Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
To foreign journalists: The accreditataion office for foreign journalists at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
This guide book aims to assist foreign journalists and to make their work
easier during their assignment in Italy. It is a concise guide which could prove
useful to keep on hand. It has been prepared by the Accreditation Office of the
Press and Information Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Accreditation Office for foreign journalists is located in the Press and
Information Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Piazzale della Farnesina
1, - 00194 Rome (see map).
It is open to the public from Monday to Friday
from 10:00 AM to 1:00
PM.
1st floor, room 1114
tel. +39 06.36913432 - 06.36918573
fax: +39
06.36912122
E-mail: stampa.accrediti@esteri.it
Besides accrediting foreign correspondents in Italy, the Office also handles
registration and entry of Italian and foreign journalists for international
meetings and summits which are held in Italy; it runs Accreditation Offices at
meeting sites; it accredits Italian journalists for events outside the country;
and it runs a data base of foreign journalists and media in Italy. The
Accreditation Office currenty has in its data base about 800 journalists from 70
countries.
Entry into Italy
Citizens of countries requiring a visa for Italy need to request a work visa
in time.
The application must be made to the Italian Embassy or Consulate in the place
of residence. Visa applications are subject to approval by the competent Italian
authorities.
The current law concerning visas for non-EU citizens states that foreign
journalists obtain the following types of visas:
- Work visa:Members of the foreign press are among
the special categories of workers who do not require a work permit to work in
Italy. The visa will usually be obtained within 30 days from the date of
application.
- Mission visa: This type of visa can be obtained by
foreign journalists working for government media, or by journalists traveling to
Italy to partecipate in conventions or other authorized events.
- Business visa:This can be obtained in exceptional
circumstances for those events which don't fall into the mission visa category.
Foreign journalists intending to work in Italy can request a specific visa
from the Italian Consulate for family members traveling with them, as long as
they are supported by the correspondent and are minors (the children). Children
over 18 can obtain this kind of visa only if they are unable to work. In case
the journalist is already living in Italy and has a valid residency permit,
he/she can request a family rejoining visa for the following family members:
- spouse;
- children under 18 who are supported by the journalist;
- relatives (up to thrice removed) who are unable to work and supported by the
journalist.
Accreditation Procedure
Upon arrival in Italy, foreign journalists must be presented to the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs by a letter signed by the director of the media outlet
represented, as well as by a Verbal Note from the Embassy in Rome representing
the media outlet (regardless of the nationality of the journalist).
The letter from the director of the media outlet must be addressed to the
"Ministero degli Affari Esteri - Servizio Stampa e Informazione - Ufficio
Accreditamento - Piazzale della Farnesina 1 - 00194 Roma" and must contain the
following information: job description of the correspondent (journalist,
photographer, technician, etc.), his/her nomination as permanent correspondent
from Italy, and the duration of the assignment.
This letter is necessary as proof of the work relationship between the
journalist and the media outlet.
The Verbal Note must contain the following information: name and
birthdate/birthplace of the journalist, passport number and date of
issue/expiry, address and phone number in Italy (business and private), the
media outlet represented and his/her professional qualifications.
Once the Verbal Note is received by the Press Office, the accreditation
process needs to be completed with the following documentation: a professional
biography (curriculum vitae), one photograph, photocopy of the passport and
professional identity card, and in the case of newspaper or magazine
journalists, copies of at least 10 recent articles.
A document confirming accreditation can be obtained upon request.
Accreditation at the Press Office is valid for 2 years.
Upon expiry, the journalist needs to once again present a letter from the
director of his/her media outlet and a Verbal Note from the Embassy.
For further information please contact the Accreditation Office:
Ministero degli Affari Esteri
Servizio Stampa e Informazione
Ufficio
Accreditamento Giornalisti
Piazzale della Farnesina, 1
00194 Roma
Tel:
+39 06.36913432
Fax: +39 06.36912122
E-mail: stampa.accrediti@esteri.it
How to obtain a residency permit for
Italy
Once accreditation procedures have been completed, journalists who are EU
citizens can obtain residency papers for Italy (confirming the right to reside
in Italy). Those who are not EU citizens can obtain a residency permit which is
valid for two years and can be renewed at the expiry date.
