Note: this article is to inform about the permesso per casi speciali for victims of exploitation valid for 6 months. If you want information about the 2-year casi speciali permit, click here.
In some special cases, the questore (Italian police superintendent) grants permessi di soggiorno to people who have survived crimes or are in some way connected to criminal activity. You cannot request these permessi at the questura.
There are 3 types of permessi in this category:
- Permesso per Protezione Sociale
- Permesso per Stranieri vittime di Intermediazione Illecita e Sfruttamento Lavorativo
- Permesso per Vittime di Violenza Domestica
Permesso per Protezione Sociale
You may be granted a Permesso di Soggiorno per Protezione Sociale if your safety is seriously threatened by:
- Sexual exploitation
- Violence or grave exploitation
- A particular group that endangers an individual who tries to escape or make a statement against that group
Social services or police who are involved in the relevant case can recommend issuing this permesso to the questore (police superintendent).
You can also receive this permesso if you have been released from jail for crimes you committed as a minor and can prove you have participated in a social reintegration program. In this case, a public defender or a surveillance judge at a juvenile court recommends to the questore that you get this permesso.
How long is it valid?
This kind of permesso is valid for 6 months and can be renewed for 1 year, or for the maximum amount of time needed for judicial reasons.
Permesso per Stranieri Vittime di Intermediazione Illecita e Sfruttamento lavorativo
You could get a Permesso di Soggiorno per Stranieri Vittime di Intermediazione Illecita e Sfruttamento Lavorativo if you have filed a complaint, and/or cooperate with criminal proceedings, against an employer who has made the following violations of labor laws:
- Paid less than the legal minimum wage for a particular form of work
- Forced employees to work more than the nationally established hours
- Failed to meet national standards of workplace hygiene and security
- Submitted employees to degrading surveillance and/or housing services
Following the new law decree DL 145/2024 approved in December 2024, it is established that if you are a victim of labor exploitation and you actively cooperate with authorities to verify the crime and identify the criminals, you may be eligible for free legal aid from the state (Gratuito Patrocinio a spese dello Stato).
Learn more about: YOUR RIGHT TO A LAWYER
The new law decree also establishes that if you get this permesso, you may benefit from financial support from the State - the so-called 'inclusion allowance' (assegno d'inclusione in Italian), as an exception to the residency criteria that are generally required to receive this benefit.
Learn more about: FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND BONUSES IN ITALY
How long is it valid?
This kind of permesso is valid for 6 months and can be renewed for 1 year, or for the maximum amount of time needed for judicial reasons.
Can I convert this permit?
Upon expiration, the permit may be converted into a residence permit for work or study purposes.
Permesso per Vittime di Violenza Domestica
You could get the Permesso di Soggiorno per Vittime di Violenza Domestica if you are proven to have survived domestic violence.
How long is it valid?
This type of permesso is valid for 1 year.