Resources

Resources for Nigerians in Italy

Everything You Need to Thrive in Italy

We’ve been where you are. The endless Google searches, the confusing government websites, the “how do I even start” moments. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive resource guide – so you don’t have to figure it all out alone.

Think of this as your survival guide, success manual, and shortcut to the information that actually matters.

🏠 Living in Italy Essentials

Getting Started – Your First 90 Days

Immediate Must-Dos:

  • Register with local municipality (Anagrafe) within 8 days of arrival
  • Get your Italian tax code (Codice Fiscale) – required for everything
  • Open a bank account (bring passport, codice fiscale, and proof of address)
  • Register with local health authority (ASL) for healthcare access

Essential Documents Checklist:

  • [ ] Passport with valid visa/permit
  • [ ] Codice Fiscale
  • [ ] Permesso di Soggiorno (if non-EU)
  • [ ] Residency certificate (Certificato di Residenza)
  • [ ] Health insurance card
  • [ ] Bank statements and account details

Finding Housing

Useful Websites:

  • Idealista.it – Most comprehensive property listings
  • Immobiliare.it – Wide range of rental options
  • Subito.it – Direct from owners, often cheaper
  • Facebook groups: “Nigerians in [Your City]” for community recommendations

Red Flags to Avoid:

  • Requests for money before viewing the property
  • Deals that seem too good to be true
  • Properties without proper documentation
  • Landlords who won’t meet in person

Typical Costs to Budget:

  • Security deposit: 2-3 months rent
  • First month’s rent in advance
  • Agency fees: 1 month’s rent (if using agency)
  • Utilities setup: €100-200

Healthcare System

How It Works:

  • Register with ASL (Local Health Authority) in your area
  • Choose a family doctor (Medico di Base) – free consultations
  • Emergency care: Call 118 or go to Pronto Soccorso
  • Prescription medications: Present recipe at any pharmacy

Essential Health Vocabulary:

  • Dottore/Dottoressa = Doctor
  • Farmacia = Pharmacy
  • Ricetta = Prescription
  • Pronto Soccorso = Emergency Room
  • Ambulanza = Ambulance

Private Healthcare Options:

  • Sanitas, UniSalute, Generali for supplementary insurance
  • Typical cost: €30-80/month depending on coverage

💼 Professional Life in Italy

Job Search Strategies

Best Job Portals:

  • LinkedIn Italy – essential for professional networking
  • Indeed.it – wide range of opportunities
  • Monster.it – good for international companies
  • Glassdoor.it – company reviews and salary info
  • Lavoro.gov.it – government job portal

Industry-Specific Resources:

  • Tech: AngelList, Stack Overflow Jobs, Codemotion
  • Finance: eFinancialCareers, Bancalavoro
  • Healthcare: Sanitadomani, Nurselookup
  • Engineering: Ingegneri.info, Engineerjobs.it

CV Tips for Italian Market:

  • Include photo (professional headshot)
  • List languages and proficiency levels
  • Keep to 1-2 pages maximum
  • Include European format dates (DD/MM/YYYY)
  • Mention your permesso di soggiorno status

Professional Qualification Recognition

Academic Qualifications:

  • Contact CIMEA (Centro Informazioni Mobilità Equivalenze Accademiche)
  • Process takes 2-4 months
  • Required documents: degree certificates, transcripts, translations
  • Cost: €200-500 depending on complexity

Professional Licenses:

  • Each profession has different requirements
  • Contact the relevant professional order (Ordine Professionale)
  • May require additional exams or training
  • NUNAI can connect you with members who’ve gone through the process

Workplace Culture Guide

Italian Business Etiquette:

  • Punctuality is important but not obsessive
  • Formal greetings: “Buongiorno” (morning), “Buonasera” (afternoon/evening)
  • Business cards are still commonly exchanged
  • Lunch breaks are sacred – respect the 1-2 hour break

Communication Style:

  • More formal than UK/US standards
  • Use “Lei” (formal you) until invited to use “tu”
  • Direct communication is appreciated but delivered politely
  • Relationships matter – invest time in getting to know colleagues

🎓 Education & Learning

Italian Language Learning

Free Resources:

  • Duolingo – basic vocabulary and grammar
  • RAI Italiano – official Italian learning platform
  • Italian Conversation groups on Facebook
  • Local library language exchange programs

Formal Language Schools:

  • Università per Stranieri (Perugia, Siena) – intensive courses
  • Società Dante Alighieri – worldwide network
  • Local community centers often offer affordable classes
  • Online: Babbel, Busuu, italki for private tutoring