The Accreditation Office communicates to the Italian Ministry of the Interior
and to the Police Headquarters (Questura) that the accreditation has taken
place, and requests residency permits for the journalist and his/her spouse and
children.
The Questura releases the residency permits within 15-20 days, when there are
no obstacles. The same procedure is followed for renewals. It is advisable to
request the renewal of the residency permit two months before the expiry
date.
The Office for Foreigners in the Questura (Via Teofilo Patini, zona Tor
Sapienza, tel. 06-46861) can give foreign journalists personal appointments for
Tuesday afternoons to facilitate this process. Please request such appointments
through the Accreditation Office by Friday morning for the following
Tuesday.
Foreign correspondents who have had a residency permit in Italy for at least
6 years can request a "carta di soggiorno" (residency card) without an expiry
date at the local Questura.
Once a journalist has obtained the residency permit, he/she can be registered
in the City Hall.
This can be requested by any foreign citizen with a residency permit valid
for at least one year, and a valid passport.
Procedure to import personal
effects
Upon request, the Accreditation Office can facilitate the temporary
importation into Italy of personal effects with customs exemption. The
journalist must send or bring to the Accreditation Office the following:
- a letter indicating the appropriate customs office, the name of the company
handling the customs clearance, and the date of arrival;
- a list of personal effects.
The Accreditation Office will then request the Italian Ministry of Economy
and Finance to authorize the competent customs office to allow the importation
of personal effects free of a security deposit. The importation of goods doesn't
need to take place all at once, but must be done within 6 months of arrival in
Italy. The procedure usually requires 20-30 days. The same procedure is followed
for the exportation of personal effects.
Procedure to import a
car
The Accreditation Office can facilitate the temporary importation in Italy of
your car and, in some cases, the concession of the special "EE" ("Escursionisti
Esteri") license plate.
The special EE license plate, which is renewable on a yearly basis, can be
requested only by those journalists who are not EU citizens and who are not
resident in Italy. A security deposit must be paid, which will be refunded upon
exportation of the car. This security deposit can be substituted by a
declaration of guarantee from the Embassy representing the media outlet, or by a
bank suretyship. The procedure takes about 20 days.
How to obtain an italian driving license
In order to drive in
Italy you must obtain an Italian driving license.
Citizens of those countries with reciprocal agreements (including EU
countries) can obtain the conversion of their driving license, whereas citizens
of other countries will need to request a new license.
List of countries whose licences can be converted
Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, LIthuania, Luxembourg, Former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia , Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sri
Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey.
The request for conversion must be presented to the Motorization Branch or to
an Agency before your foreign license expires and within one year after entry
into Italy. You must present the following:
- a completed Model TT2112 (obtainable at Motorization Branches);
- proof of payment of 20.66 Euros on postal account (conto corrente) n. 4028
and 5.16 Euros on postal account (conto corrente) n. 9001;
- medical certificate signed by your local ASL doctor within the last 6
months, on revenue-stamped ("bollo") paper (plus a photocopy), with your
photograph;
- two recent photos on a white background;
- your foreign driving license with a photocopy (front and back).
- If you are requesting the conversion of a non-EU driving license, you must
supply a translation on revenue-stamped paper. The translation must be certified
by the Italian Embassy or Consulate in your country of origin, or by your
Embassy in Italy; it must also be validated by the Prefecture ("Prefettura").
Those with a valid EU driving license don't need to have it converted, but
can simply have it recognized by presenting the following to the Motorization
Branch:
- form TT746 (distributed free at the Motorisation Department) filled out and
signed according to the reqirements contained within;
- a signed declaration stating that you reside in Italy;
- proof of payment of 10.33 Euros on postal account (conto corrente) n. 4028
and 5.16 Euros on postal account (conto corrente) n. 9001.
For further information please contact one of the following Provincial
Motorization Branches:
- Via Salaria Km 10,400, 00199 Roma (1st Floor, room n. 110) - Tel. +39
06.81691 (Monday to Friday 8:45 AM to 12:30 and Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:00 to
4:30 PM). This office accepts and controls applications,
- Via del Fosso di Acqua Acetosa Ostiense 9, 00143 Roma (GRA exit 25), tel.
+39 06.502881 (Monday to Friday 8:45 AM to 12:30 and Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:00
to 4:30 PM). This office only accepts applications.
The press pass
Journalists can obtain a Press Pass for public events, if in possession of
the proper requirements.
