📜 Living in Italy as a Digital Nomad. Follow These Steps

Italy is a dream destination for many. If you work remotely, that dream could become a reality because the Italian government has introduced a legal framework for highly skilled non-EU digital nomads, making it easier to live and work in Italy.

But do you qualify as a "digital nomad" under Italian law?

Read on to find out. I will guide you through the requirements and application process for Italy’s digital nomad visa, helping you get one step closer to your Italian journey.

Table of Contents

• Are You a Digital Nomad?

• Eligibility Requirements

  • 1. Highly Qualified Worker

  • 2. Minimum Annual Income

  • 3. Health Insurance

  • 4. Suitable Accommodation

  • 5. Prior Work Experience

• Application Process

  • How to Find Your Relevant Consulate of Italy

  • Visa Required Documents

  • Residence Permit

• Tax Considerations

• Spouse and Minor Children

• Italian Digital Nomads: The Community

• In Conclusion

Are You a Digital Nomad?

Under Italian law, a digital nomad is a self-employed non-EU citizen who works remotely using digital tools.

To qualify for this visa, you must be considered a highly skilled worker under Italian immigration law and meet the following additional requirements.

Eligibility Requirements

To apply for the digital nomad visa, you must satisfy the following conditions:

1. Highly Qualified Worker

You must demonstrate one of the following qualifications (article 27-quater, paragraph 1 of D. Lgs. 286/1998):

• Minimum three-year duration: a higher education degree (like a Bachelors’ Degree) or a recognised post-secondary professional qualification;

  
  OR
  

• Recognition of professional qualifications for regulated professions (such as architects, engineers, teachers, etc.) as per Legislative Decree 206/2007;
  
  OR
  

• A superior professional qualification with at least five years of proven work experience in the field;
  
  OR
  

• For ICT (Information and Communication Technology) executives and specialists, a superior professional qualification with at least three years of proven work experience in the last seven years.

2. Minimum Annual Income

You must prove an annual income at least three times the threshold for exemption from healthcare costs in Italy (so an income no less than approximately € 24.789, though this amount may be subject to change).

Important: The income must derive from your work so Social Security benefits do not count as income.

3. Health Insurance

You must have valid and adequate health insurance policy, covering medical treatment, hospitalisation, and repatriation for your entire stay in Italy.

Tip: Your insurance card alone is not sufficient. You need a letter or certificate confirming your coverage.

4. Suitable Accommodation

You must provide proof of accommodation, such as a rental contract or property ownership.

If you have a rental contract, this must be registered with the Italian Tax Authority (Agenzia delle Entrate).

5. Prior Work Experience

You must provide documented evidence of at least six months of prior work experience in your field (which is the work you intend to do while in Italy).

Tax records and client invoices are common forms of proof.

Application Process

1️⃣ Schedule an appointment with the Consulate of Italy that has jurisdiction over where you live;

2️⃣ Submit your visa application and required documents;

3️⃣ Wait for the Consulate’s decision (process times vary);

4️⃣ Once in Italy, apply for your residence permit (Permesso di Soggiorno).

How to Find Your Relevant Consulate of Italy

1 - Click on the following link: Italian Consular Services;

2 - Select your country from the menu (note that this is in Italian only);

3 - Enter your location;

4 - Click the “Search” button and your relevant consulate will be displayed;

5 - Click on “Enter the site” and you will be directed to your relevant consulate's website.

Visa Required Documents

When you apply for your visa, you must submit the following documents:

1. Valid passport (valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended stay) and a copy of the pages where the information is;

2. Completed National Visa Form D (if you intend to stay in Italy more than 90 days);

3. Proof of your residence in the jurisdiction of your relevant Consulate of Italy;

4. Two recent passport photos;

5. Proof of health insurance;

6. Proof of qualifications;

7. Proof of accommodation;

8. Proof of income;

9. Proof of prior work experience;

10. Visa application fee payment.

Submitting all required documents does not guarantee visa approval. The Consulate will review your application and may request additional information and documents if they need them to make a decision.

Processing times vary depending on the Consulate's workload; for example, the Consulate of Italy in London can take up to 120 days.

Residence Permit

Once you arrive in Italy with your visa, there is a really important step you must take:

You will need to head to your local Questura (the relevant police headquarters), which has jurisdiction over the area where you reside in Italy.

Once you have your “Permesso di Soggiorno”, this replaces your visa.

Your residence permit is typically issued for one year, but you can renew it at the Questura if you continue to meet the eligibility requirements.

When you apply for your Permesso di Soggiorno, you will need to provide many of the same documents you used for your visa application. So, when you submit your visa application (and, in general, every time you deal with Italian bureaucracy), make a copy of everything.

Finally, many Questure allow people to apply for their Permesso through the post office. Always check with your local Questura for the most-up-to-date information.

Tax Considerations

If you reside in Italy, you have tax obligations and you may need to register for a VAT number (in Italian “partita IVA”) as a self-employed professional, so I highly recommend that you consult an Italian accountant (commercialista).

Spouse and Minor Children

You can bring your spouse and minor children (under 18) to Italy. You can also sponsor stepchildren or children born outside of marriage, provided the other parent consents.

Italian Digital Nomads: The Community

I suggest checking out Nomadi Digitali | Quelli che girano il mondo, lavorando ovunque grazie a Internet.

It is an Italian community hub for digital nomads, and I think it is a great place to learn about and connect with Italian digital nomads.

I am not connected with this website in any way, I simply find it full of information (in Italian) and wanted to share it with you.

In Conclusion

Italy has taken significant steps to attract highly skilled, non-EU digital nomads with its relatively new digital nomad visa.

However, the application process has strict requirements so, before applying, check with the relevant Italian Consulate’s website to confirm them.

Once in Italy, you must apply for a residence permit (Permesso di Soggiorno) within eight working days of arrival, ensuring compliance with local immigration laws and tax regulations.

Good luck! 🙂 

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Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not exhaustive, does not constitute legal advice, and does not establish or replace a lawyer-client relationship. I do not assume any responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from the use or misuse of any content on this newsletter/website or the content of pages linked to or from it. If you need legal assistance for your specific case, you must hire a legal professional.