Language Certification:

  • CILS (Siena) or CELI (Perugia) for official certification
  • Required for university admission and some jobs
  • Levels: A1-C2 (beginner to native-like)

Universities and Higher Education

Top Universities for International Students:

  • Bocconi University (Milan) – Business and Economics
  • University of Bologna – Oldest university in Europe
  • Sapienza University (Rome) – Large, diverse programs
  • Politecnico di Milano/Torino – Engineering and Technology

Scholarship Opportunities:

  • Italian Government Scholarships for Foreign Students
  • Regional scholarships (check your region’s website)
  • University-specific merit scholarships
  • Erasmus+ programs for EU students

Children’s Education

Italian School System:

  • Scuola Primaria (ages 6-11)
  • Scuola Secondaria di Primo Grado (ages 11-14)
  • Scuola Secondaria di Secondo Grado (ages 14-19)

International Schools:

  • Milan: International School of Milan, American School of Milan
  • Rome: American Overseas School of Rome, St. George’s British School
  • Florence: International School of Florence

Maintaining Nigerian Culture:

  • Saturday language schools (contact NUNAI for locations)
  • Cultural associations with children’s programs
  • Online Nigerian curriculum resources

💰 Financial & Legal Matters

Banking in Italy

Recommended Banks for Immigrants:

  • Intesa Sanpaolo – good English support
  • UniCredit – international services
  • Fineco – online banking with English interface
  • N26, Revolut – digital banks, easy setup

Account Types:

  • Conto Corrente Ordinario – standard checking account
  • Conto Corrente a Consumo – pay-per-use account
  • Conto Deposito – savings account with higher interest

Banking Vocabulary:

  • Bonifico = Bank transfer
  • Prelievo = Withdrawal
  • Versamento = Deposit
  • Saldo = Balance
  • Estratto Conto = Bank statement

Tax Obligations

Tax Residency:

  • Resident if you live in Italy >183 days per year
  • Must file annual tax return (Dichiarazione dei Redditi)
  • Due by July 31st each year
  • Consider hiring a commercialista (tax advisor)

Common Tax Forms:

  • 730 – simplified tax return for employees
  • Modello Redditi – comprehensive tax return
  • F24 – payment form for taxes and contributions

Useful Contacts:

  • Agenzia delle Entrate – Italian tax authority
  • CAF (Centri di Assistenza Fiscale) – tax assistance centers
  • NUNAI tax workshop (held annually)

Legal Support

When You Need Legal Help:

  • Employment disputes
  • Housing issues
  • Immigration matters
  • Starting a business
  • Family law issues

Finding Legal Support:

  • Consiglio dell’Ordine degli Avvocati – official lawyer registry
  • Legal aid (Patrocinio a Spese dello Stato) if income qualifies
  • Nigerian consulate for serious legal matters
  • NUNAI legal advisor for basic questions

🏪 Business & Entrepreneurship

Starting a Business in Italy

Business Structures:

  • Ditta Individuale – sole proprietorship
  • SRL (Società a Responsabilità Limitata) – limited liability company
  • SNC (Società in Nome Collettivo) – general partnership
  • SAS (Società in Accomandita Semplice) – limited partnership

Registration Process:

  1. Choose business name and check availability
  2. Register with Chamber of Commerce (Camera di Commercio)
  3. Get VAT number (Partita IVA)
  4. Register with INPS (social security)
  5. Register with INAIL (workplace insurance)

Startup Support:

  • Invitalia – government startup incentives
  • Startup Italia – national startup program
  • Regional development funds
  • EU funding opportunities

Networking Organizations

Professional Associations:

  • Camera di Commercio Italiana per l’Estero
  • Confindustria (Italian industry association)
  • Italian-African Business Association
  • Local business networking groups

Business Incubators:

  • TechStars (Milan)
  • Luiss EnLabs (Rome)
  • I3P (Turin)
  • Nana Bianca (Florence)

🌍 Community & Cultural

Nigerian Community Groups

Religious Organizations:

  • Nigerian churches by city (contact NUNAI for current list)
  • Muslim community centers
  • Interfaith dialogue groups

Cultural Associations:

  • Nigerian cultural centers
  • African heritage organizations
  • Dance and music groups
  • Traditional cooking classes

Maintaining Connections to Nigeria

Sending Money Home:

  • Western Union – widely available
  • MoneyGram – competitive rates
  • Wise (formerly TransferWise) – online, low fees
  • Remitly – mobile app, good rates
  • WorldRemit – digital money transfer

