The procedure for obtaining sports residence permit in Italy for the implementation of professional and amateur sports activities.
In addition to the Consolidated Law on Immigration and the General Rules for the Entry of Foreign Citizens into Italy, entry and stay in Italy for professional and amateur sports activities is regulated by a circular of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Circular N ° 8/2007) and the regulations of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI).
Limit on quotas
It should be noted that there is a limit on the maximum number of foreign nationals from non-EU countries involved in sports who can enter Italy to pursue professional and amateur sports activities.
These quotas are set annually by the Italian government on a proposal prepared by C.O.N.I.
Even if, on the other hand, it is true that employment in the field of sports does not fall under the regulations contained in article 27 of the Consolidated Law on Immigration: the entry of such categories of individuals into Italy does not take place following the standard procedure for the entry of foreigners into Italy to work (according to decree on entry quotas).
Concerning the request for the issuance of an entry permit “Nulla Osta“, which is necessary for the subsequent receipt of a visa by a foreigner to carry out professional and amateur sports activities, the procedure differs depending on whether the foreigner is engaged in professional or amateur sports.
Request for permission from “Nulla Osta” for sports residence permit in Italy
A sports association wishing to use the services of a foreign professional must first communicate this by completing two request forms available on the C.O.N.I. website.
The first form (modello SP) is a draft of the proposed stay contract and an individual request for the provision of professional services in the field of sports and recreation.
The second form (richiesta di dichiarazione nominativa d’assenso per lavoro subordinato / sport) must contain the personal data of the foreigner invited to work, the type of sports activity that he will carry out, and a declaration that the foreigner will move to the Italian city where, for sporting reasons, the association/team/club that invited him/her will move.
Completed forms must be sent to the National Sports Federation, where the requesting sports association is registered.
A copy of the second form must also be sent to the Questura.
The National Sports Federation will review the request and then forward it to C.O.N.I.
After receiving documents from the National Sports Federation, C.O.N.I. conducts checks regarding the availability of quotas, and, if there are no obstacles for the entry of a foreign athlete, will issue an appropriate permit (dichiarazione nominativa di assenso). This permit will be sent to the Italian Embassy in the country of origin of the foreign citizen and the Provincial Immigration Office, where the headquarters of the sports association inviting the foreigner is located.
C.O.N.I. will also inform the National Sports Federation of the imminent entry into Italy of a foreign athlete, which, in turn, will inform the sports association about this.
The bearers of the latter must contact the Questura to make an appointment to sign a contract of residence.
Arriving in Italy, the foreigner, together with the legal representative of the sports society, must go to the United Immigration Bureau of the Questura to sign a contract of residence.
List of documents that must be presented to the Questura:
- Original and photocopy of the identity document of the legal representative of the sports association that invited the foreigner;
- Original and photocopy of the athlete’s passport;
- Certificate of registration of the Sports Society in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
- Photocopy of the form submitted to C.O.N.I .;
- Three copies of a completed residence contract;
- A copy of the certificate of suitability for the accommodation where the athlete will reside in Italy.
- The foreigner will also be issued an application form for a residence permit for professional and amateur sports activities (“permesso di soggiorno attività sportiva”), which will need to be sent to Questura by postal kit (Kit Postale).
List of documents that must be attached to the application for the issuance of a residence permit for the implementation of professional and amateur sports activities:
- 4 photos;
- Photocopy of an identity document;
- Declaration from the sports association (including the duration of the contract, guarantees regarding housing, and financial resources).
The sports residence permit in Italy allows you to carry out only the activities for which it was requested.
If a foreign citizen intends to extend the residence permit, he must inform the sports society for which he works, and then, in turn, will send a request to the Sports Federation. The Federation submits a request for permission to extend the stay of a foreign athlete in C.O.N.I., which decides whether it is appropriate.
Prolongation of a residence permit may be requested from another sports association if they belong to the same sports federation.
If the athlete is under 18 years of age (15 to 18 years old), the request for a Nulla Osta permit must be accompanied by a permit issued by the Territorial Labor Office (Direzione Provinciale del Lavoro). Minors under the age of 15 cannot be employed.
If the relationship between the sports company and the athlete was terminated before the expiration of the residence permit, the company will notify Questura and the corresponding sports federation about this.
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Individual competitions or individual sporting events
If an athlete is invited to participate in individual sporting events or selected sporting events, he may request a special type of visa of limited duration (a visa for sporting events).
With this visa, an athlete cannot play sports permanently in an Italian sports club.
The visa allows entry to Italy and participation in one or more sports events for the entire duration of the document.
