Final clearance for the decree governing security measures

The decree governing security measures has now been approved.
A number of regulations will become active when the Official Gazette is published. Specific ministerial decrees are also provided for.

A summary of provisions from the decree governing security measures:

Staying in the EC - The non-community citizen arriving in Italy without a stay permit may be detained in an identification and expulsion centre for up to 180 days. Up until now the maximum stay period was 60 days.

Citizenship taxes - Anyone applying to become an Italian citizen must pay a tax of 200 euros.

Stay permits - Anyone applying for a stay permit or applying for a renewal of the stay permit when due for expiry must pay from 80 to 200 euros. The exact amount will be established by the Ministries of the Interior and Economy at a later date.

Arrest for exploitation of unregistered tenants - Imprisonment for up to three years is provided for when owners of properties rent to foreigners who are not officially registered at the time of stipulation of the contract, or renewal of the rental contract.

Clearance for "patrols" - Citizens associations are now able to patrol local areas and bring to the attention of the forces of law and order situations of social unrest. Participants will be registered and must first be trained by ex-officers of the law.

Registration of the homeless - Persons of no fixed abode will be registered at the Viminale.

Marriage permits - The non-community citizen who intends marrying an Italian citizen (or citizen of the community in Italy) must possess a regular stay permit. The permit will be requested for access to any assistance from public services, with the exception of medical care or enrolling at schools.

Examination in Italian - Anyone applying for an EC permit for long stays (ex- stay permit) must first pass an examination in the Italian language.

Citizenship following matrimony - Application for citizenship following matrimony with an Italian citizen may be made only after two years of matrimony instead of the previous 6 months.

Arrival of members of the family in Italy - Up until now the state was obliged to respond within six months following application for a member of the family to arrive in Italy. Following the period of six months, if no reply had been received, the principle of no reply being equivalent to consent was applied so that the family member could under these circumstances apply to the consulate for an entry permit. Now this principle has been abolished and an answer must first be received from the Sportello Unico. This new regulation is applicable also for anyone who has already applied and is awaiting a reply.

Stricter measures regarding residence - For every request for registration in the municipal rolls, or change of residence, the relative Municipality may request proof of suitable lodging.

Points-based permits - The stay permit based on points has been introduced. In practice this means that the immigrant who is applying to live in Italy signs a sort of "credit-based" agreement with the State where there is a commitment to achieve established integration-based objectives within the period stated in the stay permit. The loss of "credits" will lead to revocation of the permit, or expulsion. The application of this principle is postponed to a later decree which should become active in six months.