Nigerian Products in Italy:

  • African shops in major cities
  • Online Nigerian food stores
  • Specialty import shops
  • NUNAI member recommendations

Dealing with Homesickness

Staying Connected:

  • Video calls with family (WhatsApp, Skype)
  • Nigerian news websites and apps
  • Nollywood movies on Netflix/YouTube
  • Nigerian music on Spotify/Apple Music

Building New Traditions:

  • Celebrate Nigerian holidays with local community
  • Cook traditional meals and share with Italian friends
  • Teach Italian friends about Nigerian culture
  • Create new fusion traditions

🆘 Emergency Resources

Important Phone Numbers

Emergency Services:

  • 112 – General emergency number (works anywhere in EU)
  • 113 – Police (Polizia di Stato)
  • 115 – Fire Department (Vigili del Fuoco)
  • 118 – Medical emergency/ambulance

Non-Emergency Contacts:

  • Nigerian Embassy Rome: +39 06 8073 0842
  • Consulate Milan: +39 02 XXX XXXX
  • NUNAI emergency hotline: +39 XXX XXX XXXX

Crisis Support

Mental Health Resources:

  • Telefono Amico Italia: 199 284 284
  • Samaritans Onlus: 800 86 00 22
  • Online counseling: BetterHelp, Talkspace
  • Nigerian community counselors (contact NUNAI)

Legal Emergencies:

  • Urgent legal aid hotline
  • Embassy consular services
  • Human rights organizations
  • Women’s shelters and support services

Financial Emergencies:

  • NUNAI emergency fund (for members)
  • Local charity organizations
  • Church/religious community support
  • Government social services

📚 Digital Resources & Apps

Essential Apps for Life in Italy

Transportation:

  • Trenitalia – train bookings and schedules
  • Citymapper – public transport in major cities
  • BlaBlaCar – ridesharing
  • Uber/Bolt – ride-hailing in major cities

Daily Life:

  • Deliveroo/Glovo – food delivery
  • Subito.it – buying/selling second-hand items
  • Pagine Gialle – Italian Yellow Pages
  • ilMeteo – weather forecasts

Government Services:

  • SPID (Sistema Pubblico di Identità Digitale) – digital identity
  • IO app – government services
  • Agenzia delle Entrate – tax services
  • Poste Italiane – postal services

Online Communities

Facebook Groups:

  • “Nigerians in Italy”
  • “Nigerians in [Your City]”
  • “Nigerian Professionals in Italy”
  • “Nigerian Students in Italy”
  • “Naija Mums in Italy”

WhatsApp Groups:

  • City-specific groups (contact NUNAI to join)
  • Professional networking groups
  • Cultural and social groups

Useful Websites

Government:

  • gov.it – official government portal
  • salute.gov.it – health ministry
  • istruzione.it – education ministry
  • lavoro.gov.it – employment services

Practical Life:

  • poste.it – postal services
  • enel.it – electricity provider
  • tim.it, vodafone.it – telecom providers
  • booking.com – accommodation

🤝 How NUNAI Can Help

Member Services

Professional Support:

  • Career counseling and job search assistance
  • Professional qualification recognition guidance
  • Networking opportunities and introductions
  • Business startup mentorship

Practical Assistance:

  • Document translation and certification
  • Bureaucracy navigation support
  • Housing search assistance
  • Legal referrals and basic advice

Community Connection:

  • Welcome program for new arrivals
  • Mentorship matching
  • Social events and cultural celebrations
  • Children’s programs and activities

Exclusive Member Resources

Private Facebook Group:

  • Job postings and opportunities
  • Housing listings from trusted members
  • Quick answers to urgent questions
  • Private events and discussions

Annual Member Directory:

  • Professional networking contacts
  • Service providers (doctors, lawyers, accountants)
  • Emergency contacts and support network

Discounted Services:

  • Legal consultations
  • Tax preparation
  • Translation services
  • Event tickets and workshop

📞 Get Help & Connect

Need immediate assistance?
WhatsApp: +39 XXX XXX XXXX
Email: aiuto@nunai.it

Want to contribute to these resources?
If you have expertise in any area or have discovered helpful resources, please share them with the community. Email: risorse@nunai.it

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Where members share real-time tips, recommendations, and help each other solve problems quickly.

These resources are maintained by NUNAI members and volunteers. While we strive for accuracy, always verify important information with official sources. Last updated: June 2025

Disclaimer: This information is for guidance only and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. Always consult with qualified professionals for specific situations.

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