In short. ICT mobility to Italy lets you work for an entity of the same group for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a nulla osta (work/entry clearance), if you hold an ICT permit issued by another European Union Member State. For longer periods you need the nulla osta for long-term mobility, and you then obtain the “mobile ICT” permit. The rules are set out in Article 27-sexies of the Testo Unico Immigrazione (Consolidated Immigration Act).
An intra-corporate transfer does not stop at the borders of a single country. A manager or specialist transferred to Germany with an ICT permit, for example, may also need to work at the group’s Italian site. For this purpose, Directive 2014/66/EU provides for mobility between Member States, transposed in Italy by Legislative Decree (D.Lgs.) 253/2016 through Article 27-sexies of Legislative Decree 286/1998.
In this guide we look at the difference between short-term and long-term mobility, what the company has to do and what rights family members have.
Who can use ICT mobility to Italy?
Mobility applies to foreign nationals who already hold a valid ICT permit issued by another Member State. In Italy, they must work at a site, branch or representative office of the company they belong to, or at a company of the same group.
Anyone arriving directly from a country outside the EU instead follows the ordinary nulla osta procedure, explained in the guide to ICT intra-corporate transfers.
What is short-term mobility?
It is a stay for work in Italy of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. In this case, under paragraph 1 of Article 27-sexies:
- no nulla osta from the Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione (Immigration Desk) is required;
- the worker carries out the activity on the basis of the ICT permit issued by the other Member State;
- the permit of the Member State of origin must be valid for the entire period.
Before departure, it is advisable to check with the competent Immigration Desk which presence formalities the worker must complete, and to keep the documents linking the stay to the group’s Italian entity. The general rules are explained in the guide to the declaration of presence.
What is long-term mobility?
If the work in Italy exceeds 90 days, the nulla osta provided for intra-corporate transfers is required. The main points:
- Who applies: the host entity, to the Immigration Desk of the province where it has its registered office, using the Mobile ICT form.
- When: before entry or, if the worker is already in Italy on short-term mobility, within 90 days of their entry.
- Visa: the worker enters visa-free, on the basis of the ICT permit of the other Member State.
- Documents: documents and information must be provided in Italian.
- Presence: within 8 working days of the nulla osta being issued, the worker declares their presence to the Immigration Desk.
For companies that have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of the Interior, the nulla osta is replaced by an online notification, and the Questore (head of the Questura, the police immigration office) checks that there are no grounds for refusal. The documents and mistakes to avoid are the same as for the ordinary transfer, explained in the guide to the Mod. ICT form.
Can you work while waiting for the permit?
Yes. Under paragraph 11, while the permit is pending, the worker can carry out the activity, provided that the ICT permit of the Member State of origin has not expired.
What is the “mobile ICT” permit?
It is the permesso di soggiorno (residence permit) that the Questore issues for long-term mobility, within 45 days of the declaration of presence. Its features:
- it bears the wording “mobile ICT”;
- it lasts as long as the requested mobility period;
- it can be renewed if the mobility is extended, within the maximum duration of the transfer (3 years for managers and specialists, 1 year for trainee employees) and within the validity of the ICT permit of the Member State of origin.
The worker must state their address and report any changes. If the permit is refused or revoked, Italy informs the Member State that issued the ICT permit.
When can the nulla osta for mobility be refused?
The nulla osta is refused or revoked if the required conditions are not met or in the cases listed in Article 27-quinquies, paragraph 15: false or fraudulently obtained documents, an entity set up mainly to facilitate entry, failure to comply with tax, social security or contractual obligations, penalties for undeclared work, a company in liquidation or with no genuine activity. Decree-Law 146/2025 also added checks here on the truthfulness of declarations (paragraph 4-bis).
Be careful if the ICT permit of the other Member State has expired, been revoked or been cancelled, or if the nulla osta was not requested within 90 days of entry: in these situations, the rules on employing workers without a valid permit apply, with the related penalties for the employer.
Can family members accompany the worker on mobility?
Yes. Holders of a mobile ICT permit can apply for family reunification regardless of the duration of the permit, under the conditions of Article 29 of the Consolidated Immigration Act. Family members receive a permit for family reasons of the same duration.
Family members who already hold a residence permit from the Member State of origin can enter without a visa if they show that they lived with the worker in that State. For income and accommodation requirements, see the guide to family reunification.
Frequently asked questions
With a German or French ICT permit, can I start working in Italy straight away?
Yes, within the limits of short-term mobility: up to 90 days in any 180-day period, at a site, branch or company of the same group in Italy, without a nulla osta. The ICT permit issued by the other Member State must remain valid for the entire period you work in Italy.
What do I need to stay in Italy for more than 90 days?
You need the nulla osta for long-term mobility, which the host entity requests with the Mobile ICT form from the Immigration Desk of the province where it has its registered office. After the declaration of presence, the Questore issues the “mobile ICT” permit within 45 days.
What is the deadline for requesting the nulla osta if the worker is already in Italy?
If the worker is already in Italy on short-term mobility, the host entity must request the nulla osta for long-term mobility within 90 days of the worker’s entry. If this deadline is missed, the rules on employing workers without a valid permit apply, with penalties for the employer.
Is a visa required for long-term mobility?
No. The worker enters Italy visa-free on the basis of the ICT permit issued by the other Member State. Within 8 working days of the nulla osta being issued, the worker must declare their presence to the Immigration Desk, and can keep working while the permit is pending.
How long can ICT mobility last in total?
No longer than the maximum duration of the intra-corporate transfer, which is 3 years for managers and specialists and 1 year for trainee employees. Mobility also cannot last beyond the validity of the ICT permit issued by the Member State of origin, even if the mobile ICT permit is renewed.
Official sources
- Testo Unico Immigrazione (Consolidated Immigration Act), Art. 27-sexies — Normattiva
- Directive 2014/66/EU — EUR-Lex
- Legislative Decree no. 253 of 29 December 2016 — Normattiva
- Ministry of the Interior
The sources were consulted on 15 October 2026. Laws and procedures may change: always check the latest instructions from the competent office.
How can SH Immigration Specialists help?
SH Immigration Specialists helps companies organise ICT mobility to Italy: checking the permit from the Member State of origin, calculating the periods, preparing the application for long-term mobility and providing support with the permit and family members. The outcome depends on the competent authorities. For an assessment, contact us. All our services for companies are on the page hiring foreign workers in Italy.
This content provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.
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