How do I start the process?

Hi Monark,

You might have to visit Italy a couple of times to job hunt. Getting a work visa or any kinda visa other than the visit one is near impossible. Employers generally won't help, because they would have to prove that they cannot find your "profile" in Italy...which will be difficult for them to prove.

Do you speak Italian? Its near impossible to find a job if you don't speak the language since Italians don't really speak much English. They are always accommodating and never rude but they prefer to speak in their home language and therefore, rightly so, you need to speak at least some Italian to work here.

Best way is actually to come in through a school, sign up for courses etc. But otherwise unless you already have a job lined up and the employer willing to give you a proper contract you can use to get your permesso, its quite difficult.

Scroll down a bit on my blog to the Immigration Italia post(http://worldcitizeninrome.blogspot.com/), I've written about my personal experience about getting residence permits here. Your situation might be a bit different, but the struggles with the bureaucracy will be similar if not almost the same.

So definitely do your research. Its not very easy, but Italians at least are a warm lot and life is pleasant here. Any reason you are considering Rome and not more economically successful countries?

Cheers!
Neeya
http://worldcitizeninrome.blogspot.com/