Commercial license 
for doing business activity in Italy

Business Activities subject to specific licensing

 

For authorization procedures to carry out economic activities, it is advisable to consult an accountant to verify the exact requirements for the specific economic activity you intend to start in Italy.

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In addition to the authorizations subject to the submission of SCIA through the SUAP, it is necessary to obtain a specific license to carry out various other regulated economic activities or those subject to restrictions.

In general, special licenses are required for activities that have a significant impact on public health, safety, public order, or that concern sectors subject to state monopoly, including:

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- street trading: requires a specific license (license type A for fixed parking or license type B for mobile parking);

  

- production and resale of products under state monopoly regime which are subject to excise duties; "special resellers" of the same kind of goods are located in places such as airports, train stations, barracks, service areas, and penal institutions;

 

- pharmacies: it is required the compliance with the trade activityies plan of the municipality where the business is located, which requires minimum distances between one pharmacy and another; furthermore, the business owner must be a registered pharmacist at professional bar, and the license is issued by the competent regional ASL (Local Health Authority);

 

- business activities put inside areas with artistic or cultural constraints;

 

- health license: for activities relating to health and hygiene (e.g.: restaurants, bars, health clinics); 

 

- sale of alcohol during certain hours ;

 

- public shows and entertainment: require licenses released by police central station Questura and or prefecture (Prefettura);

 

- debt collection: authorization from the police central station (Questura) is required;

 

- activities that have a strong environmental or urban impact: such as, fuel distributors that also sell food and non-food products;

 

- gaming and betting activities on sports competitions and non-sporting events, such as management of bingo halls, installation of video lottery gaming machines : the license is issued by the police central station (Questura);

 

- activities requiring specific environmental permits, such as: the permit is issued by the municipality, province, metropolitan city or region; the required license may be a Single Environmental Authorization (Autorizzazione Unica Ambientale, AUA) or an Integrated Environmental Authorization (Autorizzazione Integrata Ambientale, AIA);

 

- waste collection and reclying management: registration in the register of environmental managers at the Chamber of Commerce is required;

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- unhealthy and polluting activities;

 

- activities that fall into specific categories such as; production and trade of tobacco, weapons, and drugs require specific licenses;

 

- agritourism activities: the use of the name "agriturismo" is reserved exclusively for agricultural businesses that operate in compliance with specific regional criteria for connection to the main agricultural activity, and require authorization;

 

- postal services: the provision of postal services, particularly those towards all, may require specific licenses or authorizations from the competent authorities (Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy);

 

- production and transport of explosives: these activities are subject to very restrictive licenses and authorizations issued by the Prefecture;

 

- production and sale of weapons: it is necessary to possess specific licenses issued by the competent authorities, such as the armory license (Article 31 of the TULPS) issued by the Police Commissioner for common weapons or the trade and manufacturing license (Article 28 of the TULPS) issued by the Prefecture for war weapons; both licenses require passing a technical suitability exam and meeting specific requirements for commercial premises, and are valid for three years;

 

- business brokers: who brings two or more parties together for the purpose of concluding a deal, without being tied to any of them by relationships of collaboration, dependence or representation; holds a license issued by the Chamber of Commerce;

 

- commercial agent: is the natural person or company who is permanently appointed, by one or more companies, to promote the conclusion of contracts in one or more specific areas; holds the license issued by the Chamber of Commerce;

 

- commercial representative: is the person or company who is permanently appointed, by one or more companies, to conclude contracts in one or more specific areas; holds the license issued by the Chamber of Commerce;

 

- taxi driver, rental car driver or boat driver: holds a license issued by the Chamber of Commerce;

 

- maritime broker: professionally practices brokerage in construction, sales, leasing, and ship charter contracts, as well as maritime transport contracts; holds a license issued by the Chamber of Commerce;

 

- experts and appraisers registered in a specific register of the Chamber of Commerce divided by type of activity: they carry out functions of a predominantly practical nature (excluding professional activities for which there are registers regulated by law, for example: lawyers, doctors, architects, etc.); they have the license issued by the Chamber of Commerce;

 

- producers of quality ceramics; they hold a license issued by the Chamber of Commerce;

 

- freight forwarding activity (Spedizioniere): a company that regularly carries out freight forwarding activities by land, sea, and air, undertaking to arrange, in its own name or on behalf of the client and in any case on behalf of the client, the stipulation of the transport contract with the carrier, the completion of the shipment, and ancillary operations;

• individuals who have been convicted for certain types of crimes may not engage in freight forwarding activity;

• a paid-up share capital of at least € 100,000 is required;

• possession of a high school diploma in commercial subjects or a degree in legal and economic subjects;

• at least two years' experience in a freight forwarding company;

• license issued by the Chamber of Commerce;

 

- technicians and experts in virgin and extra virgin olive oils: this activity is regulated by some Regions, and a license from the competent Region is required;

 

- goods handling and logistics activities ( porterage): registration in the register of artisan businesses at the Chamber of Commerce is required;

 

- car vehicles repair (mechatronics, bodywork, tire repair) consists of providing maintenance and repair services to motor vehicles, mopeds, agricultural machinery, trailers, and trailers used for the road transport of people and goods; in order to carry out this activity is necessary:

• registration in the Chamber of Commerce's Register of Artisan Businesses;

• the activity may only be carried out by EU citizens or non-EU citizens with a residence permit;

• must not have committed certain crimes;

• must have a high school diploma in a technical subject or at least a three-year degree in a technical subject;

• must have completed a regional training course and internship lasting at least one year at a company in the sector;

• must have at least three years of work experience in the same sector within the last five years;

 

- cleaning, disinfection, disinfestation, rodent control, and sanitization companies, these kind of companies must be

• registered in the Chamber of Commerce's register of artisan businesses;

• the appointment of a technical manager with the necessary technical and professional qualifications is required (high school diploma in chemical and biological subjects or at least a three-year degree in the same subjects);

• citizens who hold professional qualifications obtained in non-EU countries or in countries belonging to the European Union must first initiate the recognition procedure for the qualification in question with the Ministry of Economic Development;

• employees must have completed a minimum of eight years of schooling;

• for disinfestation, rodent control, and sanitation services, at least three years of prior experience in the sector is required for qualified employees, directors, partners, or business owners.

 

- installation of building systems: includes electrical, plumbing, antenna, automatic gate, boiler, gas distribution, elevator, and fire prevention systems; the requirements are:

• registration with the Chamber of Commerce's register of craftsmen is required;

• a relevant qualification (technical high school diploma or at least a three-year degree in the same field, 2 to 4 years of previous work experience in the same field).

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Licenses issued by the Central Bank of Italy (Banca d'Italia) for performing economic activities CLICK HERE