Supporting UK Nationals with the necessary local procedures to obtain and maintain their right to be resident in Italy after the end of the transition period. This is the objective of a new programme launched by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) with funding from the UK Government. The British Embassy in Rome will be supporting IOM as it carries out this important work. The programme is part of a wider initiative through which the UK government and IOM aim to reach and provide assistance to approximately 30,000 British citizens in Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain.
Laurence Hart, Director for the IOM Mediterranean Coordination Office, said:
We are delighted to be able to take forward this extremely useful and valuable activity here in Italy.
IOM will facilitate access to the necessary information about residency requirements for UK Nationals in Italy. We will also provide direct support on completing paperwork for all those who might be having difficulties in taking forward the required procedures introduced here.
Information will be made available on dedicated webpages on both the IOM and British Embassy in Italy websites (see Living in Guide). IOM will also be offering help to individuals with specific issues, especially those with chronic disease, disability or those experiencing language or technical barriers.
This initiative” underlines Hart “will provide direct support to UK Nationals, to ensure they avoid finding themselves with an irregular status in Italy. It will also help key Italian institutions streamline the completion of the necessary paperwork.
In order to reach UK Nationals in Italy, it will be important to circulate relevant information at the local level, with the support of the network of town halls, as registry offices will play a fundamental role in the procedure for UK Nationals to regulate their status.
IOM’s work will complement the UK government’s strategy, which includes the allocation of £3 million in support of organisations helping UK Nationals across several European countries. This will assist UK Nationals with bureaucratic and administrative procedures that are required to regulate their status in Europe.
British Ambassador to Italy Jill Morris commended:
We welcome IOM’s new service for UK nationals to help them regulate their status here in Italy, so they can continue to enjoy their rights after the end of the transition period.
The new programme will be launched later this month and will run for 12 months, i.e. until 31 March 2021.
The measures Italy has put in place in response to the coronavirus means that UK nationals should not try to register their residency at this time. IOM stands ready to support UK nationals in registering with their local town hall when restrictions are lifted.
For more info:
IOM: Flavio Di Giacomo, Press Office, tel: +39.347.0898996; email: fdigiacomo@iom.int or iomromepress@iom.int.
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