In short. Posting workers to Italy under a service contract (appalto) requires Model M (Modello M), the application for a nulla osta (work/entry clearance) for non-EU employees whom a foreign company sends to Italy to carry out a contract for works or services (Article 27(1)(i) of the Testo Unico Immigrazione, the Consolidated Immigration Act). It is submitted by the Italian client on the Portale ALI (the Interior Ministry’s online application portal), with one form per worker. The permit lasts for as long as it takes to complete the works or service and cannot be converted into a work permit.
It is quite common for an Italian company to entrust a job to a foreign company: installing a plant, specialist maintenance, a construction site. If the foreign company carries out the work with its own non-EU employees, they enter Italy with a nulla osta for posting under a service contract, applied for with Model M.
In this guide we look at who submits the application, which documents are needed, how long the permit lasts and what changes if the foreign company is based in another EU Member State. For a comparison with the other forms, read our guide to posting non-EU workers to Italy.
When is Model M used for posting workers to Italy under a service contract?
Article 27(1)(i) covers employees of an employer resident or established abroad, paid directly by that employer, who are temporarily transferred to Italy to carry out services that are the subject of a contract for works or services (appalto) with a person or company, Italian or foreign, resident in Italy.
The main conditions are:
- there is a contract or subcontract (appalto or subappalto) between the client in Italy and the foreign company;
- the foreign company operates with its own organisation and its own staff;
- the workers are already employees of the foreign company when the application is made and, if they are on fixed-term contracts, their contract lasts at least as long as the posting.
Who submits the application?
The nulla osta is requested by the contracting client (appaltante), that is, the client in Italy, as provided for by Article 40(13) of DPR 394/1999 (the implementing regulation of the Consolidated Immigration Act). The application is sent online through the Portale ALI to the competent Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione (Immigration Desk), with one Model M for each worker.
What obligations does the employer have?
- Notice to trade unions: the employment of the workers must be notified to the provincial branches of the most representative trade unions in the sector, stating the number of workers and their duties.
- Minimum pay: the foreign company guarantees the workers the minimum pay set by the national collective agreement for the sector.
- Contributions: the foreign company guarantees payment of social security and welfare contributions, unless social security agreements provide otherwise.
Which documents are needed for Model M?
The exact list depends on the Prefettura (the local office of the Interior Ministry). As a reference, the Sportello Unico in Milan asks for:
- a posting letter from the foreign company, also signed for acceptance by the worker, stating the date of hiring, job title and duties, the place of work in Italy, and a commitment to comply with contribution obligations and with the pay conditions of the collective agreement;
- a copy of the prior notice to the provincial trade unions for the sector;
- a copy of the contract (appalto) and of any subcontracts;
- an identity document of the legal representative or delegate, with their residence permit and power of attorney if they are a foreign national;
- the worker’s passport;
- accommodation: a housing suitability certificate (idoneità alloggiativa) and a cessione di fabbricato (property occupancy notice) for private accommodation, or a booking of at least one month in a hotel or serviced apartment.
Foreign documents must be translated into Italian and legalised or apostilled, unless an international agreement provides otherwise. See our guide to apostille and legalisation of foreign documents.
How does the procedure work?
- Application on the Portale ALI, with one Model M per worker.
- Nulla osta: if the application is approved, the legal representative or a delegate signs the contratto di soggiorno (residence contract for employment) and the nulla osta is sent to the consulate.
- Visa: the worker applies for a work visa at the Italian consulate in their country of residence.
- Entry: within eight days of arrival, the worker goes to the Sportello Unico, signs the residence contract and collects the forms for the permit.
- Permit: the application for the permesso di soggiorno (residence permit) is sent to the Questura (police immigration office) using the kit postale (the post office application pack). The worker starts work after these formalities.
How long does the permit for posting under a service contract last?
The nulla osta, visa and residence permit are valid for the time strictly necessary to complete the works or service (Article 40(13), DPR 394/1999). Some regional authorities indicate an initial period of up to two years, which can be extended depending on the work: check the guidance of the competent Sportello Unico.
The permit is renewed if the contract is extended, but it cannot be converted into a work permit: when the work ends, the worker returns to their country of origin. For the permits that can be converted, see which Italian residence permits can be converted to work.
What changes if the company is based in another EU Member State?
If the employer is resident or established in another Member State of the European Union, paragraph 1-bis of Article 27 replaces the nulla osta with a notification to the Sportello Unico: the contract is notified and a declaration is made that the workers comply with the rules of the employer’s State of residence. In Milan, this case uses form M2.
Frequently asked questions
Who must apply for the nulla osta, the foreign company or the Italian one?
The client in Italy, that is, the contracting client (appaltante), applies for the nulla osta under Article 40(13) of DPR 394/1999. The application is submitted online on the Portale ALI to the competent Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione, with one Model M for each worker posted to Italy.
Is one form needed for each worker?
Yes. Model M is individual, so a separate form must be completed on the Portale ALI for each worker the foreign company intends to post to Italy under the service contract, even when several workers are assigned to the same contract or construction site.
Must the workers already be employed by the foreign company?
Yes. The workers must already be employees of the foreign company when the application is made and must be paid directly by that company. If they are on fixed-term contracts, their employment contract must last at least as long as the whole posting period in Italy.
Can the permit for a service contract be converted into a permit for employed work?
No. The permit can be renewed if the contract is extended, but it cannot be converted into a work permit. When the works or service end, the worker returns to their country of origin; a new employment relationship in Italy requires a different procedure.
Do the trade unions need to be notified?
Yes. The employment of the posted workers must be notified to the provincial branches of the most representative trade unions in the sector, stating the number of workers and their duties, and a copy of this prior notice is attached to the Model M application.
Official sources
- Testo Unico Immigrazione, Article 27(1)(i) and paragraph 1-bis — Normattiva
- DPR 394/1999, Article 40(13) — Normattiva
- Sportello Unico in Milan — documents for forms M and M2 (in Italian)
- Friuli Venezia Giulia Region — workers posted under contracts with foreign companies (in Italian)
The sources were consulted on 15 October 2026. Documents and practice may vary between Prefetture: always check the updated instructions of the competent office.
How can SH Immigration Specialists help?
SH Immigration Specialists supports clients and foreign companies in preparing the application: reviewing the contract, posting letters, the notice to trade unions, accommodation, completing Model M forms on the Portale ALI, and assistance with visas and permits. 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.
Do you have a case like this? Talk to a specialist consultant
In 30 minutes a specialist consultant at SH Immigration Specialists looks at your situation and tells you what to do, which documents you need and which mistakes to avoid. Online from any country or in one of our 8 offices in Italy, also in Arabic, Hindi and Urdu.
Want us to handle it for you? See our residence permit service.
Secure online payment with Stripe. SH Immigration Specialists is not a law firm: appeals and legal advice are handled by the lawyers on the team.
