting agreement.

In case the research project is extended, the permit of stay can be renewed to cover the extended period of the research project by submitting the renewed hosting agreement.

An EC long-term residence status is granted after five years of continuous and legal residence.

You must prove sufficient financial resources, accommodation and you must not constitute a threat to public order and security.

You must present:

• copies of passport and tax declaration or declaration of income;
• a criminal record;
• a certified identification certificate and a certificate of adequate accommodation where a permit is simultaneously granted to a family member;
• the following levels of income:
  • If you have no family you must show that your income is equal to or higher than that of the annual social security.
  • If you have a family composed of one or more members you must show an income equal to or higher than the yearly social security increased by half for each family member.
• If you have two or more children aged less than fourteen, you must show an income equal to or higher than the double of the annual social security.

More on long-term residence (in Italian).

Procedure

If you hold a residence permit for research purposes obtained in another EU member state and in course of validity, you may reside in Italy for up to 180 days in a 360-day period. The procedure provides for the research institute hosting you to communicate details about your stay to the local authorities. Upon arrival, you will need to declare your presence and that of your family members at the Police headquarters (Questura) within eight days.

Documents required

In its communication to the local authorities, the research institute shall provide data relating to:

• your passport and that of your family members to stay in Italy,
• the residence authorisation in the first Member State,
• the research convention passed with the research institute in the first member state,
• the availability of sufficient resources to reside in Italy,
• the health insurance of the researcher and her/his family members to stay in Italy.

Applicable fee

As a general rule, visas to enter the Italian territory (excluding Uniform Schengen Visas) cost €116. As for residence permits, their cost is: €40 for stays between 3 and 12 months; €50 for stays between 12 to 24 months; and €100 for long-term residence permits, highly-qualified workers and intra-corporate transferees. In addition, administrative costs amount to: €30 for the sending of the postal kit; €16 for the tax stamp; and €30.46 for issuance costs.

Allowed number of teaching hours/days

You may teach under the same conditions as Italian citizens.

Family members

Family reunification is allowed irrespective of the residence permit duration. Upon arrival, you will need to declare your presence and that of your family members at the Police headquarters (Questura) within eight days.

Procedure

For a period longer than 180 days, the research institute hosting you must file an application for an authorisation for scientific research with the Prefecture. Such an application may be rejected further to case-by-case assessment of the applications or in cases in which the authorisation issued by the first Member State expires during the procedure.

Documents required

Documents and information to be presented are those necessary for the authorisation for scientific research as well as an authenticated copy of the research convention passed with the research institute in Italy. This information is gathered and submitted by the research institute in question.

Applicable fee

In the event you need to obtain a residence permit, as a general rule, their cost is: €40 for stays between 3 and 12 months; €50 for stays between 12 to 24 months; and €100 for long-term residence permits, highly-qualified workers and intra-corporate transferees. In addition, administrative costs amount to: €30 for the sending of the postal kit; €16 for the tax stamp; and €30.46 for issuance costs.

Allowed number of teaching hours/days

You may teach under the same conditions as Italian citizens.

Family members

Family reunification is allowed irrespective of the residence permit duration. Upon arrival, you will need to declare your presence and that of your family members at the Police headquarters (Questura) within eight days.