after having flights, passport, accommodation residency visas and everything else organized, my partner foolishly got caught for the very first time (beginners bad luck hey) shoplifting. He doesn't even know why he did it as he had no reason to. He then appeared in court and pleaded guilty but there was no criminal conviction recorded against him as he has no previous criminal history. However, he does now have a criminal history. He is normally an honest and such a terrific person. Will this pose a problem for us when we arrive in Italy? We also have to present ourselves at the police station to let them know that we are there. We are Australians
anybody's help would be greatly appreciated thankyou

Will this pose a problem for us when we arrive in Italy?>>>

No.

As long as you don't intend living there permanently then Italy - and all but about 2 countries in the world - don't care about your criminal record unless it was for something like genocide or paedophilia

Well . . . .

I think more information is in order.

I think he is okay because a criminal history is different from a criminal conviction, but I am not a lawyer, much less an EU lawyer. Certainly the US has banned people, some of them prominent, with drug convictions less than five years old.

I might ask this question of a lawyer with some expertise. It will cost something, but it will be cheaper than being turned away at the border.

No, and I don't think you have to present yourself at the police station anyway. Normally, your hotel notifies the local precinct that you're staying there when you check in.

No not at all IME - but being Australian in itself could cause one being banned, perhaps?

You mention accommodation residency visas, so presumably you are going to live there for a while, not just going on holiday & staying in a hotel, hence having to report to the police station ?

I can personally vouch for the fact that just going on holiday to Italian shortly after receiving a wee conviction isn't a problem

Even though you are going for longer (it seems), I doubt it's a problem - how will the Italian police know ? It's hardly something which will be reported to Interpol. But as others have suggested, you may want to put your mind at rest by consulting a lawyer with knowledge of Italian immigration law.

Hi PP,

>We are Australians.<

That explains it.

Tell him to go forth and sin no more.

Italian Immigration isn't going to bother him.

Do you plan to live in Italy or merely stay longer than the simple 90 days? If you plan to live there you need a "permesso di soggiorno". I expect they will explain it as you arrive. Having suffered years of internal terrorism and now being the first stop for many illegal immigrants Italy tries to control those passing through its territory.

<but being Australian in itself could cause one being banned, perhaps?>

We did manage to beat the Italian rugby team recently, if no one else, so that's a possibility - and they didn't take too kindly to being beaten at Tobruk - "Tobruk taken by the Australians, a people who amount to nothing in the history of the world" [that just for CW & AR, courtesy of a disgusted patron of Mussolini quoted in the preface to a biography of the Duce by an Australian, RJB Bosworth].

Hi, I'm, Italian, living in Italy.
In Italy immigration won't bother him at all.


Do you know who is our prime minister? Corruptor, friend of mob, pluri-condemned. Sigh... I wish it was a problem in Italy if you are caught the 1st time shoplifting...

>>>Will this pose a problem for us when we arrive in Italy?<<<

This increases his chances to become Italy's Prime Minister.

traveller - argh!!! You beat me to it. Was thinking the same thing.

Traveller, and dfr, you are right... sigh...

patriciapolly: checking in with the local police is, I imagine, in connection with the "permesso" refered to above?

The "permesso" is your ticket in and out of the country once you have entered on a working visa. The one thing that you have not mentioned in obtaining your documentation is health insurance: you may want to mention that to the same lawyer you see to double-check about that legal infringement? to get the municipal permesso, you usually have to prove that in the event you do need extended medical car you are covered.

In point of fact, you don't need this in Italy as they hardly ever ask at the doctor's: part of my job was taking our students to the hospital if they got ill or hurt and only once did the person have to prove they were covered.

DH and I were the proud possessors of "permesso" for some time, living and working in small town Italy...it is a wonderful life and the small bureaucratic hurdles you have to jump are nothing.

Good luck!

Just as long as he doesn't have a lapse and do it again in Italy LOL

Not sure how your legal system works but this sounds like it would be misdemeanor, rather than a felony. and I think only the latter are ever in someone's "permanent record".

And there is no need to report to the police in Italy - you hotel does it for you when you give them your passport at check in.

nytraveler: OP and infringer are going as semi-permanent-residents with "permesso di sorggiorno"...its a whole different system and does require check-in with police, I'm afraid...but it is all quite painless!

I think the Italians will welcome you with open arms!

patriciapolly
Hopefully budman will weigh in on your question. You being so new and all and this being your first post.