Government approves "integration agreement"

The Government has approved the measure to govern the “integration agreement” (accordo di integrazione) which if introduced, will oblige all new immigrants in Italy to meet certain conditions if they want to remain in the country.

This measure will be used to implement the so-called Point-based Permit of Stay system.

The measure says that immigrants aged between 16 and 65 will be required to undersign the integration agreement either at the Immigrations Office at the Prefecture or at the Provincial Police Headquarters. The rule will not be retroactive, that is, it will not be applied to those already in the country by the time of its introduction. It will only be applied to those who will enter Italy when it’s already in force, if they’ll apply for the Permit of Stay valid for at least one year.

By undersigning the integration agreement, one makes a commitment to acquire within two years, knowledge of Italian language (slightly higher than basic level), and sufficient knowledge of the fundamental principles of the Italian Constitution and public institutions, especially those regarding healthcare, education, social services, work and fiscal duties.

The one undersigning the integration agreement also makes a commitment to enrol his/her children (where applicable) for obligatory education in addition to declaring that he/she subscribes to the Charter of Values of Citizenship and Integration (Carta dei valori della cittadinanza e dell'integrazione) prepared by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Within a month of undersigning the agreement, the immigrant will be required to attend a short and free civic education course which will last between five and ten hours.

During the obligatory civic education course, the immigrant will be informed of other initiatives in the province aimed at supporting the integration process.

Points obtained from the civic education course, language course and other courses, together with the immigrant’s educational qualifications will be used to judge the level of integration.

Each immigrant will be automatically awarded 16 points which will either be increased or decreased depending on the person’s behaviour.

Here are some examples: Knowledge of basic Italian language will earn one 24 points; taking a professional course for 120 hours will earn one 5 points, while creating a business and taking part in a voluntary activity will earn one 4 points each.

The following will also make immigrants obtain points: enrolment with social and health services, choice of personal doctor, regular rental contract or mortgage to buy an apartment, winning public awards, etc.

Whoever commits a crime and is given at least three months prison sentence, even if it’s not definitive, will lose 10 points, while 2 points will be lost by those who are given an administrative fine of at least 10,000 Euros.

Two years after undersigning the agreement, the Immigrations Office will examine the documents submitted by the immigrant (certificates of courses attended, educational qualifications, etc). Without such documents, the Immigrations Office will make the immigrant sit for a test.

In order to pass the integration test, an immigrant must obtain at least 30 points. Whoever obtains from zero to 29 points will be asked to go and do whatever is required to obtain at least 30 points within a year. If one doesn’t obtain any points (zero) or loses all the points, he/she will be expelled from the country.

Ministry of Home Affairs will create a register of all immigrants who have undersigned the integration agreement, indicating the points they’ve obtained. Any changes to the points will be communicated to the concerned persons who will also have access to the register to check their points.

It is not yet known when the new rule will enter into force. Now that the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the measure, it will be taken to the Joint State Council for approval. From there it will return to the Cabinet of Ministers for final approval before being finally published in the Official Gazette.

If the measure remains as it is, it will enter into force four months after its publication in the Official Gazette.