On 11 November 2011, the full text of Presidential Decree 179/2011 on changes to the Italian integration rules was published.

On 10 March 2012, this Decree came into force.

Who should sign the agreement?

From now on, all foreigners aged 16 years and older who come to Italy to obtain a residence permit for at least 1 year must sign an “Integration Agreement” with the State of Italy. Between 16 and 18 years of age, the agreement is signed also by parents or guardians legally residing in Italy.

By whom and when is the agreement signed?

The agreement is signed at the prefecture’s single immigration office if the foreign national has come to the country for work or family reunification, or at the Questura in all other cases.

The agreement is signed simultaneously with the application for a residence permit for a minimum period of 1 year. The agreement is signed in two copies, one of which is in the language specified by the foreigner. On the part of the state, the agreement is signed by the prefect or a person authorised by the prefect.

Who is not required to sign the agreement?

• Foreign nationals with pathologies or disabilities. Such a situation must be documented by the state medical structure or authorised by the national health system;
• Unaccompanied minors taken under guardianship in accordance with Article 2 of Act 184 of 4 May 1983, as amended subsequently, with other types of guardianship for whom the integration agreement has been replaced by a social and civil integration project in accordance with Article 32, paragraph 1-bis of the Unified Immigration Act;
• Victims of the crime of human trafficking, violence or facts of severe abuse for whom the agreement is replaced by a programme of assistance and social integration in accordance with Article 18 of the Unified Immigration Act.

What is integration measured in?

Integration is measured in credits, 16 of which are automatically assigned at the moment of signing the agreement. All these credits are related to: language skills, courses taken and qualifications of each foreigner, as well as certain behaviours such as choosing a family doctor, registering a rental agreement and entrepreneurial activity or volunteering.

Confirmation of these 16 credits takes place only after attending a free awareness-raising session on civic responsibility and information on life in Italy, held at the prefecture’s single immigration service.

If an alien is absent from this event, 15 of the 16 credits are lost.

How long is the agreement signed for and how many credits must be “earned”?

The agreement is signed for a period of 2 years.

The agreement provides for the foreigner to achieve 30 credits during these two years. Credits can also be earned by acquiring various knowledge (Italian language, civic culture and civic life in Italy), etc.

A course in “civic responsibility”.

The first course will take place within three months from the date of signing .

Integration Agreements. The foreigner must attend this free course “Civic Responsibility and Information on Civic Life”, which lasts between five and ten hours. The course is conducted in the foreigner’s mother tongue or, if this is not possible, in the following languages: English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Albanian, Russian and Filipino.

For 2 years.

During this period, the foreigner undertakes to learn Italian at A2 level, to take courses on “civic responsibility”, “basic principles of the Constitution”, “public institutions” and “civil life in Italy”. Obtain health insurance and register with a family doctor, send children to school, receive social services, work and pay taxes.

When does the data validation begin?

One month before the expiry of the integration agreement, the Single Immigration Service starts the verification. Within 15 days, the documentation required for the recognition of credits must be submitted, including documentation proving the fulfilment of the educational obligations of minor children and knowledge of the Italian language at least at A2 level.

If there are no supporting documents?

If the required documentation is not available, the foreigner can take a free test on the knowledge of the Italian language, civil culture and civil life in Italy. The test is organised by the Single Immigration Service.

How can I prove my Italian A2 level?

A2 is an elementary level of language proficiency, allowing communication at the level of simple exchange of information on family and domestic topics and describing in simple words personal life and environment. Knowledge of the Italian language can be certified:

1) Certificate:

• University for Foreigners in Perugia,
• University for Foreigners in Siena,
• Roma Tre University,
• The Dante Allegieri Society.

2) Proof of having attended an Italian language course at a permanent territorial centre (CTP), upon completion of which a diploma certifying knowledge of Italian at a level not lower than A2 QCER will be issued.

3) By means of an educational document obtained in Italy (certificate of incomplete secondary education, secondary school certificate, diploma of higher education);

4) Showing the fact of having attended an educational course at an Italian university, public or state-recognised non-public, completing a doctorate or master’s university programme;

5) In the absence of documents confirming language knowledge, it is necessary to take a language proficiency test at the CTP.

What is STR?

STRs are territorial adult education centres. The activities of the centres are aimed at organising cultural activities, training and vocational education for the adult population. Italian language courses in the centres (CTP) include elements of civic education on the rights and duties of the citizen.

All foreigners over 16 years of age can enrol in (CTP). At the end of the course it is possible to obtain a certificate of Italian language proficiency.

The courses organised by CTP are free of charge.

The review ends with the awarding of final credits and one of the following decisions:

1. Credits above 30 and proficiency in spoken Italian at A2 level, as well as knowledge of civil culture and civic life in Italy, means fulfilment of the agreement. In case of exceeding 40 credits, various awards are available for specific cultural or educational activities.
2. Credits less than 30, but achieved language skills and knowledge of civil culture and civic life in Italy, then the agreement is renewed for another year under the same conditions. The verification takes place one month before the end of the renewal period. In the event that the agreement is not honoured, the Prefect issues a decree of “partial non-fulfilment” of the agreement. The authorities take this fact into account and appropriate restrictive measures are taken.
3. If the credits arezero(or below zero), a decree is issued to terminate the agreement due to non-fulfilment of the agreement. Based on this decree,the residence permit is revoked or not renewed and the foreigner leaves the country.If it is not possible to deport the foreigner,the fact of non-fulfilment of the agreement is taken into account to take appropriate restrictive measures in the matter of immigration.
4. Failure to fulfil the obligationregarding the education of minor childrenshall result in the total loss of allcredits credited at the time of signing the agreement, as wellas allcredits earned thereafter,and the termination of the integrationagreementdue to non-fulfilment.

Which types of residence permits are not subject to verification?

Holders of the following types of residence permits are exempt from verification of the implementation of the agreement, even though they originally signed it:

• Residence permit under the status of a political refugee;
• Residence permit pending asylum consideration;
• Special Protection Residence Permit;
• Residence permit for humanitarian reasons;
• Residence permit for family reasons;
• Residence permit EU residence permit for long-term residents;
• Residence permit for a family member of a citizen of an EU member state;
• Foreigner holder of another residence permit who has exercised the right of family reunification.

In any case, the agreement may be terminated or extended at the request of the foreign national in case of ill health, difficult family circumstances, work reasons, attendance of educational or professional courses, improvement of professional qualifications, study abroad.

The Ministry of the Interior continuously monitors the register of signatories to the integration agreement, in which all loans are also recorded. All data on the number of credits are occasionally communicated to the persons concerned. It is also possible to monitor your situation and the number of credits earned via the website.

This article is based on the principle of answering those questions that often arose among our clients before or after signing the “Agreement on Integration with Italy”, when obtaining a residence permit. We are sure that many of you have also received “lucky” letters with invitations to information courses or cultural events or with the number of your credits. At first, someone was puzzled, what kind of document is it? Someone passed by this information. Someone went to the course just in case.

Be knowledgeable, alert and ready for any inspection. The system has gained momentum, organised structures and appointed those in charge. It really works.

Failure to follow the rules of the Agreement may result in the loss or non-renewal of your residence permit.

Anyone who needs help, additional information, or has a question not answered in this article, please write and call us. We will be happy to answer you.

We are ready to give you a solution, to help you as much as we can by analysing your loan practice directly. We will develop an action plan for you and organise the support of an interpreter and a lawyer in negotiations with government authorities.

That’s all for today! Wishing you a good mood and maximum credits.

Project Administrator hwhouse.eu

Prof.ssa Villina Chistyakova