Area: 301,338 km²
Residents: 60,375,749 (November 30, 2018)
Population density: 200 E / km²
Form of Government: Parliamentary republic
System of Government: Parliamentary democracy
Neighboring countries: France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia
Capital: Rome National
language: Italian
Regional official languages: German, French, Ladin, Slovenian
religions:
80.2% Roman Catholic,
1.6% Muslim,
0.4% Jehovah’s Witnesses
Currency: Euro
Telephone area code: +39
Time zone: UTC + 1 CET UTC + 2 CEST (March to October)
In 2020, 2,030 Germans officially emigrated to Italy and 1,830 came back to their homeland. Within the 10 years from 2010 to 2019, 25,084 Germans officially emigrated to Italy and 25,768 moved back to Germany. In 2020 there were officially around 35,316 Germans living in Italy. Around 300,000 other residents of Italy (most of them in South Tyrol) are said to speak German, but mostly with a dialect that is not so easy to understand for newcomers.
Italy is not one of the classic emigration countries among Germans. But some people go there again and again, not least because of the wonderful landscapes (such as South Tyrol) and the special flair of historical cities like Venice. Italy stands for warm weather, blue sea and small bays, some of which can only be reached by boat. The country has a very warm to subtropical climate. In some regions (e.g. Bolzano, Merano) it also gets hot and humid in summer in the lowlands.
Notable groups of immigrants (2015 figures) come from Romania (1,151,000), Albania (468,000), Morocco (437,000), China (271,000), Ukraine (231,000), Philippines (166,000), India (150,000), Moldova ( 142,000), Bangladesh (119,000) and Egypt (110,000). In addition to the official Italian language, there are the regional official languages German and Ladin in Trentino-South Tyrol, French in the Aosta Valley and Slovenian in Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
Italy’s coast covers a length of approx. 7,600 km. In the south of the country are the large Mediterranean islands of Sicily and Sardinia, with their wonderful sandy beaches. A total of around 450 islands belong to the small state of Italy. In the north of the country is the Mont Blanc with a height of 4,810 meters. And Lake Garda, with a size of more than one square kilometer, is part of the wonderful landscape that Italy has to offer.
Italy also stands for art and culture like no other country. More than 50 buildings in Italy are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as Pisa Cathedral Square with its leaning tower and the Coliseum in Rome. Italy lives mainly from tourism. There are always job opportunities in this area. Unemployment is highest in the south.
General safety information
Due to the geographical location of Italy, earthquakes or volcanic activities are more common. Warning notices from the authorities must be heeded. Before excursions into the mountainous landscapes of northern Italy in winter, it is advisable to find out about the weather beforehand. Beware of pickpockets, especially in places with a high number of tourists. Visit themakeupexplorer for Italy Travel Guide.
Special features at a glance
- Many summer and winter vacation options
- Cultural diversity
- Italian kitchen
- Usually a pleasant climate by the sea
General travel regulations (up to the corona pandemic)
For stays of up to 90 days, citizens of the European Union do not need a visa to enter Italy. Entry can be made with an identity card or passport. Even work stays of 90 days or more are visa-free for EU citizens.
If you stay in Italy for more than 90 days, you must register your stay with the responsible municipality (registration with the residents’ registration office). A separate residence permit is not necessary for EU citizens.
Immigration regulations, residence permit
As a member of the European Union, Italy grants EU citizens free access to the labor and housing market.
Residence permit
The residence permit is a residence permit issued by the police headquarters (Questura), 9 which is issued for a specific purpose and for a specific duration.
As an EU citizen, there is no obligation to apply for a residence permit. In some cases, however, it makes sense to have one, as it can make it easier for you to go to the authorities or look for a job.
The following is required to apply for a residence permit:
- Passport or ID card
- Passport photos (4x)
- Confirmation from the future employer or
- Proof of sufficient financial means and enough money to pay for the trip home
- Medical certificate (on request)
- fully completed application form
The residence permit is issued for a maximum of 5 years, but can be extended at the police headquarters before the permit expires. For this it is important to inquire in good time with the responsible authority how long in advance an application for an extension has to be made.
With the residence permit you can then apply for the ‘work book’ (Libretto di lavoro). Every employer must enter here the period of time during which they were employed. In addition, you can only use the services of the Italian employment office with the libretto.
The registration or deregistration of your place of residence is similar to that in Germany at the registration office (Ufficio Anagrafe).
