How to Work and Immigrate to Italy as a Dentist?

Embarking on a journey to immigrate to Italy as a dentist? Let us help you. This beautiful country offers promising opportunities for dentists from around the globe. But what are the steps? How to work as a dentist in Italy? These are the questions that we are going to answer in this comprehensive article.

Keep reading to learn about job opportunities, salaries and steps to become a dentist in Italy as an international student as well.

How to Immigrate to Italy as a Dentist?

Immigrating to Italy as a dentist includes many detailed steps. Here’s a guide to help you achieve your dreams:

1. Validating Your Qualifications
2. Learning Italian
3. Obtaining a License to Practice
4. Getting a Job
5. Applying for a Work Visa
6. Settling in Italy

Step 1. Validating Your Qualifications

To practice dentistry in Italy, you must have your qualifications recognized. This may involve having your qualifications assessed by the relevant Italian authority, possibly requiring additional training or examinations. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

1. You must submit your documents to the Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca (Ministry of University and Research) in Italy. These documents are your dental degree, a detailed syllabus of your dental course, proof of your identity (like a passport), and any professional licenses or certifications you hold. Ensure that all your documents are complete and up to date. The syllabus should include detailed course descriptions, hours of study, and practical experience.
2. Use a certified translator to translate all your documents into Italian. Ensure the translations are accurate and reflect the original documents precisely. Once translated, these documents need to be certified for authenticity. This can be done by an Italian consulate in your country or a recognized certifying body in Italy. Submit these certified translations along with the original documents to the Ministry.
3. The Ministry of University and Research will review your educational background and professional experience. The assessment focuses on the comparability of your education and training with the Italian dental education standards. Both theoretical knowledge and practical skills are evaluated. The process generally takes about 3 to 6 months.
4. You need to get a ‘Declaration of Value’ from the Italian consulate in your country. This document is an official statement that provides an assessment of your educational qualifications in the context of the Italian education system. Usually, you need to present your degree, transcripts, and certified translations.
5. Pay the fee. The fee varies between €200 to €600. This fee is usually paid directly to the Ministry or the Italian consulate.

Additional Training or Examinations

Who needs them?

• Foreign dentists in Italy whose qualifications do not fully align with Italian standards.
• Graduates from countries where the dental curriculum significantly differs from that in Italy.

These additional requirements come in various types:

• Supplementary Courses. You may need to undertake additional courses to cover gaps in subjects or practical skills not included in your original curriculum.
• State Examination. A state exam, conducted in Italian, is often required. This exam tests both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in dentistry.
• Internship. In some cases, a supervised internship in an Italian dental clinic might be necessary to familiarize you with specific practices and regulations in Italy.

Step 2. Learning Italian

Proficiency in Italian is essential, as you’ll need to communicate effectively with patients and colleagues. Generally, a B2 level of proficiency in the CEFR is recommended. Approved tests that can show language proficiency include:

• CILS (Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera). Offers exams for different proficiency levels, including the B2 level.
• CELI (Certificato di Conoscenza della Lingua Italiana). The CELI 3 exam corresponds to the B2 level in the CEFR.
• PLIDA (Progetto Lingua Italiana Dante Alighieri). The PLIDA B2 certificate validates proficiency suitable for professional contexts.

Step 3. Obtaining a License to Practice

To legally immigrate to Italy as a dentist, you must obtain a license from the Italian Ministry of Health (Italian Dental Council). Here are the steps to obtain a license to practice dentistry in Italy:

1. Ensure that you meet all other eligibility criteria set by the Italian Ministry of Health. This includes any specific professional standards or ethical guidelines relevant to practicing dentistry in Italy.
2. Once your qualifications are verified and recognized, your next major step is to prepare for and pass the state examination. This exam assesses your theoretical knowledge and practical skills in dentistry. It’s essential to have a good grasp of the Italian language as the exam is conducted in Italian.
3. Collect all necessary documents, including your recognized dental qualifications, a valid proof of identity (such as a passport), and documents evidencing any relevant professional experience.
4. Complete the official application form for licensure, which can usually be downloaded from the Ministry’s website or obtained from their office. The complete application needs to be submitted to the Italian Ministry of Health. It’s essential to check if the application should be submitted to a specific department or regional office.
5. Submit proof of your Italian language proficiency. A B2-level certification from recognized exams like CILS, CELI, or PLIDA is typically required.
6. Pay the fees. The fee typically ranges from €300 to €500. Instructions for payment (such as bank transfer details or payment portals) are usually provided during the application process.
7. The processing time of the license application ranges from 3 to 6 months.
8. Keep track of your application status. Some departments may allow you to check the status online or via phone.
9. Once your application is approved, you will be notified by the Ministry of Health. The actual license will either be mailed to you, or you may be required to collect it in person.

