If you are an asylum-seeker, under the law you cannot travel outside of Italy, even for short periods.

But if you have been granted special protection, subsidiary protection or refugee status, you can travel within most European Union countries for 90 days at a time. However, these permits do not give you the right to work or study in another EU country.

You can find travel information for other kinds of permessi by selecting your permesso on this page.

Applying for jobs or education opportunities in other EU countries

If you have special protection, subsidiary protection or refugee status in Italy, you cannot become a resident of another European country while you have the Italian permit. These kinds of permits allow you to reside only in Italy.

If you decide to apply for work or study in another EU member state, the country where you plan to go will decide whether to give you a work or study permit based on its own rules. It will evaluate you as a citizen of your country of origin.

What if I work irregularly in another EU country, then come back when it's time to renew my permesso di soggiorno? Will I face any consequences in Italy?

If you work irregularly in another EU country, that country could order you to leave if they find out that you are staying there irregularly.

In many cases, your absence from Italy could also affect your ability to renew or convert your permesso when it expires. If you find yourself in this situation, it's never a bad idea to get legal advice.

Leaving Italy for work or study when you have subsidiary protection or refugee status

If you have subsidiary protection or refugee status in Italy (5-year permesso di soggiorno), or a work permit in Italy, you may be able to take a job or education opportunity in another European country without losing your status in Italy. But first, you must live in Italy for 5 years.

To keep your status in Italy, you need to get a permit that allows you to stay for long periods of time in other countries. This permit is called the permesso di soggiorno UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo.

Learn more on:

Permesso di soggiorno UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo

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