What is the Italian Digital Nomad Visa?
On 29 February 2024, the Italian Ministero dell'Interno signed the long-awaited implementing decree of the Digital Nomad Visa, and the visa officially opened on 4 April 2024. The legal basis is the new art. 27, comma 1, letter q-bis of the Testo Unico Immigrazione, inserted by Decreto-Legge n. 4/2022 (the "Sostegni Ter" decree).
The visa is a category-D long-stay visa valid for one year and renewable annually as long as you continue to meet the requirements. After 5 years of legal residence, you become eligible for the Permesso di Soggiorno UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo (EU long-term residence) — Italy's pathway to permanent residency.
Who qualifies?
To get the visa, you need to be all four of the following:
- A highly skilled remote worker. Either an employee of a non-Italian company or a freelancer/self-employed worker with non-Italian clients. The decree defines "highly skilled" as holding a university degree (3+ years), a regulated professional qualification, or at least 5 years of relevant professional experience.
- Earning enough. At least EUR 28,000 per year in remote-work income — three times the annual minimum exemption (~EUR 9,300 in 2024). Some consulates ask for proof of consistent income across the last 12 months. Family members add roughly EUR 8,000–12,000 each.
- Insured. You must have valid private health insurance covering you in Italy (and ideally the wider Schengen area) with at least EUR 30,000 of coverage, including hospitalisation. SafetyWing, Cigna Global, IMG Global, and several Italian insurers (Generali, UnipolSai) issue compliant policies.
- Cleared. A clean criminal record from your country of residence and any country you've lived in during the last 5 years (FBI Identity History for US citizens, ACRO for UK, etc.), apostilled and sworn-translated into Italian.
SafetyWing is the most popular Digital Nomad Visa-compliant policy among nomads. Live pricing below — coverage well above the EUR 30,000 threshold the visa requires.
Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Documents you'll need
| Document | What it proves | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Identity | At least 3 months valid beyond the visa expiry, 2 blank pages |
| Long-stay (D) visa application form | Visa request | Filled and signed; download from your consulate's site |
| Two passport-size photos | Identity | Recent (last 6 months), white background, ICAO format |
| Proof of remote work | You work for non-Italian employer/clients | Employment contract OR active client contracts; partita IVA disallowed if Italian |
| Proof of "highly skilled" status | Education / qualification | Degree certificate (apostilled + translated) OR 5+ years CV with reference letters |
| Proof of income / savings | ≥ EUR 28,000/year | 12 months of bank statements + last tax return + recent payslips/invoices |
| Health insurance certificate | EUR 30,000+ coverage in Italy | Must explicitly cover Italy & the Schengen area, including hospitalisation |
| Proof of accommodation in Italy | Where you'll live | Rental contract (registered with Agenzia delle Entrate), property deed, or hotel booking for arrival |
| Criminal background check | Clean record (last 5 years) | From every country of residence; apostilled + sworn-translated |
| Marriage / birth certificates (if applicable) | Civil status / dependants | Apostilled + sworn-translated into Italian |
| Visa fee receipt | Payment | EUR 116 long-stay D visa fee (some consulates also charge a service fee) |
- Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa portal — vistoperitalia.esteri.it
- Find your Italian consulate — esteri.it/en consulate finder
- FBI Identity History Summary (US background check, ~$18) — fbi.gov
- ACRO Police Certificate (UK background check) — acro.police.uk
- U.S. State Dept Apostille (federal documents) — travel.state.gov
- U.S. state-level apostilles (birth, marriage certs) — NASS state directory
- UK FCDO Legalisation Office — gov.uk
A full per-country breakdown with Canada and Australia links is on the checklist page.
Where do you apply?
Unlike some countries' DNVs, Italy's must be applied for from outside Italy:
At an Italian consulate (only option)
Apply at the Italian consulate or embassy covering your country of legal residence. The application opens on the official vistoperitalia.esteri.it portal; you book the in-person appointment through your consulate's local website (some use Prenot@Mi, others bespoke systems).
Pros: Single, centralised process. Cons: Consulate appointment slots can be slow — book early. Major US consulates (Los Angeles, New York, Houston) have 3–6 month waits; smaller posts are quicker.