The Press Pass for public events can be obtained from the Presidenza del
Consiglio dei Ministri - Dipartimento per l'Informazione e l'Editoria (Premier's
Office - Information and Editorial Department) by those members of the foreign
press who are accredited at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the exception
of those who work solely in the sectors of entertainment, tourism, sport,
fashion and art.
The Press Pass is valid for public events, manifestations and ceremonies
which are of public interest and are held in public places.
It doesn't give the right to attend meetings which are held in public places
but whose access is regulated by the organizers of the event.
The Accreditation Office handles requests for Press Passes, sending them to
the Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri. An Interministerial Committee will
decide on the release of a Press Pass, based on the approval of the Ministry of
the Interior. The release takes about 6 months, as the Committee meets 3 or 4
times a year.
The Press Pass is valid for three years. Requests for renewal have to be made
through the Press Office 4 to 6 months before the expiry date. For renewals the
Committee decision is not necessary.
Television or movie filming in Italy
I)Temporary importation into Italy of technical and
professional material
The following is the procedure necessary for foreign TV crews who wish to
film in Italy in order to temporarily import their professional and technical
material free of customs tax:
a)if they come from countries which adhere to the Customs Convention on ATA
Carnets for the temporary importation of goods, they must obtain such a Carnet,
which can be bought at the Chambers of Commerce of cities which adhere to the
Convention. The purpose of this Convention is to facilitate the transfer of some
types of goods, simplifying customs formalities and reducing the costs, by
substituting national customs documents for temporary importation with an
international customs document. The Convention includes journalists'
professional material among the goods to which this law applies.
b) If, on the other hand, the television crews come from countries which did
not adhere to the Convention (or haven't yet applied it), they must contact
their Embassy in Italy in time with the following information: composition of
the crew (including the name of the director, if there is one); list of the
goods to follow; purpose of filming; date; customs office; and arrival and
departure flight data (or road or rail information).
The Embassy writes a Verbal Note to the Press Office of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs. The Press Office then requests the Presidenza del Consiglio dei
Ministri (Premier's Office) to authorize the importation of
technical-professional material free of customs duty. If the Press Office
receives all pertinent information from the beginning and it is not the day
before holidays, the whole procedure can be taken care of in a short period of
time.
If the above procedure (paragraph b) is not followed, the temporary
importation of material can be authorized directly by the customs office at the
point of entry; a deposit will be requested which will be returned upon
departure from Italy, if the entry documentation is shown.
If the above procedure (paragraph b) is followed, it is important to remember
to always be ready to show the customs documents obtained upon entry when
re-exporting the material from Italy.
II). Authorization for filming
A. General aspects
a) Television crews who wish to film newsclips, even if not using material
that occupies public space, generally need to obtain an authorization from the
local City Hall. Because of their urgency, such requests are directed to the
Office of the Mayor. Because of the right to report news, authorization is
always given, except in some unusual cases.
b)Television and movie productions intending to film in Italy (movies, TV
movies, documentaries) using material that occupies public space, or at
historical, artistic or architectural monuments or where antiques or art are
stored, must obtain a series of authorizations which vary depending on the type
of filming requested.
Requests must be made by the interested party, by their representative in
Italy or by the Embassy representing the media outlet. The general procedure is
as follows:
- an insurance policy must be stipulated covering the cost of potential
damages to people or things while filming in Italy. A copy of the policy must be
brought to Italy; it must contain the names of the crew members and be
translated into Italian;
- immediately after entry into Italy, the presence in Italy of the crew and of
their intention to film must be made known to the competent Prefecture and
Police Headquarters;
- in the case of outdoor filming, an authorization from the appropriate City
Hall must be obtained. The request, on revenue-stamped ("bollo") paper, must be
addressed to the Mayor about a month before the filming date and must contain
the following information: name of the crew members, date and place of filming,
subject of the film or documentary, whether traffic needs to be diverted, and
any other pertinent information;
- payment of taxes (COSAP, for the occupation of public space) and tariffs (in
case of filming inside state cultural property).
