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It is a legal requirement in Italy that you carry some form of identification on you and that you obtain a Permesso di soggiorno and, if working, a Codice Fiscale and Libretto di Lavoro. You must register for health insurance with the local branch of the USL. Please read all other sections carefully for advice and help relating to different aspects of your period abroad.
Accommodation | The iscrizione anagrafica | Permesso di soggiorno | Codice Fiscale | Insurance | Safety | Money | Passport, Luggage, etc. | Libraries
Many students worry about this. Accommodation is not cheap or easy to find in most Italian cities, but then it isn’t that easy in Clifton and Cotham, so students generally cope. You can learn a lot from living with Italians, so try to do so if possible. When you go to see strangers to visit a room or flat, get someone you trust to come with you, or at least meet them in a public place (e.g. a bar) first.
Here are some ways in which you may find accommodation:
Once you have a more permanent address let us (and your friends or family) know immediately, and tell us if you move.
EU citizens residing in Italy for more than 3 months must obtain an iscrizione anagrafica. The iscrizione anagrafica must be requested at the Ufficio Anagrafico (aka l’ Anagrafe), the equivalent of the Registry office.
When you present your request for a iscrizione anagrafica, you will be required to provide the following:
The iscrizione anagrafica will be issued on the same day and you will be required to carry it with you at all times, together with a passport or other valid form of identification.
Non EU citizens will need to get in touch with the Consolato d’Italia in London WELL BEFORE YOU LEAVE BRISTOL IN YOUR YEAR 2 and enquire about the procedure for a VISA to enter Italy. Once arrived in Italy you will have 8 days to apply for a permesso di soggiorno per motivi di studi/lavoro. This can be obtained from a Ufficio Postale (aka la posta). Apparently in order to complete the required form you will be asked to get in touch with a specific local organizations (ACLI, Sindacato) that will help you for free to complete the form.
You must apply for the permesso di soggiorno within eight days of your arrival from the local police headquarters (Questura). The procedure is straightforward. You should first find the address and telephone number of the Questura of the town or city where you are living or staying. Look in the local telephone book under the name ‘Polizia - Questura’, or on the local Comune’s website. Alternatively telephone directory enquiries by dialling 12 and ask for the ‘Questura’ of the town or city in which you are residing. You should then find out the opening times of the Ufficio permesso di soggiorno or, more usually, the Ufficio Stranieri. Many of the university websites have useful links, on their pages for Erasmus students, to the Questura and information on the process of applying for a permesso di soggiorno.
To obtain a permesso di soggiorno as a student, you must complete a brief application form that the Questura will supply. (The forms are different for students at university and those on work placements; if you are working, see also section 14.) The form has English instructions. You should specify that you will be staying in Italy until August the following year, to save yourself the trouble of renewing the permesso di soggiorno. You will need to show or hand over the following documents:
Your health insurance documentation: the EHIC (see section 15) if you are a citizen of a member state of the EU/EEA; or documents proving that you have a full medical insurance if you are a citizen of a state outside the EU/EEA. If you are a citizen of a member state of the EU and have an appropriate proof of health insurance (see 15 below), you do not have to pay assicurazione for medical cover during your stay in Italy.
You may also be asked to supply a ‘marca da bollo’ (stamps used to certify bureaucratic documents in Italy), value indicated on the application form, that can be purchased at a tobacconist or newsagent. Normally only non-EU students have to provide this.
The Questura may in addition ask you to prove that you can maintain yourself financially while you are in Italy. Should there be difficulties, you can comply with the officer’s request and give him/her the following (i) a letter from your parents or guardians confirming that they will maintain you for the coming academic year; (ii) your bank statements for the past four months and, if applicable; (iii) a letter from your local authority confirming that you have received, or will receive, a student maintenance grant for the year abroad.
After submitting your application it can take the Questura anything between one day to three weeks to issue you with a Permesso di Soggiorno. If, however, you explain to the clerk that you need your Permesso to complete your enrolment at university, he or she will mark it ‘urgent’ and ensure that you can collect it as soon as possible. Typically, you will be given a form to take away and complete, and a slip specifying the date of your appointment or when you may collect your Permesso di Soggiorno (procedures differ slightly from one Questura to the next). You should look after this slip, since you will need it in lieu of the Permesso di Soggiorno to enrol at the university.
It has been technically illegal to work without the Libretto di Lavoro which serves as a record of all days worked in Italy for purposes of contributions to the state pension. In 2003, legislation was passed abolishing the Libretto, to be replaced with a Scheda Personale listing personal data and employment history; this, however, is still in the introductory phase. Check with your employer what kind of documentation you may need. You will in any case need to obtain a Codice fiscale (still needed for salary and national insurance purposes), as described in point 3 below.
To obtain the Permesso di Soggiorno per lavoro and Codice fiscale, the process is as follows:
Get a copy of your contract or a letter from your employer stating that you are employed with them. Take this to the local Questura to apply for a PERMESSO DI SOGGIORNO PER LAVORO. Ensure that you do this within 8 days of arriving in Italy, as if you state on the form that you have arrived before that, you will be asked to produce your tourist version of the Permesso di Soggiorno. Other paperwork you will need to show to obtain an appropriate Permesso di Soggiorno includes: 4 passport photos; note of accommodation details; health insurance details; ‘marca da bollo’ of appropriate value (if needed – normally non-EU students only).
