Tips for finding study programs, work and long-term accomodation. Living semi-permanently in Italy studying or working is often a good way to really experience local culture. However we do encourage all travellers to consider whether the job they require would be of more benefit to a local person particularly in areas of high unemployment. If you have advice or a job placement, please e-mail us with your information at italy@backpackglobe.com


- WORKING
- LONG-TERM ACCOMODATION
- STUDYING
- USEFUL LITERATURE


WORKING
In Italy anyone with an EU (European Union) passport may work although you still need to apply for a work permit (permesso di soggiorno per lavoro) and a residence permit (permesso de soggiorno). These can be obtained at the main police station where you are living. In Rome there is a foreign section with staff who speak English. Once you have the required permits you will also need an employment number from the tax office. If you do not have an EU passport, it is not too difficult to find work outside of legal channels. Try looking for English teaching or work for a small business. The only problem is that most jobs will involve some knowledge of Italian. The best place for English speaking travellers to find work in Italy is in the tourism industry where knowledge of English is often more important than the local lingo. For those that are self-employed, visas and passports present no problem. Take the tools for your trade (such as mobile phone, laptop etc) and don't tell the immigration authorities that you are working.

Job ideas
It might sound romantic but picking olives and grapes does not have financial remuneration. Usually these jobs are taken by immigrants and payment is usually made through bottles of olive oil or wine. However accommodation and food can sometimes be provided free and it can be an interesting experience if you are not seeking monetary gain. Olive season is December, the wine harvest is September / October. Hostels in Italy are sometimes in need of English speaking staff, although opportunities outside major cities are rare. Rome is the best place to secure this kind of work at the start of the backpacker season, usually shortly before April. Cafes and restaurants in larger cities may also pick up non-Italian speaking staff during their busy periods although again outside Rome or Florence some Italian may be required. Wanted in Rome is a fortnightly publication that appears in newsagents in Rome and contains jobs for English speakers and other ex-patriates. There are a wide variety of jobs listed including teaching English, nannying and cafe/bar work.
See www.wantedinrome.com For similar jobs outside Rome you will need a decent level of Italian.

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LONG-TERM ACCOMODATION
If you are interested in renting an apartment for any length of time you should consider checking out the Yaif website at www.yaif.it for cheap short and long term rentals.

Here are some hints:
- budget enough money to stay in a hostel for 1-2 weeks if you don't find anything more permanent sooner.
- add to your budget that you may need bond money once you find a place.
- check university bulletin boards and newsletters that may feature cheap student accommodation, shared housing etc
- see advertisements in local newspapers
- walk the streets and talk to people. Let it be known what you are looking for.
- some boarding schools offer accommodation in return or a few hours helping out at the school either in the dorm or elsewhere. This may limit your night hours however.
- look into exchanging housing. There are web sites and agencies that help organise this. Search our bulletin boards or leaving your own posting.
- some hostels may discount your lodging for long term stays or you may be able to work for your accommodation. Other hostels refuse stays of longer than several days. Check our discussion boards and job pages for listings.
- some cities have cheap workers dorms
- go to the local housing agency
- join a house sitting organisation or check our bulletin boards for house sitting opportunities. There are usually requirements to fill, age is a big one.

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