Quitting Your Job in Italy

Quitting your job is much different in Italy than in America. During high school and college I often changed jobs as I moved to new cities and desired different skills. The process of leaving my position was never more difficult than submitting a letter or speaking with my boss in person about my intention to pursue other opportunities. However, in Italy, even quitting your job can require a trip to a bureaucratic office.

Luckily, my overall resignation process was very positive because I was in the process of accepting another job for the same company. Regardless of your motivations for leaving your current job, here is the process:

Starting March 2016, the INPS no longer accepts letters of resignation. You can complete the process online through the Istituto Nazionale Previdenza Sociale website or by visiting the Ispettorato Nazionale del Lavoro in person.

Online Resignation Process

• Visit the website linked above to the Istituto Nazionale Previdenza Sociale
• Search “dimissioni” in the upper right-hand corner and select “dimissioni volontarie”
• Complete the online module

You will need the PIN code that is provided to you by the INPS. The purpose of the PIN is to verify the worker’s identity. This process can be long and complicated as it requires part of the PIN to be sent in the mail to you.

The in-person resignation process is much more straightforward in my opinion. You can skip the whole PIN process because they can verify your identity at the office with your personal documents.

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In-Person Resignation Process

Make a visit to the Ispettorato Nazionale del Lavoro. I arrived with a lettera di dimissioni because I had not known about the new rules regarding the resignation process. However, I was able to complete the process that same day with my passport, permesso di soggiorno, codice fiscale, and information about the company I worked for (name, address, etc.). In general, it’s probably a good idea to follow the usual plan for a trip to a governmental office in Italy and bring literally every official document you have in your possession.

About 15 minutes later I left the office with a letter in hand stating my basic information, my workplace’s information, and my last day of work. I consider it a successful day any time I only need to visit a governmental office one time before completing the task. Time to celebrate with gelato! (Stracciatella and nocciola of course).

Disclaimer: This post does not constitute legal advice. The materials on this website have been prepared by Expat Alexa and are intended to communicate general information only. Please contact a lawyer for legal advice.