Your student permit allows you to work part-time to help with your expenses, but there are some limitations:

• Maximum Hours: You can work a maximum of 1,040 hours per year.
• Weekly Limit: Work should be limited to 20 hours per week on average.
• Flexibility: You can decide to work 20 hours per week throughout the year (12 months) up to 40 hours per week for a shorter period (6 months), as long as the total yearly hours don't exceed 1,040. This flexibility is helpful during breaks from your studies when you might have more time to work.

Important note:

Your work contract cannot be longer than your student permit. If you want to work more than 1,040 hours per year, you'll need to convert your student permit to a work permit.

Who can you work for:

From the point of view of the Employer, temporary jobs (lavori occasionali) can be done for a legal entity (company) or a person or a family (e.g., baby-sitter, house cleaner).

You have to follow a different procedure depending on the above two options.

• When you work for a legal entity, employers will issue a Notula which serves as a receipt and specifies the 20% income tax withheld (Ritenuta d'acconto).
• When you work for a private or a family, you’re required to register on the INPS website using the "Libretto di Famiglia" procedure. This allows for electronic vouchers paid directly into your bank account.

You can convert your Italian student residence permit to a work permit before it expires, without limitations on quotas. N.B. For the convertion, you have to be a resident in Milano and you must have a valid residence permit.

Submitting the Request:

The conversion request must be submitted online through the Ministry of the Interior’s portal. The application will be reviewed by the Immigration Office (Sportello Unico per l'Immigrazione) in the Prefecture.

Appointment at the Immigration Desk:

After the evaluation, the applicant and a legal representative of the company will be summoned to the Immigration Desk. During the appointment, all parties will sign the "Residence Agreement" (Contratto di Soggiorno). A postal kit for the new residence permit application and a pre-filled form provided by the Prefecture will be given to the applicant.

Submitting the Documentation:

The postal kit, containing all required documents, must be sent via designated post offices (Sportello Amico). Upon submission, the postal system will generate an appointment for the applicant to visit the Questura.

Getting Help:

We recommend seeking assistance from a Patronato (an Italian social assistance organization) to help complete the application process.

Click here to learn more.

1. Does the residence permit for study allow self-employment?

Yes, the law does not put restrictions on self-employment for foreigners holding a permit issued for study purposes. You can work as self-employed for up to 20 hours per week. If you exceed this limit, you will need to convert your student residence permit to a work permit.

Note: Also, you’re not required to have a vat number if your job is not run on a regular basis.

2. Does the residence permit for study allow one to take an internship?

Yes, your residence permit for study allows you to participate in both:

• Curricular internships: These are internships directly related to your course of study.
• Non-curricular internships: These are internships aimed at getting you a job after graduation.

Note: Since internships are not considered regular jobs, the usual work hour limits for student residence permit don't apply!

Still have questions?

If you still have questions or doubts about this administrative procedure or anything else related to living in Milano, you can always contact our International Student Desk.

Send us an email at welcomestudents@yesmilano.it.

We will be happy to answer all your questions!