International protection

Every year, many people flee their country because they face persecution or fear of facing it. Persecution occurs on grounds of race, religion, nationality, social group, political opinion or sexual orientation and gender identity.

All people who flee can get protection and help in the country they migrate to with the international protection.

Types of international protection in Italy

In Italy there are 2 types of international protection: status di rifugiato- asilo (refugee status- asylum) and protezione sussidiaria (subsidiary protection). There is also a third type of protection recognized by the Italian state, which is protezione speciale (special protection).

There are also some specific cases for which one is not granted international protection, but can get a permesso di soggiorno.

Status di Rifugiato/ Asilo (Refugee status / Asylum)

The status di rifugiato is granted to people who are persecuted or at risk of being persecuted in their country of origin because of their ethnicity, religion, nationality, belonging to a specific social group or political views. With status di rifugiato:

•  you obtain a permesso di soggiorno for 5 years, which can be renewed, and a travel document to travel outside Italy. When you are granted asylum, you can no longer have or use the passport of your country of origin.
• you can enroll in school and can work
• you can apply for ricongiungimento familiare (family reunification)
• you can apply for citizenship and for a European Union residence permit for long residence after 5 years of residence in Italy
• you can convert this permesso di soggiorno into a permesso di soggiorno for work reasons.

Protezione sussidiaria (subsidiary protection)

Subsidiary protection is granted to people who do not qualify for status di rifugiato, but could still be subjected to torture, other forms of inhuman treatment, death penalty, or whose life would be threatened by war in their country of origin. With protezione sussidiaria:

• you obtain a permesso di soggiorno for 5 years, which can be renewed, and a travel document to travel outside Italy.
• you can enroll in school
• you can work 
• you can apply for ricongiungimento familiare
• you can apply for a European Union residence permit for long-term residents after 5 years of stay in Italy
•  you can apply for citizenship after 10 years of stay in Italy
  

Protezione speciale (special protection)

Sometimes the applicant does not obtain the status di rifugiato or protezione sussidiaria, but still cannot return to his country of origin due to serious dangers such as persecution or torture.

In this case, the examining commission (Commissione Territoriale per il Riconoscimento della Protezione Internazionale, or CTRPI) can issue a permesso di soggiorno per protezione speciale.

There are three types of protezione sussidiaria:

• Protezione A: risk of death

• Protezione B: risk of torture

• Protezione C: risk of widespread violence

If you are granted protezione sussidiaria of type A or B, you will lose the passaporto del tuo Paese d’origine.
If you are granted protezione sussidiaria of type C, you can still request a travel document.

With protezione speciale:

• you get a 2 years permesso di soggiorno, which can be renewed if the situation in your country does not change.
• You can keep your passaporto, but if you have requested protezione from that country, it is not recommended to use it.
• you can study and work 

Attention: Since March 11, 2023, it is not possible to convert a permesso di soggiorno for protezione speciale into a permesso di soggiorno for work reasons.

Other types of permesso di soggiorno

You can also apply for a permesso di soggiorno:

Per calamità (calamity): if you are unable to return to your country due to a natural disaster such as a hurricane, flood or earthquake, you can apply for a permesso di soggiorno per calamità, valid for 6 months. If at the end of the 6 months it is still not possible to return to your country due to the natural disaster, the permesso can be renewed. You can work for the duration of the permesso, but it cannot be converted into a permesso di soggiorno per lavoro.

Per cure mediche (medical treatment): if you are seriously ill and cannot return to your country due to your health conditions, you can apply for a permesso di soggiorno per cure mediche. To apply you need hospital certificates showing that your health condition is really serious. The permesso is valid for a maximum of 1 year and is renewable if the health conditions continue to be serious. Pregnant women can also get this type of permesso.