In short. The working holiday visa Italy offers is a national long-stay visa (type D) for young citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea. It lasts up to one year and allows limited work during the holiday; the upper age limit is 30 or 35, depending on the country. You apply at the consulate covering your place of residence and, once in Italy, you request the residence permit at the Questura. The permit is not usually renewable or convertible.
Here you will find countries, age limits, duration, requirements, how to apply, costs, work rules and how this visa differs from other routes. Where official sources disagree, we say so.
Reviewed 26 October 2026. These are the general rules, not advice on your own case: exact requirements and documents depend on your country’s agreement and on the consulate.
Working holiday visa Italy: what is it and what law governs it?
It is the visa “for vacanze-lavoro” (also written vacanza-lavoro, or simply working holiday): a national visa of type D, meaning for stays of more than 90 days. Interministerial Decree no. 850/2011 lists it at point 20 of Annex A for citizens of countries with which Italy has signed specific agreements. It lasts at most one year, and the agreements set the requirements.
Its basis is article 27(1)(r) of the Consolidated Immigration Act (Legislative Decree 286/1998, the “TU”), which covers young people on exchange or youth-mobility programmes; the limits on work are in article 40(20) of Presidential Decree 394/1999. Official pages place it outside the Decreto Flussi quotas (the annual limits on entry for work), but each agreement can set a yearly number of visas.
The visa only authorises entry. For the wider picture, see Types of Italian visa: complete list and guides.
Which countries are covered, and what are the age and duration limits?
The list is short: five countries emerge from the agreements, consular sheets and visa pages updated on 25 May 2026; the Ministry of Labour also cites Hong Kong (see below the table).
| Country | Age | Stay | Work | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 18-35 | visa of up to 365 days (Perth and Brisbane: 365) | usually 6 months in total, 3 with one employer | once only; a 2023 sheet says 18-30 |
| Canada | 18-35 | up to 12 months, up to two participations | for the whole stay, even with one employer | annual number of participants; in force since 1 November 2022 |
| Japan | 18-30 | one year from entry | up to 6 months, even with one employer | visa free of charge; in force since 1 April 2026 |
| New Zealand | 18-30 | 365 days | usually 6 months in total, 3 with one employer | once only |
| South Korea | 18-30 | 12 months from first entry | up to 6 months, even with one employer | cannot be extended |
The figures come from the agreements and consulate sheets, some from 2023, so check the sheet of your own office. Age is normally counted on the date of application. For Canada, the published diplomatic notes give 2,000 participants for 2023 and 2024, and 1,933 for 2026; for the other countries we found no official figures.
Hong Kong. The Ministry of Labour lists it among the operative agreements, but the pages of 25 May 2026 do not cite it, and the only consular notice we found (2019) describes an agreement signed but not yet in force. If you live there, ask the Italian Consulate General to confirm.
Other countries. None appears: without one of these nationalities, this visa is not usually an option. EU citizens may work in Italy without a work permit (Your Europe).
Who can apply?
Each agreement sets the conditions (according to Vistoperitalia, the Foreign Ministry’s visa portal, it may ease funds, insurance or work procedures) and consulates spell them out. These recur in the sources:
- citizenship of the partner country and residence there;
- age within the limits in the table;
- a holiday as the main purpose, with work only incidental;
- no dependants travelling with you;
- no earlier working holiday visa for Italy (Canada: up to two participations);
- a passport valid beyond the stay, normally by at least three months, and a return ticket or the funds to buy one;
- sufficient means: Sydney asks for at least €10,000 for 365 days, Osaka €10,400 for one year;
- health insurance for the whole stay (several sheets say at least €30,000 of cover);
- no criminal record, where required (Japan; Seoul asks for a certificate).
How do you apply, and what does it cost?
- On Vistoperitalia, read the “Vacanza lavoro” entry (type D) and find the embassy or consulate covering your place of residence.
- Download that office’s checklist, because methods vary: in-person appointments (Sydney, Melbourne, Osaka), Prenot@mi, the Foreign Ministry’s booking system (Tokyo, Wellington), or post (Toronto).
