Accreditation for foreign journalists
These are the current procedures for the permanent accreditation of foreign press representatives in Italy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs requires this Embassy to keep them up-to-date with the list of accredited UK journalists, who enjoy accelerated accreditation for many events, duty-free import of personal effects, cars, etc. Accreditation is not obligatory, but if you are not permanently accredited you will not figure on this list and will have to request ad hoc accreditation to cover many events.
1. When a media representative is assigned to Italy, the Embassy in Rome of the country where his/her head office is located must notify the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a Note Verbale. Please note that it is the nationality of the company, not the citizenship of the employee, which determines which Embassy is responsible; employees of UK-based companies will thus require a Note Verbale from the British Embassy in Rome. The Ministry requires that the Note Verbale specify the following details, which you will need to give us:
- full name of applicant;
- date and place of birth;
- passport number and date and place of issue;
- current home address and telephone number in Italy;
- current office address and telephone number in Italy;
- job title (correspondent, regular contributor, sound technician, etc.).
2. The Embassy must also attach a letter of assignment from the applicant's editor, on headed notepaper, stating the job title and the expected duration of the assignment.
The letter should be sent to:
Press and Public Affairs Section
British Embassy
Via XX Settembre 80/a
I-00187 ROMA RM
Tel: +39 06 4220 2258
Fax: +39 06 4220 2347
E-mail: InfoRome@fco.gov.uk
3. Furthermore, media representatives need to register online with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reading information about the procedure and completing the accreditation form, providing the Ministry with their data. Once journalists have filled in the form, they will need to send their identification code to the Embassy by sending an e-mail to infoRome@fco.gov.uk, so that the Embassy can upload their own Note Verbale.
4. After receiving the Note Verbale from us, the Ministry will request the following details directly from the applicant:
- professional CV;
- passport-type photograph;
- photocopy of passport and any press card already held;
- in the case of the written press, copies of 10 recent articles and a copy of the publication.
5. To help members of the Rome foreign press obtain a residence permit the Ministry will, on request, set up an appointment at the Questura (Police HQ) for a Tuesday afternoon. After being accredited you should call the Ministry Accreditation Office (06 3691 3432 or 06 323 5817) by Friday morning to arrange an appointment for the following Tuesday.
6. The accreditation procedure must be renewed every two years irrespective of whether your residence permit is valid for five years (EU passports) or for two years.
7. Please call us (+39 06 4220 2258) or e-mail us (InfoRome@fco.gov.uk) if you need any help with these procedures.
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More detailed information on:
- entry into Italy;
- accreditation procedures;
- how to obtain a residence permit for Italy;
- procedure to import personal effects;
- procedure to import a car;
- the press pass;
- television or movie filming in Italy;
- association of the foreign press in Italy
is available on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website in English under Communication > Press Room > Foreign Press Handbook.
