Community questions about Italy: what the chats ask

Latest questions

• Can you get tax free in Italy with a Russian passport?

  Yes for items up to 300 euros. Dearer clothes, shoes, bags, cosmetics and watches for use in Russia may not be sold (art. 3h of EU Regulation 833/2014).

• How much can you work on a student permit in Italy?

  20 hours a week and no more than 1040 hours a year (art. 14 DPR 394/1999). Full time only after converting to a work permit, outside quotas, before it expires.

• Which car can a neopatentato drive in Italy?

  For 3 years after a B licence: up to 75 kW per tonne and 105 kW (art. 117 Codice della strada), 100 km/h on motorways and zero alcohol.

• Must you report an Italian permesso to Russia's MVD?

  Yes: for each residence permit, within 60 days of receiving it, or within 60 days of entering Russia if you were abroad (art. 11, Law 138-FZ).

• Italian visa D refused: why, and what can you do?

  A visa D refusal must state its reasons. It is appealed to the TAR Lazio within 60 days; family visas go to the ordinary court with no time limit.

• Al seguito and the 2-year rule: do you have to wait?

  By the letter of the law, no: the 2 years (art. 28 c. 1-bis TU) apply to ricongiungimento from Italy; al seguito is entry together with you (art. 29 c. 4).

• Tessera sanitaria expired and I only have the ricevuta: what now?

  SSN registration does not lapse during a renewal (art. 42 c. 4 DPR 394/1999): take the ricevuta to your ASL, which extends it and issues a temporary card.

• What do landlords ask when you rent a flat in Italy?

  A permanent work contract, an income in proportion to the rent, money in EU accounts, sometimes a guarantor; a fixed-term contract, a partita IVA and no Italian often mean a refusal. Flats go within a day, you search through agencies on the big portals, pay only after a viewing, and register the contract with the Agenzia delle Entrate - without that there is neither residenza nor rights.

• How to book an appointment at the Italian visa centre?

  Booking is online only and depends on your registration: Moscow and region - VMS in Moscow, St Petersburg with the neighbouring regions - VMS in St Petersburg, all other regions - Almaviva. Moscow and St Petersburg usually have slots, the regions have to catch them: new dates open after the 15th-20th for the following month. Every applicant needs a booking, children included.

• How much is health insurance for a permit in Italy?

  For a D visa you need a policy for the whole visa period with cover from 30,000 euro, and since 2024 the questura asks for insurance with the kit too. Travel policies for 700-4,500 roubles lose validity after 90 days in the country; for the first year people buy an annual private policy (about 500 euro a year was quoted in the chats) or pay to join the SSN.

• How to get the DSU scholarship in Italy?

  DSU (borsa di studio) is a regional scholarship based on family income: about 5,000 euro a year plus near-zero tuition with a low ISEE. You apply under your region's bando every year; foreigners need an ISEE parificato built from legalised income and property certificates. The condition is a minimum of exams passed, otherwise the money is reclaimed.

• How do you get Italian citizenship, how many years?

  The community says: naturalisation after 10 years of continuous residenza (the clock starts at anagrafe registration, not at the permesso), by marriage after 2 years of joint residenza in Italy or 3 abroad, halved with a child in common. A B1 certificate is required and the review takes up to 2 years.