The following office in RAI can give information and assistance on
filming authorization procedures: RAI - Direzione Rapporti con l'Estero Ufficio
Assistenza Tecnica Tel.: +39 06.33170053 Fax: +39 06.33171151 e-mail: eurovision@rai.it
B. Photography or filming at state cultural property
In the case of photography or filming at state cultural property of
historical, artistic or architectural interest, current law states that
authorization must be requested to the competent "Soprintendenti delle Belle
Arti" (Fine Arts Superintendents). If the Embassy or Consulate is not able to
assist the foreign production companies in singling out the competent
"Soprintendenza", please contact: Ministero per i Beni Culturali e Ambientali
Ufficio Centrale per i Beni Archeologici, Architettonici, Artistici e Storici
Via del Collegio Romano 27, 00186 ROMA tel.: +39 06.67231 www.beniculturali.it
The Ministerial Decrees of January 31, 1994 and of April 8, 1994 of the
"Ministero per i Beni Culturali e Ambientali" establish the criteria and the
procedures to which the "Soprintendenti" must adhere for the concession of the
filming authorizations as well as the payment or exemption of tariffs.
The request to the Soprintendenze must contain any information necessary for
evaluation. The following information is especially important: names of the
components of the crew, filming date and place, manner of filming, technical
means used, purpose of filming, and the forms of distribution.
There is a special list of administrative filming fees. Additional fees may
be requested on a case by case basis. A security deposit must be paid; the
amount varies depending on the space used.
C. Rules for television and movie filming in Rome
The City of Rome has simplified the procedures for filming in the Italian
capital by the institution of a Cinema Office (Ufficio Cinema); this office is
the local contact for Italian and foreign movie and TV productions. The City of
Rome has thus aligned itself, as far as the concession of public space for
filming purposes, with other European capitals and with major American cities.
The Cinema Office of the City of Rome deals with all aspects of concession of
authorizations. It also keeps contacts with the Soprintendenze, other municipal
offices and the police authorities to obtain opinions about the concession of
authorizations. Its functions are not limited only to authorizations; the Cinema
Office also assists and orients production companies in choosing filming sites
and can be of help in the various stages of production.
Therefore, production companies should contact the Cinema Office in time in
order to plan their work in Rome.
Requests for movie filming should be made using a form which is obtainable in
the Cinema Office in Italian and English. The form asks for the outline of a
work plan, as well as other information.
It is also necessary that the production company stipulate an insurance
policy covering potential damages to people or things while filming in Italy. A
copy of the policy must be brought to Italy. This insurance exempts you from
paying a security deposit, which would otherwise have to be paid for potential
damage to state property.
Some fees and taxes also need to be paid. These include the revenue stamps on
the request form, and the preliminary fees. There is then a tax for the
occupation of public space (COSAP); the fee is calculated on a daily basis
depending on the square meters.
Since revenue stamps are not available outside Italy, these fees can be paid
in the Business Office ("Economato") of the City of Rome once the authorization
is obtained, and not necessarily while making the application.
The Cinema Office of the City of Rome is located in Via Tuscolana 1055, 00173
Roma,
tel.: +39 06.67102191 - 06.67102964 - 06.67108161, fax +39 06.67108151
- 06.67108164.
Their website is at: Cinema Office of Rome .
D. Photography or TV and movie filming on private property
In the case of photography or filming requests for private property,
authorization must be obtained from the owners or their representatives.
E. Filming in other italian cities
Other cities in Italy are also making filming easier for foreign production
companies, especially Venice, Milan, Turin and Bologna. Production companies are
advised to contact the town halls in advance, especially in major tourist
cities.
Association of the foreign press in
Italy
The Association of the Foreign Press (Associazione della Stampa Estera) is a
private association in Rome in Via dell'Umilt? 83/c, 00187 Roma (tel. +39
06.675911, fax +39 06.67591262).
The Secretary's Office is open on weekdays
from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. It is open to the public from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Any communication can be addressed directly to the Secretary's Office.
(Information of general interest will be put on a bulletin board).
The meeting and work rooms are open on weekdays from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM and
on weekends and holidays from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Only professional or freelance
journalists who are members of the Association are admitted.
A recorded message (+39 06.67591297) gives information 24 hours a day about
activities of the Association (press conferences, meetings, trips, projections,
etc.)
The Association of the Foreign Press has an office in Northern Italy at the
following address: Via Principe Amadeo n?5, Milano (tel. +39 02.29000966; fax
+39 02.29006756 ). For any other information please consult the Association's
website at: www.stampa-estera.it
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
