This page contains day to day knowledge – as in law, living in Ventimiglia, buying/renting.

The Law

When living in Italy it is worth knowing something of the legal system and the types of police forces that take care of law and order.

Ignorance is never an excuse in Italy and it is worth making sure that you are aware of the dos and don’ts in Italy. If you need any advice, it is worth talking to someone at your commune or town hall and they can, at the very least, point you in the right direction.

1. Arma dei Carabinieri – known as i Carabinieri, were established in 1814 to protect the Kingdom of Sardinia. Today they are similar to the French Gendarmes, and are essentially a military corps who also carry out police duties, act as military police, and perform in peace-keeping missions.

2. La Polizia Municipale (Polizia Locale, Polizia Comunale, Polizia Urbana or Vigili Urbani) enforce local regulations and control traffic, as well as dealing with petty crime and antisocial behaviour.

3. La Polizia di Stato are Italy’s civilian state police force. It combines its law enforcement activities with motorway patrol, and overseeing security of the country’s railway and waterway networks.

4. La Guardia di Finanza is a corps of the Italian army that operates under the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and whose primary objective is to police financial crime.

5. La Polizia Penitenziaria operate in the Italian prison system, specialising in the transportation of inmates.

6. Corpo Forestale dello Stato is responsible for law-enforcement in Italy’s parks and forests. They deal with poachers, forest fires and protected animal species. They are also the ones most likely to spot and report illegal building or cultivation to the local carabinieri.

Living in Ventimiglia

Whether you choose to buy or rent in Ventimiglia it is best to visit one of the many immobiliare offices (Estate Agencies) in the town.

One of the first things you have to do, is to obtain a Codice Fiscale – fiscal code. In truth, without it, you can do very little in Italy except be a tourist. To get your Codice Fiscale, the nearest office is in Sanremo:

Comune: SANREMO
Indirizzo/Address: CORSO MATUZIA 183
CAP/Postal Code: 18038
Telefono/Telephone: 0184/655701
Fax: 0184/655840
E-mail: dp.imperia.utsanremo@agenziaentrate.it

Orario/Times: da lunedì a giovedì dalle (Monday to Thursday from) 8.45 alle(to) 13.00 e dalle (and from) 14.15 alle(to) 15.30. Venerdì dalle (Friday from) 8.45 alle (to) 12.45.
Competenza territoriale (Territorial jurisdiction): Airole, Apricale, Badalucco, Baiardo, Bordighera, Camporosso, Carpasio, Castellaro, Castelvittorio, Ceriana, Dolceacqua, Isolabona, Molini di Triora, Montalto Ligure, Olivetta San Michele, Ospedaletti, Perinaldo, Pigna, Pompeiana, Riva Ligure, Rocchetta Nervina, San Biagio della Cima, Sanremo, Santo Stefano al Mare, Seborga, Soldano, Taggia, Terzorio, Triora, Vallebona, Vallecrosia, Ventimiglia.

Example of Codice Fiscale

Staying in Ventimiglia (and Italy)

If you are an European National and hold a valid passport, you can stay in Italy up to three months. If you are wishing to stay longer the next step is to register at the office called Anagrafe which is part of the local commune in Ventimiglia.

Here you will need to show proof of identity and prove that you have sufficient funds to be self supporting, such as a work contract. It is also imperative that you have health cover so you do not become a burden on the system.

The financial specifications needed to live in Ventimiglia (Italy) is around €6,000 a year but it is best to check with the Anagrafe as these sums do change.

For non European citizens, you are able to stay in Italy up to 90 days and then you have to apply for a Permesso di Soggiorno – a permit to stay. Again visit the local commune for more details.

The Ufficio Anagrafe is at Via Ruffini 18, Ventimiglia on the corner of Via Vittorio Veneto.

Opening Times: Monday to Saturday – 9.00 – 13.00

Note: When applying for residency, all documents have to be translated into Italian and be certified by an official at the local Tribunale (Court).

Also you will be required to buy a marca da bollo which is an official document stamp that is attached to all paperwork. These are purchased from any tabaccaio, a tabac. There are several around town. A useful one to remember is the Coffee Bar/Shop next to the train station. At the time of writing the bollo should cost €14.62

Tabac by the train station in Ventimiglia and an example of a Marca da Bollo

Renting

Because the property selling market is very slow there are now more and more properties available for rent in Ventimiglia. Visit any estate agent (Immobiliare) to see what is available. In all cases you will need to have a Codice Fiscale. See above on this page.

It is possible that you may find a property to rent privately, dealing directly with the property owner.

For short or long term rentals, a contract would be necessary and would be prepared by the agent. There is also another option called ‘Contratto Turistico’ – a Tourist Contract, where the rental is for one year, and usually with the option to extend – depending on availability. A three month notice is required should you wish to extend your stay.

To rent a property, in most cases you will need proof of earnings. If you are self-employed, you can show tax returns and/or a letter from your accountant. Identification, such as Passport or resident card and your Codice Fiscale.

For the fees – you will be required to pay at least a two month bond (deposit) and the first months rental fees in advance. Agents take one month fees as their commission and in the case of the Tourist Contract a percentage of the annual rental is requested. Whether the amount is negotiable, depends on the individual estate agent or property owner.

Other contract options are 2 x 2 or a 4 x 4 contract. In both cases, this means that you can enter a two year contract with the option of securing a further two, and it is the same in the case of the four year option.

With long term contracts, a six month notice is required should you wish to terminate the contract. At the end of your contract, if the property is as you found it, your two month deposit will be returned.