Complete the paperwork (more or less the same process as for a student form, see section 13) and collect the completed Permesso di Soggiorno – you may have to wait a week or two for the forms to be processed (see section 13).
When you have the Permesso di Soggiorno, go to your local tax office (your employer will have the details) and to the section dealing with the RILASCIO DEI CODICI FISCALI. Fill in the forms using your Italian address. They will then send you a magnetic strip card with your CODICE FISCALE number.
The process for obtaining a Libretto di lavoro is described below; your employer will advise if this is needed, and about any new processes that relate to obtaining a Scheda personale.
Go to the local COMUNE with the Permesso di Soggiorno, Codice Fiscale, Passport and photocopy of all three. Tell them you need a LIBRETTO DI LAVORO.
You then have to go and SIGN UP at the local Collocamento (unemployment bureau). Your company will send to the Collocamento for the white form that they keep there with your records. Your employer will keep your Libretto di Lavoro for the duration of your job.
When your term of emplyment comes to an end, you must take your Libretto back to the Collocamento and have it stamped to state that you are no longer employed. This keeps the Libretto valid for your next job (provided it is within a 6-month period of the stamp date).
If you are an EU citizen, and you are taken ill or have an accident while visiting, studying or on work placement in a country in the European Economic Area (EEA), you are entitled to free or reduced-cost emergency treatment on production of a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The EHIC has replaced the E111 and E128 forms which previously regulated study and work placement cover - these forms will cease to be valid throughout the EEA and Switzerland from 1 January 2006. According to the Department of Health website (Feb 2005), application for the EHIC continues to be made on the E111 form, but you will need to tick the appropriate box to receive the new card. E111 forms are obtainable from any Post Office (or ring 0800 555 777); they can also be downloaded from the Department of Health website (http://www.dh.gov.uk). The EHIC covers minimum essential treatment only, and is an essential supplement, but not a substitute, for full insurance which we require all students to purchase. You are advised to take abroad with you both the original and a photocopy, for surrender if needed.
Non-EU citizens must ensure they have adequate personal medical insurance to cover possible expenses relating to illness or accident during their stay in Italy
Under the old system of health insurance (form E111), and we expect under the new system likewise, holders are normally covered for around 75% of your medical costs for emergency treatment in Italy, but there may be difficulties. For example you might have to pay a lot of money up front and then wait a long time for a refund. This is one of the reasons why the University of Bristol requires you to take out private insurance as well. Please note that your EHIC does not by itself entitle you to medical cover. It is only a document that will enable you to complete registration for assistenza generale – the Italian equivalent of the National Health programme – when you are in Italy. Until such time as you complete your registration, you will be liable for full medical costs incurred.
Once you have completed your registration with the police, you should immediately complete your registration for medical cover. This applies to all Italian Department students with the sole exception of those students who are Italian passport holders already registered at the USL (Unitą sanitaria locale) offices covering the area in which they will be residing during their Year Abroad
The procedures for completing your registration for assistenza generale in Italy are as follows. You must go to the local offices of USL of the regional health department (Ministero della sanitą). You will need to produce your passport, the document you received from the Italian Consulate or evidence of registration at a University/Language School and your completed and stamped E128 form. On production of your documents, the USL clerk will issue you with a green booklet entitled Ministero della Sanitą. Modulario per l’assistenza sanitaria agli assicurati di istituzioni estere di malattia in temporaneo soggiorno in Italia. You should ask the clerk to explain the contents of the booklet to you and the regulations covering the costs of medicines. Once you have completed your registration, you are entitled to very much the same medical assistance as in the UK. (You do not have to notify USL of a change of address). While at the USL offices you should also choose a doctor (it is generally best to do this before you get ill). The clerk who processes your registration for assistenza sanitaria will explain the procedure.
One major difference between health provision in the UK and in Italy is that in Italy all dentistry is private. The cost of private dentistry is similar in both countries.
The Department requires you to take out your own private travel insurance. This is also required by some Erasmus schemes. Although, as a student, you can obtain long-term minimum medical cover as described above, the University of Bristol REQUIRES that you have proper full personal insurance covering medical costs, accidents, repatriation, loss of luggage, personal liability, cancellation and any special additional cover for activities like driving, winter sports, etc. If you are covered by a private health-insurance programme in the UK, you should make sure that your programme continues full cover throughout your Year Abroad and is valid internationally. Most private health-insurance policies, including those you can buy at airports and other points of departure from the UK, are valid abroad only for well-defined periods, usually no more than three months. Before purchasing private health policies, you should read their small print very carefully, and, in addition, telephone the company to explain your circumstances to ensure you will be covered. This is particularly important for students who are not citizens of member states of the EU. Endsleigh offer a good scheme with a reduction of 20% for students and with benefits specifically designed for study-related periods abroad. They will also give you on request a certificate stating how much of the premium is for health insurance – send it to your LEA asking them to refund that part of the premium (40%). Most LEAs will.
