Know your rights

A basic bank account in your own name

Banks and Poste Italiane must offer a 'conto di base' to anyone living legally in the EU, also people without a fixed address and asylum seekers. You cannot get it if you already have a current account in Italy. It is free if your ISEE is below €11,600. It has no overdraft. If the bank says no, it must tell you why within 10 working days.

Law: Testo Unico Bancario (D.Lgs. 385/1993), art. 126-noviesdecies and following

Source: economiapertutti.bancaditalia.it ↗ · Last checked: 2026-10-13

Maltreatment is a crime – the 'Codice Rosso' law

Maltreatment of family members or people you live with is a crime (art. 572 Penal Code). Under the Codice Rosso law, police must report these cases to the prosecutor without delay, and the prosecutor must hear the victim within 3 days. Breaking an order to leave the home or to stay away from you is also a crime (art. 387-bis).

Law: Law 69/2019 (Codice Rosso), arts. 1, 2 and 4; Penal Code art. 572 and art. 387-bis

Source: www.normattiva.it ↗ · Last checked: 2026-10-13

Where to get help

• 1522 Anti-violence and stalking helpline · 1522
• D.i.Re – national network of anti-violence centres
• 112 European emergency number · 112

Reddito di Libertà – money to start again

Women who suffer violence and are followed by an anti-violence centre and social services can ask for up to €530 a month for up to 12 months, paid in one go. You apply through your Comune with form SR208. You need a legal residence in Italy. Money is limited each year, so ask your anti-violence centre to help you apply early (from 1 January).

Law: INPS Circular no. 44 of 9 April 2026 (Reddito di Libertà)

Source: www.inps.it ↗ · Last checked: 2026-10-13

Where to get help

• Reddito di Libertà (freedom income)
• D.i.Re – national network of anti-violence centres

A free lawyer for victims of violence

If you are the victim of maltreatment in the family, stalking or sexual violence, you can get a lawyer paid by the State, even if your income is above the usual limit. This is called 'patrocinio a spese dello Stato'. Ask an anti-violence centre or the court for help with the request.

Law: D.P.R. 115/2002, art. 76, paragraph 4-ter

Source: www.normattiva.it ↗ · Last checked: 2026-10-13

Where to get help

• State-paid legal aid (patrocinio a spese dello Stato)
• D.i.Re – national network of anti-violence centres

Paid leave for women victims of violence

If you are in a protection programme certified by social services, an anti-violence centre or a shelter, you can take up to 3 months of leave over 3 years. Employees keep their pay. You must tell your employer at least 7 days before, if possible. You can also ask to move to part-time and later return to full-time.

Law: D.Lgs. 80/2015, art. 24 (extended to self-employed women by Law 232/2016)

Source: www.normattiva.it ↗ · Last checked: 2026-10-13

Where to get help

• D.i.Re – national network of anti-violence centres
• 1522 Anti-violence and stalking helpline · 1522

A residence permit for victims of domestic violence

If you are a foreign woman, violence at home has come to light in a criminal case or through an anti-violence centre or social services, and you are in real danger, the Questore can give you a special permit for one year, with the opinion of the judicial authority. With it you can work, study and use social services. Later it can become a work or study permit.

Law: D.Lgs. 286/1998 (Testo Unico Immigrazione), art. 18-bis

Source: www.normattiva.it ↗ · Last checked: 2026-10-13

Where to get help

• D.i.Re – national network of anti-violence centres
• 1522 Anti-violence and stalking helpline · 1522
• State-paid legal aid (patrocinio a spese dello Stato)

The right to a basic account (Basiskonto)

Every consumer living legally in the EU has the right to a basic account (Basiskonto) with a bank that offers accounts to consumers. This includes people without a fixed address, asylum seekers and people who cannot be deported. The bank must open it within 10 business days after your complete application.

Law: Zahlungskontengesetz (ZKG), § 31

Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de ↗ · Last checked: 2026-10-13

Court protection orders (Gewaltschutzgesetz)

If someone hurts you or threatens you, the family court can order them not to enter your home, not to come near it, not to go to places where you often are, and not to contact you, also by phone or online. Stalking is covered too. The orders are for a fixed time and can be made longer.

Law: Gewaltschutzgesetz (GewSchG), § 1

Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de ↗ · Last checked: 2026-10-13

Where to get help

• Violence against Women Support Hotline (Hilfetelefon) · 116 016
• Women's counselling centres (bff)
• Legal advice for people on low income (Beratungshilfe)

Keeping the shared home

If you lived with the person who hurt you, you can ask for the home for yourself. Ask them in writing within 3 months after the violence. If only they own or rent the home, the court can give it to you for up to 6 months, plus up to 6 more if you cannot find other housing.

Law: Gewaltschutzgesetz (GewSchG), § 2

Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de ↗ · Last checked: 2026-10-13

Where to get help

• Violence against Women Support Hotline (Hilfetelefon) · 116 016
• Women's counselling centres (bff)
• Legal advice for people on low income (Beratungshilfe)

Maintenance when you separate (Trennungsunterhalt)

When married partners live apart, one partner can ask the other for monthly maintenance. The amount depends on your living standard and on income and assets. It is paid every month in advance. Get advice early: a counselling centre or a lawyer (with Beratungshilfe if you have little money) can help.

Law: Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB), § 1361

Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de ↗ · Last checked: 2026-10-13

Where to get help

• Legal advice for people on low income (Beratungshilfe)
• Women's counselling centres (bff)

Legal advice when you have little money (Beratungshilfe)

If you cannot pay for a lawyer, you can ask the local court (Amtsgericht) for Beratungshilfe. With the certificate you get advice and help outside court, for example on separation or debts. You pay at most €15 to the lawyer. For a court case, ask about Prozesskostenhilfe.

