Italy digital nomad visa

Who the visa suits

• Remote employees of companies registered outside Italy.
• Freelancers and self-employed people with clients abroad.
• Entrepreneurs running their business remotely.

A key condition is high qualification: a university degree or at least 5 years in the profession, plus at least 6 months of remote work experience. Working for Italian employers on this visa is not allowed.

Income for the applicant and family

The threshold was set by a 2024 interministerial decree at three times the minimum income for exemption from healthcare cost-sharing, so it is recalculated with that minimum. Monthly that is about €2,333, about $2,614. Dollar amounts use the European Central Bank rate of 5 October 2026, rounded up.

How to prove qualifications

• Degree. The consulate may request verification of a foreign degree's level, so order it early with the translation.
• Experience. Without a degree you must prove at least 5 years in the profession: employer letters, employment records, client contracts.
• Remote work. Six months of remote work are shown by a contract, an employer letter on remote working or a project history with foreign clients.

Cost in 2026

• consular fee for the national visa - per the Italian consulate's tariff;
• the residence permit post office kit, revenue stamp, card production and permit fee;
• health insurance with at least €30,000, about $33,612, cover for the whole stay;
• Italian translation, apostille and degree verification if needed;
• rent in Italy for the whole stay;
• our support, if you hand preparation to us.

For a family, fees and insurance are paid for each member, and income must meet the threshold for the household. A manager will calculate the total in the chat.

Documents

• passport and national visa application;
• proof of income from €28,000 a year: statements, tax returns, contracts;
• an employment contract with a foreign company or client contracts;
• a university degree or proof of at least 5 years of experience;
• proof of at least 6 months of remote work;
• a police certificate covering the last 5 years;
• a lease or housing document in Italy;
• health insurance with at least €30,000 cover.

Documents in other languages are translated into Italian and legalised or apostilled.

What to do after moving

• Tax code from the revenue agency: without it you cannot sign a lease or open an account.
• Registration of residence with the municipality is needed for healthcare and proves residence on renewal.
• Healthcare. With a residence permit you can voluntarily join the national health service for an annual contribution or keep private insurance.

Who is refused

• income below the threshold for your household;
• no degree and no 5 years of experience in the profession;
• less than 6 months of remote work experience;
• the employer or clients are in Italy;
• no housing, insurance with the required cover or police certificate;
• documents without translation and legalisation.

Family

A spouse, minor children and dependent parents can obtain family reunification permits. For a couple, income must be at least €34,087 a year, with €1,550 added per child. Apostilled and translated marriage and birth certificates and housing of adequate size are required.

Taxes

If you live in Italy more than 183 days a year, you become a tax resident and pay progressive tax on worldwide income. Self-employed people with modest turnover may choose a simplified 15% regime, or 5% in the first years of activity. Specialists relocating to work in Italy can get partial income tax relief if conditions are met. See taxes in Italy.

Programme risks and what is changing

• Long timelines. Consular appointments and police appointments take weeks or months; in 2026 Italian media called the programme too bureaucratic.
• A high qualification bar: without a degree or 5 years of experience the visa is refused.
• Tax residence after 183 days makes income taxable in Italy.
• The income threshold is tied to the healthcare minimum and may rise.

Alternatives

• Spain digital nomad visa - with the right to live there up to 5 years.
• Portugal digital nomad visa - with a path to permanent residence.
• Croatia digital nomad visa - no tax on foreign income.
• Italy residence by investment - for those investing capital.

What changed and what we rely on

The digital nomad visa was introduced by an interministerial decree in spring 2024, with applications from April 2024. The income threshold is about €28,000 a year. In early 2026 Italian media noted few applications because of the complex procedure and long timelines. Sources: Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of the Interior and Revenue Agency; checked on 6 October 2026.

Why choose Italy

How to get Italy's digital nomad visa: step by step

FAQ