Both male and female students should exercise caution. Most Italians, like most people in the UK, are invariably helpful and pleasant but do be alert to the possibility of danger and of getting yourself into potentially dangerous situations. Respect Italian laws and codes of behaviour, avoid provoking anyone, and don’t get on the wrong side of the Carabinieri. Be polite but cautious and never get into a situation from which you cannot safely extricate yourself. As stated before, unless you are really confident you can trust someone, stay in a public place.
It is important that you remember the University of Bristol guidelines on safety in student placements. The following information relates specifically to placements abroad and is gleaned from the university code of practice on placements.
In every building there should be a notice setting out the procedure to be adopted in case of fire. This instruction should be studied and committed to memory.
In all emergency situations:
If you have to telephone for assistance in an emergency, the following information must always be given:
You should ensure that the message has been correctly received by asking for it to be repeated back to you.
The prevention of accidents in all places of work is a duty of every individual using or entering them. This includes teaching areas, laboratories, stores, workshops and schools and hospitals. Ensuring the safety of others is as important as the avoidance of personal injury.
Everyone should make it his or her first task to become familiar with any special instructions issued for dealing with emergency peculiar to the place in which he or she is working. You should familiarise yourself with:
Remember that it may be too late to find out very much when an emergency actually happens.
If you have any queries on safety matters consult your supervisor or safety representative.
Many companies have their own rules with regard to work outside normal hours. Working outside these times should take place only with the explicit authority of the organisation, and care should be exercised. It should be forbidden to perform operations deemed hazardous by the employer unless some other person is within calling distance.
Two of the worst electrical hazards are careless or unskilled workmanship and faulty or worn out equipment. Electric and electronic supplies and equipment, including batteries and electrolytic capacitors, can be responsible for personal injury and even death. They can cause fires and explosions. Remember that some foreign colour coding of electrical leads differs from British practice. If in doubt, ask.
Noise can cause damage to hearing, reduce efficiency or merely annoy. Damage to hearing can result from a sudden violent sound producing an effect as dramatic as the rupture of an eardrum. Continuous exposure to lower noise levels can produce deafness. In the latter case the impairment to hearing may pass unrecognised for a long period. For advice on noise problems you should consult the organisation's Safety Officer.
It is a legal requirement to report all accidents in the workplace. Medical advice should be sought. It is important that you know how to obtain help from the qualified first aid staff of the organisation.
Italian banks are normally only open in the morning and often have long queues, but there is usually no need for you to open an account in Italy. Using an ATM is by far the easiest way to obtain foreign currency. Your usual credit/debit card and PIN number should work in Italian ATMs but if you are in any doubt, or if you are unsure about partner banks in Italy, do contact your bank or building society in the UK for advice. It is probably a good idea to arrive with enough cash for the first few days but cards are easier for longer stays. Remember that there is a charge for each ATM transaction and that, as in the UK, if you make large withdrawals, you should have a safe place to keep the money.
Remember that you may need to be sure of having money available in your account at the start of your stay in Italy, to cover a rent deposit. Again, be careful when carrying large sums of money, and make sure you get a receipt for any deposit you may pay on your accommodation.
It is always necessary to be careful when abroad. You should be particularly aware of the possibility of theft while you are travelling or waiting in stations. Students have had their possessions stolen in the past. It is a good idea to carry your passport, credit card and money on your person when travelling. When not travelling it is usual to leave passport and important cards, documentation, etc., in a secure place wherever you are living, but remember it is a legal requirement in Italy that you carry some form of identification on you (Permesso di soggiorno or xerox of passport until you obtain it). Do remember also that you will need a passport valid for at least a year after your return to the UK. Take lots of passport type photos with you since you will need them for all sorts of cards, passes, etc. If you have not travelled abroad much before, you will be relieved to know that excess baggage is allowed on the plane, but the cost of paying for that privilege can be high.
There are usually several libraries in Italian towns – major ones with vast collections and sometimes suburban ones which you may find more informal. Make use of the ‘Biblioteca comunale’ as well as the university library. Ask your language school where the various libraries are or use the pagine gialle to find them.
Some libraries will be more useful to you than others in terms of collection material, opening hours, access to shelves and borrowing rights. Take identification with you – some libraries may need to know that you're a student here, others will require your passport. Give them a photocopy of the letter of introduction we have given you (‘Si certifica che...’) but keep the original – it will help you through other bureaucratic obstacles.
Italian libraries are usually organised in a very different way to libraries in the UK. You do not usually have access to library shelves, but have to fill in a form to order books which are then brought to you. Also, relatively few libraries are fully computerised, but perseverance is worthwhile. Learn to use a card index – this will list books under author names, book titles and subject. Think of words related to your interests that you can look up. Make use of encyclopaedias which are normally readily accessible to the public.
Newspapers and magazines can be very useful resources, particularly for your essay research. Most libraries will keep back-copies that you can read. See how they report what interests you, compare the different versions in papers of different political views. Don't ignore the local press, which is very strong in Italy.