Recognition of a foreign journalist’s qualification

A journalist who has obtained the qualification abroad and intends to practise in Italy may apply for recognition of the qualification to the Ministry of Justice, the authority competent to supervise the profession, or for registration on the list of foreign journalists.

When recognition is required

The profession of journalist is regulated under Italian law. A person who has obtained abroad the qualification that, in the country of origin, gives access to that profession must obtain its recognition in order to register with the register and practise lawfully, or to make use of the corresponding professional title. Activities that the law does not reserve to members of the register remain permitted, subject to the prohibition on using the regulated title.

Who grants recognition

The competent authority is the Ministry of Justice, which supervises the profession and provides for the recognition of qualifications obtained abroad, in the European Union or in third countries, by Italian or foreign nationals. The procedure concludes with a decree without expiry, published for about ninety days, with official value, on the official page of the Ministry of Justice. For the purpose of professional recognition, homologation of the academic qualification in Italy is not required.

The application and the documentation

The application is submitted in Italian, on the ministerial forms, and reconstructs the entire academic and professional background starting from the foreign academic qualification. The following are required in particular:

• the academic qualification, with an indication of the duration of the course
• the transcript of examinations taken, with an indication of place and date
• any professional qualification obtained after the academic qualification
• the certificate of the authority of the country of origin attesting access to or authorisation to practise the profession

For the application it is sufficient to hold the requirements for access to the profession in the country of origin, such as the academic qualification, the traineeship and any State examination where provided. It is not, on the other hand, necessary to have completed the requirements for practice, such as registration with the territorially competent Order of Journalists, which is the final step following the decree.

Qualifications obtained in the European Union

For qualifications obtained in a country of the Union, Directives 2005/36/EC and 2013/55/EU apply, transposed by Legislative Decree 206/2007. In that case the Declaration of Value is not required. In its place the declaration of conformity issued by the competent authority of the country of origin applies, attesting access to or authorisation to practise the profession under the law of that country. The academic qualification and the transcript of examinations may be submitted by means of a self-declaration and a simple copy, without legalisation.

Qualifications obtained in non-EU countries

For non-EU qualifications, recognition is governed by Articles 49 and 50 of Presidential Decree 394/1999 and by Presidential Decree 334/2004. The non-EU national must also enclose the residence permit. The documentation of the qualification is submitted in one of the two forms admitted by the Ministry:

• the Declaration of Value issued by the Italian diplomatic or consular mission in the country of origin, submitted as a certified copy, with which a simple copy and a simple translation of the academic qualification certificate and the transcript of examinations are sufficient
• in the absence of the Declaration of Value, the qualification in the original or a certified copy, after legalisation or an Apostille of the original, accompanied by an official translation

CIMEA certifications are not among the documents required by the Ministry of Justice for professional recognition and do not replace the Declaration of Value, although they may be enclosed. For holders of international protection the free CIMEA for refugees service is available.

Residence permit and entry visa

A person submitting the application from abroad, in order to obtain the entry visa for self-employment, first applies to the Ministry for the declaration that there are no grounds precluding the issue of the authorising title, under Article 39 of Presidential Decree 394/1999. Where recognition is made subject to a compensation measure and the person concerned is abroad, Article 49, paragraph 3-bis allows the issue of a study visa for the time needed to complete it. Registration with the register remains in any event subject to holding a valid residence permit.

Compensation measures

Where the examination of the application reveals a training deficiency in the subjects fundamental to practice in Italy, the decree may make recognition subject to a compensation measure, consisting of an aptitude test or an adaptation period, within the competence of the National Council of the Order of Journalists. Documented studies and professional experience are also taken into account in the assessment.

Specific points for the journalist

The register of journalists, kept at each regional Council of the Order, is divided into the two lists of professionals and publicists, under Article 26 of Law 69/1963. Annexed to the register is the list of journalists of foreign nationality, provided for by Article 28.

A journalist, whether a citizen of the Union or of a third country, who practises abroad and intends to work in Italy has two routes. The first is recognition of the professional qualification, within the competence of the Ministry of Justice, under the procedure set out on this page. The second is registration on the list of foreign journalists, under Articles 28 and 36 of Law 69/1963, subject, for non-EU citizens, to the condition of reciprocity with the country of origin.

The application for the special list is submitted to the regional Council of the Order of residence or professional domicile, with documentation attesting the activity carried out, such as copies of articles, contracts and publications.

Timeframes and stamp duty

The procedure takes on average four months. Within thirty days of receipt of the application the office confirms that the file is complete or that additions are required. Stamp duty is settled by means of two sixteen-euro stamps, one for the application and one for the final decision, for a total of thirty-two euros, to which a third is added, for a total of forty-eight euros, where a certified paper copy of the decree is requested in place of the digital signature. The decree is transmitted with a digital signature by certified or ordinary email.

Legal references: Directive 2005/36/EC, Directive 2013/55/EU, Legislative Decree 206/2007, Law 69/1963 Articles 26, 28, 36 and 46, Presidential Decree 394/1999 Articles 39, 49 and 50, Presidential Decree 334/2004.