Let’s learn more about the Italian state examination:

• In Italy, the state examination is administered by the Italian Ministry of Health (a fine Italian Dental Association).
• The exam is scheduled biannually, typically in Spring and Autumn, with the exact dates announced by the Ministry.
• The examination encompasses a broad spectrum of dental topics, including dental medicine, surgery, pharmacology, and ethics.
• The cost of a state examination usually falls between €150 and €300. It is subject to change over time.
• To successfully pass, candidates typically need to score at least 60% of the total marks. This benchmark might vary.
• To apply, dentists must apply through the Ministry of Health, submitting their application along with the required examination fee and documentation that proves their qualifications and language proficiency. The application window generally opens a few months prior to the scheduled exam date.

Step 4. Getting a Job

You must have a confirmed job offer from an Italian employer. Here’s a list of job search websites and famous Italian recruitment agencies to help you find dentist jobs in Italy:

Job Searching Websites for Dentists

• Indeed Italia
• Monster Italia
• Job in Dentistry
• Bakeca
• InfoJobs Italia

Italian Recruitment Agencies

• Manpower Italy
• Adecco Italia
• Randstad Italia
• Gi Group
• Michael Page Italia

Step 5. Applying for a Work Visa

To immigrate to Italy as a dentist, non-EU citizens need a work visa. Here are the steps to obtain a work visa for Italy:

1. Get a confirmed job offer from an Italian employer.
2. The employer must prove that an Italian or other EU citizen could not fill the position. This is typically done through a labor market test.
3. Before you can apply for a visa, your employer needs to obtain a ‘Nulla Osta’ (work permit) on your behalf from the local Provincial Labor Office (Direzione Provinciale del Lavoro). This may include your job contract, professional qualifications, and employer’s justification for hiring a non-EU citizen. The processing time for Nulla Osta can range from a few weeks to a couple of months.
4. Once Nulla Osta is granted, apply for a work visa at the Italian embassy or consulate in your home country.
5. Gather your documents, including:
   1. Your passport. It must be valid for at least three months beyond the visa expiry date.
   2. A job offer letter from an Italian employer.
   3. The Nulla Osta (Work Permit) obtained by the employer
   4. Proof of accommodation. Famous housing websites include Immobiliare.it, Casa.it, Idealista, Subito.it.
   5. Proof of sufficient financial means. As of 2023, The minimum amount required is typically around €450 to €500 per month. For longer stays, the required amount can be approximately €5,400 to €6,000 or more.
   6. Valid health insurance for your stay in Italy. Famous health insurance providers in Italy are Assicurazioni Generali, Poste Italiane, UnipolSai, and Cattolica Assicurazioni.
6. Locate the nearest Italian embassy/consulate in your home country and submit your visa application.
7. Fill out the application form for a work visa. This form is typically available online on the embassy’s website.
8. Schedule an appointment for your visa application submission. Attend the interview at the embassy/consulate on the scheduled date.
9. Present all the gathered documents, including the application form, passport, Nulla Osta, job offer letter, proof of accommodation, financial means, and health insurance.
10. Pay the visa application fee. This fee ranges from €60 to €120.
11. The processing time typically takes between 2 to 8 weeks. Once your visa is approved, you will be notified to collect it. Ensure you check the visa details for accuracy.
12. Once you have your visa, you can plan your trip to Italy. Remember, the visa is only the authorization to enter Italy for work purposes.

Step 6. Settling in Italy

To immigrate to Italy as a dentist and settle in completely, You must go through several registrations:

• Residence Permit (Permesso di Soggiorno). Apply within 8 days of your arrival. Apply at the local post office or Questura (police station) in the area where you will be working. The required documents are your passport, work visa, proof of address, and employment contract. The fee varies (approximately €80 to €200), and processing can take a few weeks to a few months.
• Anagrafe Registration. Register at the Anagrafe of the local municipality where you reside. This includes your residence permit, identification, and proof of address in Italy.
• Registration with the Local Health Authority (Azienda Sanitaria Locale – ASL). Register with the ASL in your area to practice as a dentist. You need your identification, residence permit, proof of professional qualifications, and license to practice.
• National Dentists’ Association. Consider registering with the Italian National Dentists’ Association (ANDI or similar) for networking and professional development opportunities.

Here are other steps to settle in Italy as a dentist:

• Banking. Open a bank account for your salary and everyday transactions. Popular banks in Italy are UniCredit, Intesa Sanpaolo, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, and Banco BPM.
• Continuing Education and Compliance. Engage in continuous education to stay compliant with Italian nursing standards. Attend workshops, seminars, and courses relevant to nursing.
• Integration and Adaptation. Continue improving your Italian language skills for effective communication. Engage with the community and understand local customs and Italy dental care