- Gather the form, photo, passport, ticket, funds, insurance and, depending on the office, accommodation or a criminal record certificate.
- Submit the application and pay the fee. If asked, attend an interview, as the Japan agreement provides, or give fingerprints, as in Toronto. Then collect your passport with the visa.
You apply from abroad (Toronto and Sydney say so explicitly). Sydney does not accept applications more than 180 days before departure; Osaka wants them between six months and 15 days before.
The national type D visa fee is €116, working holiday included, according to the Toronto consulate’s table for 2026 and the pages of 25 May 2026. Consulates may revise the amount every three months for exchange-rate reasons (Toronto and Wellington say so). For Japanese citizens the visa is free of charge (article 1 of the agreement).
For national visas the general time limit is 90 days (Foreign Ministry). Consulates quote shorter times: Sydney a few hours to 15 days, Toronto about 10 days, Wellington up to 30 (2023 sheet). These are estimates, not guarantees.
What happens after you arrive in Italy?
Within eight working days of entering Italy you must request the residence permit (article 5(2) TU); some consular sheets say only “eight days”, so it is wise to go straight away. You apply directly to the Immigration Office of the Questura (the provincial headquarters of the State Police) where you live or are domiciled, not through the Post Office kit. Vistoperitalia and the Foreign Ministry’s Diritti e doveri (“rights and duties”) sheet of May 2026 both say so. This is not the declaration of presence, which applies to short stays: see Declaration of Presence in Italy for Foreign Nationals.
The Integrazione Migranti sheet (2022) lists four photos, the €16 revenue stamp, the postal payment slip of €30.46 plus a €40 contribution (permit of over three months and up to one year, as in the Immigration Portal’s cost table), a copy of the passport with the visa, the hosting declaration of the person accommodating you, and a copy of your health policy. A 2023 consular sheet (Brisbane) also mentions proof of funds; this may vary by office.
The general legal time limit for issuing a permit is 90 days (article 5(9) TU, as amended by Legislative Decree 83/2026, which applies from 22 May 2026); older pages may still say 60 days. For the single work permit, article 5(8.1-bis) sets 30 days from completion of the application. The decree does not name the working holiday, so ask the Questura which limit applies.
For an employment contract or a bank account you normally need a codice fiscale (tax code): see Italian tax code for foreigners. According to Vistoperitalia, enrolment in the National Health Service is compulsory for employment, adoption and family reasons, but it does not say where the working holiday falls: keep the policy the consulate requires (see Health insurance for foreign nationals in Italy).
How much can you work on a working holiday visa Italy grants?
Work is incidental to the holiday. The general rule (article 40(20) of Presidential Decree 394/1999, as reported by the Ministry of Labour and Integrazione Migranti) is six months of work in total, with no more than three for one employer. Agreements can derogate: Japan and South Korea allow up to six months even with the same employer (the Ministry of Labour says they have treaty status), and Canada allows work for the whole stay.
On the employer’s side the sources disagree. Integrazione Migranti says no nulla osta (prior work authorisation from the Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione, the one-stop immigration desk) is needed, only the compulsory notice of hiring, as the Canada agreement also provides. Other sheets mention an employer request after arrival (Toronto, Brisbane) or a nulla osta before the visa (Abu Dhabi). Ask the Questura and the Sportello Unico before signing anything; for receipts, see Working with your residence permit receipt in Italy.
Can you extend the permit, convert it or bring your family?
The official pages we read (Integrazione Migranti, the Seoul and Brisbane sheets, the 2019 Hong Kong notice) describe a permit of one year at most that cannot be renewed or converted: at its expiry, the Brisbane sheet says, you leave Italy. These pages pre-date Legislative Decree 83/2026 and none cites the underlying rule, so for a specific case ask our lawyers. A related rule is in the Japan agreement (article 1), which requires the intention to leave Italy at the end of the stay, without changing your residence status during it.
