Italy Digital Nomad Visa

Italy's visa for digital nomads and remote workers has applied since April 5, 2024, under the decree published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale on April 4, 2024. It lets highly skilled nationals of countries outside the EU live in Italy while working remotely with technology.

It has two profiles. A digital nomad is self-employed and works through digital tools. A remote worker is an employee or collaborator who does the job from Italy. Both need €24,789.93 a year, and the resulting residence permit lasts 1 year and can be renewed.

• Highly skilled: under Article 27-quater of the Consolidated Immigration Act, a degree from a course of at least three years, or five years of professional experience at a comparable level. ICT managers and specialists can qualify with three years of experience in the last seven.
• Experience: at least 6 months in the activity to be done as a nomad or remote worker.
• Income: €24,789.93 a year, which is three times the income limit for exemption from healthcare cost-sharing (€8,263.31). The decree sets the formula; some consulates round it or quote a different figure, so applicants should check the amount their consulate applies.
• Health insurance: cover for medical and hospital costs in Italy for the whole stay.
• Housing: proof of adequate accommodation in Italy.
• Remote workers only: an employment or collaboration contract, or a binding offer, paying at least the relevant national collective agreement, plus the employer's signed declaration of no convictions in the last five years for the offenses listed in Article 22(5-bis).

The Toronto consulate's checklist is typical:

• Application: the national visa form and a recent passport-style photo.
• Passport: valid at least three months beyond the planned return date, with two blank pages.
• Insurance and housing: the health insurance policy and proof of accommodation.
• Experience and skills: proof of the 6 months in the field and of the degree or professional experience that makes the applicant highly skilled.
• Income: documents showing income at or above the threshold.
• Remote workers: the contract or binding offer and the employer's declaration with a copy of an identity document.

Checklists differ by consulate, so applicants should follow the one for the consulate that covers their place of residence.

• National visa: €116 per applicant, paid in local currency at the consulate's rate, per the consular fee table.
• Residence permit: €116.46 in total for a permit of up to a year: the permit contribution, the electronic card, a revenue stamp and the postal fee.

Health insurance, translations, degree recognition and any visa center service charge are extra.

Where to apply: National visa at the Italian consulate for the applicant's place of residence; then a residence permit at the Questura within 8 working days of arrival.

1. Visa: book and file at the consulate for the applicant's place of residence.
2. Arrival: enter Italy on the national visa.
3. Permit: apply to the Questura (police headquarters) where the holder lives within eight working days of arrival, as Article 5 of the Consolidated Immigration Act requires. The permit is marked "nomade digitale - lavoratore da remoto".

No official processing time is published for the visa.

• Length: 1 year.
• Renewal: Renewable every year while the original conditions and requirements still hold.
• Family: a spouse and minor children can get family permits that last as long as the worker's.

The visa carries no tax regime of its own. Under the Agenzia delle Entrate's residence rules, a person is resident for income tax if, for most of the year (183 days, or 184 in a leap year), any one of these holds: their domicile or habitual residence is in Italy, they are physically present in Italy (fractions of days count) or they are registered in the resident population register.

Tax residents are generally taxed on their worldwide income, with relief under any tax treaty between Italy and the other country. Italy also offers an optional substitute tax on foreign income for people who move their tax residence there; its annual amount has changed over time and should be confirmed with the Agenzia delle Entrate before relying on it.