Digital nomad visa Italy – Official guide

Among the great variety of Italian job visas there’s the possibility to come as a self employed worker. In particular the digital nomad visa Italy along with the remote worker visa Italy, recently regulated by a national law, constitute a great opportunity for entrepreneurs or even employees who want to work and live in Italy.

Law on digital nomad visa Italy

As always, before diving into the bureaucratic aspects of the Italian digital nomad visa, for the most curious of you we must take a look at the regulatory aspect to fully understand the rights and opportunities of foreigners who want to get a remote working visa Italy.

Since 1998, the Italian law had provided for the possibility for a digital nomad visa Italy, but it was only with the Interministerial Implementation Decree of 29 February 2024, came into force on April 4th following, which establishes the procedures and entry requirements for digital nomads and remote workers pursuant to Article 27 of Legislative Decree 286/98, that we know the exact procedure to get this Italian nomad visa.

Of course the digital nomad visa Italy and the remote working visa Italy are intended for non-EU citizens who intend to work remotely while living in Italy and are only available to highly specialized workers whose careers meet the requirements listed in article 27-quater of the Legislative Decree n. 286 of 25 July 1998.

Now that the regulatory overview is clear, we will see in the next paragraphs the specific requirements and the authorised professions to be eligible for a digital nomad visa Italy.

Difference between digital nomads and remote workers

First of all it is necessary to clarify an aspect that confuses many: the clear difference that separates digital nomads from remote workers.

The recent Italian regulation subdivided two categories: “digital nomads” who are independent specialists such as freelancers, consultants or managers and “remote workers”, who are employees of a company but can perform their work completely remotely.

In both cases, therefore, these are professions that can be carried out completely through digital technologies and an internet connection, but digital nomads are self-employed while remote workers have a subordination contract with the company.

In both cases, the remote activities for which the digital nomad visa Italy or the remote working visa Italy is requested must already be carried out by the applicant for at least six months prior to the visa request.

Digital nomad visa Italy requirements

The requirements for the Italian digital nomad visa are quite strict. The main are four:

1. University degree or experience: this is crucial, pursuant to Article 27-quater, paragraph 1 of Legislative Decree 286/98, the same rules for EU blue card apply for the digital nomad visa Italy.
   You must have a university degree or several years of work experience (at least 5, or 3 if working in the information and communication technology sector) in a sector requiring technical or specialist knowledge.
   Furthermore, you must demonstrate you’re doing for at least 6 months the digital nomad or remote worker job you’re applying for.
2. Income: you must provide a minimum annual income from legal sources of no less than three times the minimum income required for exemption from healthcare co-payments (the minimum level is currently €8,263.30).
   For a worker without a spouse or children, the required income for a digital nomad visa Italy is therefore €24,789.
3. Health insurance: covering medical care and hospitalization valid for the national territory and for the period of stay.
4. Accomodation: a property purchase or rental contract.

Always remember that Italian consulates have a significant responsibility in controlling migration flows. Therefore, even when all objective requirements are met, they can still reject your visa application without notice and for seemingly absurd reasons, leaving you with the only options of reapplying and waiting up to six months in vain, or appealing to the Italian courts.

For this reason, I recommend that you comply with the requirements thoroughly and be clear and complete with supporting documents. If possible, you should also consult an immigration expert for Italy to prepare your documents and increase your chances of success.

Furthermore, although Law No. 187 of December 9, 2024, introduced the possibility for Italian consulates to reject applications for any type of visa without notice, each operator has the right to delay the refusal and request additional documents or explanations. For this reason, relying on an insider could make the difference between obtaining your Italian digital nomad visa and having it rejected.

Documentation for digital nomad visa Italy

Remember to provide plenty of documents, but also to keep them organized, if possible with a summary: your application is always reviewed by human beings who can become confused and make mistakes if you don’t clearly organize your documents.

Here’s a list of the documents that must be submitted to the Italian Consulate to obtain both the digital nomad visa and the remote worker visa Italy:

1. Application form completed and signed
2. Valid passport (and a copy) that must:

• be valid for at least three months longer than the visa requested
• contain at least two blank pages
• be issued within the last 10 years

1. A color passport-sized photo
2. Copy of a document demonstrating the competence of the local Italian consulate
3. Copy of any previous Schengen or “D” visas
4. Copy of a health insurance valid for the intended period of stay
5. Copy of a confirmed travel reservation (flight/train/bus)
6. Remote workers must also submit:

• the employment or collaboration contract or the related binding offer for the performance of a work activity that requires possession of one of the requirements set forth in Article 27-quater, paragraph 1, of Legislative Decree No. 286 of 25 July 1998. The annual salary, as derived from the employment contract or the binding offer, must not be lower than the salary provided for in the national collective agreements stipulated by the most representative trade unions at the national level, and in any case not lower than the average gross annual salary as recorded by ISTAT and available by clicking here;
• a declaration signed by the employer, accompanied by a copy of a valid identification document, certifying that the employee has not been convicted, in the last 5 years, of any crimes referred to in Article 22, paragraph 5-bis, of the Consolidated Law.