As a rule you cannot bring family members with your application: the Japan agreement excludes dependants, the Melbourne and Wellington sheets dependent minors, the Seoul sheet rules out family reunification and the Osaka sheet a family visa linked to yours. The visa is generally used once (Canada: up to two participations). While it is valid you may travel in other Schengen states for up to 90 days in any 180. To stay longer, the official pages offer no extension: consider another route (see which permits allow work) and plan before the permit expires.
How does it differ from the tourist, digital nomad, seasonal and student routes?
| Route | For whom | Work | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working holiday (D) | young citizens of five countries with an agreement | incidental, usually 6 months in total | up to one year, usually not renewable |
| Tourist (C) | tourism, if a visa is required | not a work authorisation | up to 90 days in any 180 |
| Digital nomad (D) | highly qualified remote workers | yes, remotely | permit up to one year, renewable |
| Seasonal work (D) | workers with an employer | yes, for seasonal jobs | permit from 20 days to 9 months |
| Study (D) | enrolled students | 20 hours a week, 1,040 hours a year | up to one year, renewable |
What if the visa is refused?
Issue of the visa is not automatic: the Japan agreement provides for it if the Party considers it appropriate, and the agreements set an annual number of visas. Some consulates stress complete documents (Toronto returns incomplete applications unprocessed) and your own funds (Sydney does not accept a sponsor’s bank statements).
For a national visa not requested for family reasons, the Foreign Ministry points to an appeal to the Lazio regional administrative court (TAR), through a lawyer, within 60 days of notification. More in Italian visa refusal: how to appeal.
Frequently asked questions
Which countries have a working holiday visa with Italy, and what is the age limit?
Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea. The age limit is 18 to 35 for Canada and, according to Sydney and Melbourne, for Australia; 18 to 30 for the others. The Ministry of Labour also lists Hong Kong, but without recent confirmation. As a rule, you must be a citizen and resident of the partner country.
Can you work on a working holiday visa?
Work is allowed, but only incidentally to the holiday. The general rule is six months in total and at most three with one employer; Japan and South Korea allow six months even with the same employer, Canada the whole stay. The sources disagree on whether the employer needs a nulla osta.
Can the working holiday permit be renewed or converted?
The official pages we read describe a permit of one year at most, not renewable or convertible into another permit. To stay longer you would need to consider another route, such as study, work or the digital nomad visa. For your own case, ask a professional.
How much does it cost and where do you apply?
You apply from abroad at the Italian consulate covering your residence. The national type D visa fee is €116, which some consulates charge in local currency; for Japanese citizens it is free. After arrival, the permit at the Questura costs a €16 revenue stamp and a €70.46 payment slip.
Official sources
- Accordi vacanze lavoro (Italian text) – Ministry of Labour and Social Policies
- Ingresso e soggiorno per vacanze lavoro (Italian text) – Integrazione Migranti Portal
- Vacanza lavoro, type D visa (Italian text) – Vistoperitalia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Interministerial Decree no. 850/2011 (Italian text) – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Law 136/2025 and the Italy-Japan agreement (Italian text) – Gazzetta Ufficiale no. 224/2025
- Italy-Canada youth mobility agreement (text in Italian, English and French) – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Legislative Decree 83/2026 (Italian text) – Gazzetta Ufficiale no. 115 of 20 May 2026
- Visa FAQ: entering Italy – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The sources were consulted on 26 October 2026. Some pages are dated (the Integrazione Migranti sheet is from 2022, the Seoul and Brisbane ones from 2023) and those published before 22 May 2026 do not reflect Legislative Decree 83/2026: always check the latest instructions of the competent office.
How can SH Immigration Specialists help?
On the administrative side we can help you check the consulate’s checklist, prepare your documents and follow the permit request at the Questura after you arrive (see Entry Visa for Italy). Legal advice, appeals and representation are handled by the lawyers of SH Immigration Specialists. The outcome depends on the competent authorities. For an assessment, contact us.
This content provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.
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