San Marino law covers several distinct areas with different rules, procedures and responsible institutions. Labor law addresses dependent work, including contracts, working time, pay, safety, collective representation, disputes and termination. Public-sector employment can follow additional provisions under the Settore Pubblico Allargato, while sectoral collective agreements often set concrete employment conditions. Immigration law governs entry, temporary stay, work, family residence, protection, permanent residence equivalents and citizenship. A visitor from outside the Schengen area may need a Schengen visa, and stays exceeding 30 days generally require a permit or registered residence. The purpose and duration of the stay determine the procedure, evidence and rights. Criminal law defines offenses, responsibility, investigations, court proceedings, penalties and the rights of accused and harmed persons. The Nuovo Codice Penale and the Codice di Procedura Penale provide the main framework, while the Tribunale della Repubblica di San Marino, the Procuratore del Fisco and police services perform different functions. Consumer protection applies when a private consumer buys goods, uses services or concludes a contract outside professional or business activity. Since 1 January 2025, its framework includes product safety, advertising, prices, distance contracts, defective goods, digital services, financial services, travel, energy, health products, complaints and fraud. Civil law regulates private relationships such as contracts, property, family matters, inheritance and liability, as well as related court proceedings and enforcement. Its sources include Leges Statutae, legislation, recognized customs called consuetudini and, where local law does not answer the question, subsidiarily ius commune. San Marino has no single equivalent to the German Civil Code or Code of Civil Procedure, so the relevant statute, register, court and facts may determine the applicable rule.
Law in San Marino
Law in San Marino governs relationships between individuals, companies, public authorities and institutions. Its main areas include employment, immigration, criminal matters, consumer transactions and private relationships. The applicable rules depend on the subject, the person’s status, the purpose of the conduct and the facts of the case.
Tip
Treat a legal problem in San Marino as a classification task before choosing a procedure or relying on general information. Record the facts, your status, the purpose and duration of the conduct, and any relevant contract, permit, notice or purchase record so you can identify the correct legal area and authority.