Italian visa for digital nomads and remote workers

On 4 April 2024 the long-awaited decree of the Ministry of the Interior was finally published, setting out the procedures and requirements for the entry and stay in Italy of digital nomads and remote workers.

It should be noted that the issuance of this decree was already foreseen by the amendment inserted in March 2022 to Article 27 of the Consolidated Immigration Act, which introduced the provision of letter q-bis dedicated to the stay of digital nomads, providing for the issuance of the implementing decree within 30 days from the date of entry into force of the provision of said letter q-bis. Almost two years later, the rule has finally been implemented with the issuance of the aforementioned decree.

Scope of Application

The provisions of the implementing decree apply

– to non-EU nationals

– who perform a highly qualified work activity

– through the use of technological tools that enable them to work remotely, autonomously or for a company, including one that is not resident in the national territory.

Requirements

The following requirements are established for access to this type of visa:

(a) minimum annual income from lawful sources not less than three times the minimum level provided for exemption from participation in health expenditure

(b) health insurance valid for the national territory for the period of stay

(c) documentation on the accommodation arrangements

(d) previous experience of at least six months in the work activity to be carried out as a digital nomad or remote worker

(e) employment or collaboration contract or the relevant binding offer

Issuing and renewing residence permits

A foreigner in possession of an entry visa for digital nomads and remote workers is issued with a residency permit (to be applied for directly at the competent Police Headquarter within eight days of entry into Italy) of a maximum duration of one year, renewable annually if the conditions and requirements that permitted its issue continue to be met.

Contribution obligations

In the case of foreigners holding a digital nomad visa who are subject to the social security legislation of a third country, the provisions of the bilateral conventions on social security stipulated between Italy and the third country concerned apply. In the absence of such conventions, the social security and insurance regulations provided for by Italian legislation apply, in relation to the duration of the residency permit.

The issue of the residency permit is communicated by the competent Police Headquarter to the Revenue Agency as well as to the competent territorial branches of the Social Security Authority and the National Industrial Accident Insurance Institute for the verifications within their competence.