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Navigating Italy Post-Brexit: A Closer Look at the New Realities

European relocation brings increased administrative hurdles for British citizens, introducing a new vulnerability and lose of connection to the continent, asserts Laurence Connell.

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3 min read
The added administrative hurdles for British citizens relocating to Europe post-Brexit have sparked...
The added administrative hurdles for British citizens relocating to Europe post-Brexit have sparked much discussion. However, these changes also introduce a fragile existence and a loss of connection to their European identity, as penned by Laurence Connell.

Losing Home, Gaining Complexity: Navigating Italy Post-Brexit as a Brit

Navigating Italy Post-Brexit: A Closer Look at the New Realities

Laurence Connell writes about his experience moving to Italy as a UK citizen, post-Brexit, losing his EU citizenship and the freedom of movement it provided.

Last year, I, like thousands of UK-based academics, became jobless due to budget cuts caused by the pandemic. With the UK no longer my main anchor, I saw the opportunity to move to Italy, a country I adore.

A New Challenge

Moving to Italy during a global pandemic wasn't easy. Add to that the complex, time-consuming immigration bureaucracy, and it became a daunting task. But losing my EU citizenship made it all the more difficult.

Italy's Labyrinthine Immigration Process

I applied for the EU Blue Card, a work visa for skilled workers with a university degree. Thankfully, my employer handled the initial stages of my application, obtaining a security check, or Nulla Osta. However, applying for the Nulla Osta was a hassle.

The hurdles of the Dichiarazione di Valore

Applying for the EU Blue Card required an undergraduate degree. But if you graduated outside of Italy, you also needed a Dichiarazione di Valore, a legal document certifying that your degree was of equal value to an Italian university degree. I didn't need to reapply since I already had this document from my time in Italy.

Bureaucratic Speedbumps

Unfortunately, I couldn't find the hardcopy of my Dichiarazione when the immigration office asked for it. Delays can last for months, and I could have been forced to reapply. But luck was on my side, as my old university tracked it down for me.

The Italian immigration process is infamous for its complexity. As a non-EU citizen, I truly understood why. It took months for my visa application to process and cost me precious time and resources.

Life in a New Land

After five months, my application was successful. However, the process left me feeling anxious and unsettled, losing the sense of unconditional belonging that I once had as an EU citizen. Despite enjoying my new life in Italy, my ability to stay is still conditional. I can no longer move freely between jobs, and my visa might not be renewed in the future.

Moving Forward

Belonging is about more than just feeling comfortable and at home - it's also about acceptance and security. I strive to find that security in Italy, even if it takes time to truly feel like I belong.

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Process and Requirements for a UK Citizen to Obtain a Work Visa in Italy After Brexit

#Brexit #Moving to Italy #Opinion and Analysis

  1. Living in Italy, I am confronting the challenges of an intricate post-Brexit immigration process, having shed my EU citizenship and its associated benefits.
  2. As a UK citizen in Italy, I've joined thousands of others navigating the demanding bureaucracy of obtaining a work visa.
  3. The EU Blue Card, designed for skilled non-EU workers, became my objective in Italy's puzzling visa landscape.
  4. The foundation of my EU Blue Card application began with the employer-handled initial stages: a security check, or the Nulla Osta.
  5. Seeking the Nulla Osta was tiresome, but securing it was a crucial step in my Italian immigration journey.
  6. To apply for the EU Blue Card, I presented my undergraduate degree, leading to the necessity of another document: the Dichiarazione di Valore.
  7. The Dichiarazione di Valore, verifying the equivalency of my foreign degree to an Italian one, was a vital component of my application.
  8. Since I had already obtained this document in my previous time in Italy, I didn't need to reapply – but it spurred a challenge when I couldn't locate the hardcopy during the immigration office inquiry.
  9. Months could have passed for my visa application while I fought the arduous reapplication process, but fortunately, my old university managed to track down the missing Dichiarazione for me.
  10. The Italian immigration process, infamous for its labyrinthine nature, configured my journey with extended delays and high financial costs.
  11. Worth the wait, my visa application was eventually approved after five months, but the process left me feeling uncertain and unrooted.
  12. Relocating to Italy post-Brexit, I lost the cordial sense of belonging that being an EU citizen once provided, compounding an already complex move.
  13. Desiring to establish a sense of permanence in Italy, I persevere to find security and acceptance despite the drawn-out process, keeping an open mind for personal growth opportunities.
  14. Prevalent themes in my new Italian life include grappling with bureaucracy, adapting to unfamiliar policies, and navigating the ever-evolving implications of Brexit in Germany.
  15. Life in Italy has illuminated the realities of migration, prompting me to reflect upon the impact of war, politics, and public policy upon peoples' lives, In the process of resettling, I also immerse myself in local culture, sports, and skills training for career development, a key element in finding my footing in this new world.

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