What is Conversion

Conversion allows the holder of a residence permit for study, training, or internship to obtain a permit for:

  1. subordinate employment;
  2. self-employment.

Since 2023, these conversions have been excluded from the quotas of the Flow Decree (Decreto Flussi). Therefore, the application can be submitted at any time of the year, without waiting for a click day and without numerical limits, provided all other requirements are met. The main reference is Article 6, paragraph 1, of Legislative Decree No. 286/1998. The amendment is detailed by the Migrant Integration Portal.

Common Requirements

Before submitting the application, you must verify that:

  1. the residence permit is still valid;
  2. the request is submitted before the permit expires;
  3. the course attended allows for conversion at the time the application is submitted;
  4. the specific requirements for subordinate or self-employment are met;
  5. the applicant has suitable accommodation and the documentation required by the Immigration Office (Sportello Unico).

Conversion can be requested before the completion of studies by those attending a university course, a master's, or a doctorate, as well as by a foreigner already present in Italy upon turning 18. For permits linked to vocational training courses or internships, it is normally necessary to have completed the program. These conditions are summarized in the updated institutional fact sheet of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region.

Conversion to Subordinate Employment

To convert the permit into subordinate employment, an actual employment offer from an employer is required. The offer must indicate at least:

  1. employer and location of the business;
  2. type and duration of the contract;
  3. applied National Collective Labour Agreement (CCNL);
  4. classification level and duties;
  5. remuneration;
  6. workplace;
  7. working hours exceeding 20 hours per week.

The Immigration Office also verifies the reliability and economic capacity of the employer, the social security and tax compliance of the company, and the conformity of the offer to the applicable collective agreement.

Main Documents As a rule, the following are required:

  1. valid passport;
  2. study residence permit and, if applicable, the receipt of the renewal request;
  3. contract proposal signed by the employer and accepted by the worker;
  4. ID document of the employer or legal representative;
  5. Chamber of Commerce details, INPS, and INAIL position of the company;
  6. documentation regarding the economic and employment capacity of the employer;
  7. educational qualification or certificate of completion of the course or internship, when required;
  8. documentation relating to accommodation and housing suitability, or the receipt of the related request;
  9. 16-euro revenue stamp (marca da bollo).

The Immigration Office may request further documents regarding the employer, the contract, or the applicant's situation.

Conversion to Self-Employment

Conversion to self-employment is possible when the applicant demonstrates possessing all the necessary requirements to actually carry out the chosen activity. In particular, they must demonstrate:

  1. availability of adequate economic resources to start and conduct the activity;
  2. annual income from lawful sources exceeding the threshold required for exemption from healthcare cost sharing, indicated in current administrative instructions at around 8,500 euros;
  3. availability of suitable accommodation;
  4. possession of the authorizations, licenses, professional qualifications, or registrations required for the activity;
  5. registration with the Chamber of Commerce when the activity is carried out as an entrepreneur, merchant, or artisan.

Opening a VAT number (Partita IVA) alone does not always demonstrate the presence of all requirements. For regulated activities, recognition of the professional qualification, registration in a professional register, or the issuance of specific authorizations may be necessary. The requirements must be verified before starting the activity.

Main Documents Documentation varies based on the activity, but normally includes:

  1. passport and residence permit;
  2. description of the activity intended to be carried out;
  3. proof of available economic resources;
  4. possible VAT number and registration with the Chamber of Commerce;
  5. required authorizations, licenses, or professional registrations;
  6. educational qualification or certificate of completion of the path, when necessary;
  7. housing suitability or receipt of the request;
  8. 16-euro revenue stamp.

Operational guidelines are summarized on the institutional page on conversion to self-employment.

What Happens After Submission

The Immigration Office examines the application and may request additional information. If the conversion to subordinate employment is approved:

  1. the clearance (nulla osta) is issued;
  2. the employer and worker sign the residence contract according to the procedures communicated through the ALI Portal;
  3. the applicant submits the postal kit (kit postale) for the new permit;
  4. the Police Headquarters (Questura) summons the worker for fingerprinting and completes the issuance.

For self-employment, after the positive verification of the requirements, the necessary documents are delivered or made available to submit the application for the new permit via the postal kit. The simple receipt of submitting the application on the ALI Portal does not replace the residence permit. It is therefore essential to submit the conversion when the document is still valid and correctly follow the subsequent phase of the postal kit.

If a Notice of Rejection Arrives

If documents or requirements are missing, the Immigration Office may send a notice of rejection pursuant to Article 10-bis of Law No. 241/1990. The applicant can submit observations and documents within the indicated deadline, normally 10 days. It is important to respond precisely, attaching the requested additions and contesting any errors made by the Administration. If a definitive rejection is adopted, you must quickly evaluate the applicable remedy with a professional.

Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Waiting for the residence permit to expire.
  2. Thinking that the conversion still depends on the quotas of the Flow Decree.
  3. Using the wrong online form.
  4. Presenting a job offer with insufficient hours.
  5. Not demonstrating the economic capacity of the employer.
  6. Opening a VAT number without verifying the required licenses, qualifications, or registrations.
  7. Not attaching proof of completion of the course or internship, when necessary.
  8. Considering the ALI receipt as a new residence document.
  9. Not checking communications sent on the portal or to the indicated certified email (PEC).

Alternative: Permit for Job Search

Those who have obtained a degree, master's, doctorate, or specific academic qualifications in Italy can, provided the requirements are met, request a permit for a job search or starting a business. This document generally has a duration of between 9 and 12 months and can be useful when there is not yet a job offer or the self-employment activity is not ready.