Law: Beratungshilfegesetz (BerHG), § 1

Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de ↗ · Last checked: 2026-10-13

Where to get help

• Legal advice for people on low income (Beratungshilfe)

Your own residence permit after separation

If your residence permit depends on your marriage, you can get your own permit for one year when the marriage ends, usually after 3 years of marriage in Germany. In cases of special hardship you do not need to wait 3 years. The law says this is especially so if you are a victim of domestic violence.

Law: Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG), § 31

Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de ↗ · Last checked: 2026-10-13

Where to get help

• Migration advice for adults (MBE)
• Violence against Women Support Hotline (Hilfetelefon) · 116 016
• Legal advice for people on low income (Beratungshilfe)

Joint debts and a protected account

If you signed a loan together, the lender can ask either of you for the whole amount until it is fully paid. Check before you sign. If your money is seized, you can ask your bank at any time to turn your account into a protected account (P-Konto). You can have only one. Recognised debt advice centres can help you.

Law: BGB § 421 (joint debtors); Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO) § 850k (P-Konto)

Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de ↗ · Last checked: 2026-10-13

Where to get help

• Recognised debt advice (Schuldnerberatung)
• Legal advice for people on low income (Beratungshilfe)

New law: a right to protection and counselling

The Gewalthilfegesetz of 2025 gives people affected by gender-based and domestic violence a legal right to protection and specialist counselling, free of charge, also for their children. This right starts on 1 January 2032. From 1 January 2027 the federal states must plan enough support services.

Law: Gewalthilfegesetz (GewHG) of 24 February 2025, §§ 3 and 5

Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de ↗ · Last checked: 2026-10-13

Where to get help

• Violence against Women Support Hotline (Hilfetelefon) · 116 016
• Women's shelter search (Frauenhaus-Suche)
• Women's counselling centres (bff)

A low-cost basic bank account

Banks that offer current accounts must give a 'serviços mínimos bancários' account at low cost to people who ask. It includes a debit card, payments and transfers. A bank can refuse, mainly if you already have another current account. People without a fixed address and asylum seekers are included. Yearly fees are capped at 1% of the IAS.

Law: Decreto-Lei 27-C/2000 (as republished by Decreto-Lei 107/2017), arts. 1, 3 and 4

Source: pgdlisboa.pt ↗ · Last checked: 2026-10-13

Domestic violence includes economic control

Domestic violence is a crime in Portugal. The law says it includes stopping a partner or ex-partner from using her own or shared money and property. The penalty is 1 to 5 years in prison, and more in serious cases or if children are present.

Law: Código Penal, art. 152

Source: www.pgdlisboa.pt ↗ · Last checked: 2026-10-13

Where to get help

• Information Service for Victims of Domestic Violence · 800 202 148
• APAV Victim Support Line · 116 006
• 112 European emergency number · 112

Victim status and fast legal help

When you report domestic violence, you receive victim status. You have the right to quick legal advice from a lawyer and to legal aid. These cases are urgent. The judge can order the abuser to stay away from your home and not to contact you.

Law: Lei 112/2009, arts. 14, 25, 28 and 31

Source: www.pgdlisboa.pt ↗ · Last checked: 2026-10-13

Where to get help

• Information Service for Victims of Domestic Violence · 800 202 148
• Legal aid (proteção jurídica)
• APAV Victim Support Line · 116 006

Rights at work for victims

If you have reported domestic violence and leave the family home, you can ask your employer to move you, for a time or for good, to another workplace of the same company. Days you cannot work because of the violence count as justified absences. If you have victim status and must leave your home, you can take up to 10 days of leave in a row, with an allowance. Employers should give priority to your request to change between full-time and part-time.

Law: Lei 112/2009, arts. 41, 42, 43, 43-A and 43-B

Source: www.pgdlisboa.pt ↗ · Last checked: 2026-10-13

Where to get help

• Information Service for Victims of Domestic Violence · 800 202 148
• National Network for Victims of Domestic Violence (RNAVVD) · 800 202 148

Help with housing and income

Victims of domestic violence have the right to help with rent or to social housing. You also have the right to the social insertion income (rendimento social de inserção), and your request must be treated urgently. In the national health service you do not pay user fees (taxas moderadoras).

Law: Lei 112/2009, arts. 45, 46 and 50

Source: www.pgdlisboa.pt ↗ · Last checked: 2026-10-13

Where to get help

• National Network for Victims of Domestic Violence (RNAVVD) · 800 202 148
• Information Service for Victims of Domestic Violence · 800 202 148

Child benefit paid to you

If your children under 18 live with you, you can ask for the child benefit (abono de família) to be paid to you and not to the abuser.

Law: Lei 112/2009, art. 47

Source: www.pgdlisboa.pt ↗ · Last checked: 2026-10-13

Where to get help

• Information Service for Victims of Domestic Violence · 800 202 148
• National Network for Victims of Domestic Violence (RNAVVD) · 800 202 148

Your own residence permit

If you came to Portugal through family reunification, you normally get your own permit after 2 years. You can get it earlier if the public prosecutor has charged your family member with domestic violence, or after separation or divorce. The permit is valid for 2 years and can be renewed for 3 years at a time.

Law: Lei 23/2007, art. 107, n.º 3 and 4

Source: www.pgdlisboa.pt ↗ · Last checked: 2026-10-13

Where to get help

• Migrant Support Line (AIMA) · 808 257 257
• Information Service for Victims of Domestic Violence · 800 202 148
• Legal aid (proteção jurídica)