Always check the local Consulate official website as each may require additional or specific documents and do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions.

Documentation to prove the qualification

Both digital nomads and remote workers must demonstrate that they are highly qualified workers. To this end, the applicant may submit documents certifying:

• Possession of a tertiary-level higher education qualification (issued by a competent university in the country where it was obtained) certifying completion of a higher education program lasting at least three years or a post-secondary-level professional qualification lasting at least three years or corresponding to at least level 6 of the National Qualifications Framework pursuant to the Decree of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policies of January 8, 2018;
• Possession of the requirements set forth in Legislative Decree No. 206 of November 6, 2007, limited to the practice of regulated professions;

• Possession of a higher professional qualification attested by at least 5 years of professional experience at a level comparable to tertiary-level higher education qualifications, relevant to the profession or sector specified in the employment contract or binding offer;

To prove possession of this requirement, the applicant must submit the following documents:

• company identification data and the specific sector of activity in which the company operates or has operated;
• The applicant’s position within the company (owner, partner, employee);
• A copy of the employment contract and/or copies of pay slips relating to the period of employment (at least two for each declared year);
• A certificate from the employer describing the experience gained within the company and indicating the start and end dates of employment.

• Possession of a higher professional qualification attested by at least three years of relevant professional experience acquired in the seven years preceding the application, if the applicant is a manager or specialist in the information and communication technologies sector as per the ISCO-08 classification, no. 133 and no. 25.

The documentation issued by authorities/individuals NOT belonging to EU countries must be submitted as a certified copy, after being legalized by the Italian Embassy/Consulate of the country in which the document was issued or apostilled by the competent authorities and accompanied by an Italian translation.

Specifically, with reference to the higher education qualification and related tertiary-level professional qualification referred to in point 1, in lieu of the Declaration of Value, it is possible to submit the Certificate of Comparability issued by the Information Center on Academic Mobility and Equivalences (CIMEA).

Documentation to prove the income

As said above, digital nomad visa and remote worker visa Italy must demonstrate to have a minimum annual income from legal sources of no less than three times the minimum level required for exemption from healthcare co-payment. Proper documentation can be:

• Pay slips for the last three months
• Bank statements for the last three months from a bank account in your name clearly showing the salary
• Bank statements for the last three months from a personal or parental international credit card
• Annual tax return

First steps in Italy after the digital nomad visa

Once you have obtained the digital nomad visa Italy and you arrive in our country, you have 8 working days to go to the local Police Immigration Service Offices (Questura) competent for the place of residence and apply for a remote worker or Italy digital nomad residence permit.

The application needs to be made using a kit available from any Italian Post Office. You will be given an appointment to attend to check your ID, the relevant supporting documents and for your fingerprints to be taken. You will be called back later to the Questura to collect your residence permit card when it is finally ready. 

The first Italian nomad residence permit is valid for one year and is renewable annually, as long as the requirements regarding income, insurance, accommodation and remote working continue to be met.

Some Questura offices may request you to apply directly to their offices through the official website PrenotaFacile or physically to their office. So check carefully before applying.

If you are a digital nomad visa Italy holder, remember that to be able to perform any self-employment job you must open a partita IVA with an accountant.

Income declaration for digital nomads Italy

Digital nomads are also required to comply with Italian tax and social security regulations, which means registering for a VAT number (partita IVA) for self-employed workers and enrolling in the INPS (Istituto Nazionale Previdenza Sociale) or other social security funds, depending on the bilateral agreements between Italy and the individual’s country of origin.

On the contrary, a remote worker visa Italy can declare their foreign income with an annual declaration, paying attention to all the income they produced worldwide.

A key aspect for digital nomads concerns tax residence. In Italy, a person is considered a tax resident if, for at least 183 days a year, they have their domicile or registered residence in the country, or if the main centre of their economic and personal interests is in Italy.

If a digital nomad acquires tax residency in Italy, they will be required to declare all income earned (wherever it is generated) applying the principle of worldwide taxation. However, if you come from a country with which Italy has signed a double taxation agreement, you will be able to benefit from the provisions designed to prevent double taxation on the same income.

Family reunification with a digital nomad visa holder

Law No. 187 of December 9, 2024, introduced significant changes to the Consolidated Law on Immigration (TUI), specifically to Articles 28 and 29.

One of the most significant changes requires residence permit holders to demonstrate at least two years of legal and uninterrupted residence in Italy before applying for family reunification except in the case of reunification with a minor.

The legislation also applies to Italy digital nomads and remote workers, provided they meet certain requirements (namely, adequate income and accommodation), to be accompanied by their family.

Family reunification is permitted for the family members specified in Article 29 of the Consolidated Law (spouse, minor children, parents), subject to the conditions set out in the Consolidated Immigration Act.

Family members will be issued with a residence permit on family grounds, valid for the same duration as that of the permit holder.

FAQ – digital nomad visa Italy