Converting a permesso di soggiorno into a work permit

Converting a special protection permit (permesso di soggiorno per protezione speciale) into a work permit (permesso di soggiorno per lavoro).

Many people who hold a special protection permit (il permesso di soggiorno per protezione speciale), issued under art. 19 (art. 19 del Testo Unico Immigrazione (TUI), the Consolidated Immigration Act), are asking these days whether it can be converted into a work permit (Permesso di soggiorno per lavoro).

So let us look at this in detail: on 5 May 2023 the Italian Parliament gave final approval, with Law No. 50/2023, to the amendments to Decree-Law No. 20 of 10.03.2023 (decreto Cutro).

The new law amended certain provisions of Decree-Law 20/2023, namely:

• The third and fourth sentences of art. 19, paragraphs 1.1 and 1.2, were repealed
• from 05.05.2023 an application for a special protection permit always falls under art. 32 of Legislative Decree (D.Lgs.) 25/2008 (with no right to convert it into a work permit);
• Paragraph 2 of this article provides that “for applications submitted before the date on which this law enters into force, the previous rules continue to apply”.
• Paragraph 3 of this article states that residence permits already issued under art. 19, paragraphs 1.1 and 1.2, that are still valid can be renewed only once, for one year from their expiry date. The right to convert the residence permit into one for work purposes remains unchanged, provided the legal requirements are met.

So, under the changes made by Law No. 50/2023, an application for this type of permit is now governed by article
32 of Legislative Decree No. 25/2008.
In some cases, however, the previous rules still apply. Let us look at which ones
exactly:
● those who applied before 5 May 2023;
● those who have a “striscetta” (the Questura’s application receipt) for protezione speciale art. 19;
● those who have an appuntamento (appointment) for protezione speciale art. 19;
● those who already hold a permesso protezione speciale art. 19.

If at least one of these conditions applies to you, your permesso can be converted into a permesso per
motivi di lavoro (work permit), or, when it expires, you are entitled to renew it once more for 1 year.

To convert a special protection permit (permesso di soggiorno per protezione
speciale) into a work permit (permesso di soggiorno per lavoro), you need to have an employment
contract (contratto di lavoro subordinato) or to run your own business (be self-employed) with a VAT
number (partita IVA), for a
permesso di soggiorno per lavoro autonomo (self-employment permit).

Let us look in detail at the documents needed to convert to a work
permit if you have an employment contract (contratto di lavoro subordinato).

Documents required:

1. a copy of your passport (page 1 and the pages with border-crossing stamps);
2. a copy of your permesso (permesso di soggiorno);
3. a copy of your identity card (carta d’identità);
4. a copy of your tax code (codice fiscale);
5. certificate of registered residence (certificato di residenza);
6. household composition certificate (certificato di stato di famiglia);
7. a copy of your employment contract;
   It is also advisable for your employer to give you a declaration that the employment relationship is ongoing (dichiarazione di continuità del rapporto di lavoro S-3, ideally with a copy of the employer’s identity card (carta d’identità) attached), covering the date of the application and the day you are given for your appointment at the Questura (police immigration office) for fingerprinting and biometric data collection…
8. contributions paid (if any);
9. CU / 730 / Unico (if any).

If you run your own business in Italy (are self-employed) with a VAT number (partita IVA), you need to submit the following documents to convert to a self-employment permit (permesso di soggiorno per lavoro autonomo); under art. 5, comma 3-quater, of D.Lgs. 286/98, foreign nationals holding a permesso di soggiorno per lavoro autonomo may stay in the territory of the State. The documents are:

1. a copy of your passport (page 1 and the pages with border-crossing stamps);
2. a copy of your permesso (permesso di soggiorno);
3. a copy of your identity card (carta d’identità);
4. a copy of your tax code (codice fiscale);
5. certificate of registered residence (certificato di residenza);
6. household composition certificate (certificato di stato di famiglia);
7. assignment of a VAT number (Attribuzione Partita IVA);
8. registration with the Chamber of Commerce, or a Chamber of Commerce
   certificate (iscrizione alla Camera di Commercio Industria Artigianato o visura camerale
   recente);
9. the permit or licence, or registration in the relevant professional register, or submission of the declaration
   or notification required by current legislation to carry out
   the business activity (autorizzazione o della licenza, o dell’iscrizione in
   apposito albo o registro, o della presentazione di dichiarazione o denuncia prevista dalla
   normativa vigente per l’esercizio dell’attività professionale svolta);
10. tax return and interim balance sheet, if available (dichiarazione dei redditi e
    del bilancio provvisorio (se disponibile)).
    
    To obtain this permit you need to pay:

• €80.46 for printing the electronic document;
• €30.00 for the post office service;
• €16.00 revenue stamp (marca da bollo).
  
  Please note, if children live with you:
• for children under 14, their details are entered in the application of one
  of the parents, and you pay €30.46 for the electronic document;
• children aged 14 to 18 need a separate application with the child’s details and
  signature.
  You will also need to pay:
• €80.46 for printing the electronic document;
• €30.00 for the post office service;
• €16.00 revenue stamp (marca da bollo).

Please note! This is important!!

Under regulatory document No. 400/B/2023 of
01.06.2023 (Circolare del Ministero dell’Interno n. 400/B/2023 del 1 giugno 2023, a Ministry of the Interior circular)

> The provisions of Decree-Law 20/2023 remain unchanged for applications submitted before 05.05.2023.
> It states that permits issued under art. 19, paragraph 1.2 (special protection), can only be renewed for 1 year or converted into work permits if the legal requirements are met.

Please note that there is already favourable case law on the lawfulness of converting a special protection permit (permesso protezione speciale) into a work permit (Permesso di soggiorno per lavoro)!!!!

The Regional Administrative Court (TAR – Tribunale Amministrativo Regionale) points out that, under the specific transitional provision of art. 7 of Decree-Law No. 20/2023, and in particular paragraph 3, special protection permits valid on the date the decree entered into force (6 May 2023) expressly retain “the right to convert the residence permit into a residence permit for work purposes, provided the legal requirements are met”.
There are already court rulings, for example one in Lombardy (ruling No. 45 of 18 January
2024), in favour of a person entitled to convert a special protection permit (permesso protezione speciale) into a work permit (Permesso di soggiorno per lavoro).

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