What about applying from inside Italy?
You can't. Unlike some EU member states, Italy does not allow conversion from a tourist Schengen stamp into a long-stay residence permit at the Questura. You must enter Italy with the D visa already in your passport, then book the permesso di soggiorno appointment within 8 days of arrival.
How long does it take?
Plan for 60–90 days end-to-end. The Ministero degli Affari Esteri (MAECI) gives consulates up to 90 days to decide, but most issue the visa in 30–60 days once paperwork is complete. Add to that:
- Gathering and apostilling documents (2–4 weeks)
- Sworn translations into Italian (1–2 weeks)
- Booking the consulate appointment (highly variable — sometimes the bottleneck)
- The consulate's own review window (typically 4–8 weeks)
- After arrival: permesso di soggiorno appointment within 8 days (the card itself takes 2–6 months to print but you receive a receipt that lets you live and work legally)
Costs
Budget realistically. Here's a typical North American applicant's cost stack:
| Item | Typical cost (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Long-stay (D) visa fee | EUR 116 |
| Consulate service fee (varies) | EUR 0–30 |
| Permesso di soggiorno (after arrival) | EUR 70.46 + EUR 30.46 contributo + EUR 16 marca da bollo |
| FBI / ACRO background check | EUR 16–60 + apostille |
| Apostilles (3–5 docs) | EUR 60–200 |
| Sworn translations | EUR 200–500 |
| Health insurance (annual) | EUR 600–1,500 |
| Lawyer (optional) | EUR 1,500–3,500 |
| Total estimate | EUR 2,500–5,500 |
Getting your codice fiscale — do this early
The codice fiscale is Italy's national tax identification number — a 16-character alphanumeric code derived from your name, birthdate, and birthplace. You need it for almost everything practical: signing a rental contract, opening an Italian bank account, buying a SIM card, signing a utility contract, even ordering broadband. It is free, and you can get it from any Italian consulate before you set foot in Italy — or from any local Agenzia delle Entrate office once you arrive.
The three ways to get a codice fiscale
1. At an Italian consulate
Most Italian consulates issue the codice fiscale free of charge alongside the visa. Some include it in the visa appointment; others require a separate request. Bring your passport and a completed Form AA4/8.
Find your consulate:
esteri.it/en →
2. Agenzia delle Entrate (after arrival)
Walk into any Agenzia delle Entrate office, take a number for "codice fiscale," and you'll typically walk out with a paper certificate the same day. Tessera sanitaria card (if entitled) follows by post.
Find an office:
agenziaentrate.gov.it →
3. Through a fiscal representative
If you're not yet in Italy and your nearest consulate is months out, a commercialista or immigration lawyer can request your codice fiscale for you with a power of attorney. Typical fee: EUR 50–150.
Read the full codice fiscale guide →
After arrival in Italy
Once you land with the visa, three things must happen — in order:
- Apply for your permesso di soggiorno within 8 days. Pick up the "kit giallo" at any Poste Italiane post office, fill it in, attach photocopies of your passport, visa, accommodation proof, insurance, and tax stamps. The post office books your fingerprint appointment at the local Questura. You'll receive a stamped receipt that legally allows you to live and work while the card is being printed.
- Register your residence (residenza) at the Comune. Within 30 days of moving into your accommodation, register with the Anagrafe at your local town hall. This unlocks the regional health system (SSN), driving-licence conversion, and many tax benefits.
- Open an Italian bank account. Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit, and BPER are mainstream; Wise and Revolut work as bridge accounts before your Italian IBAN is open. Italian banks require a codice fiscale and proof of residence to open a full account.
Taxes — read this carefully
Italy considers you a tax resident if you spend more than 183 days in any calendar year in the country, or if Italy is the centre of your "vital interests" (family, primary residence). Tax residency means your worldwide income may be taxable in Italy, with credits available under the relevant tax treaty between Italy and your home country.
IRPEF
Italy's progressive personal income tax: 23% (up to EUR 28k), 35% (EUR 28k–50k), 43% (EUR 50k+). Plus regional surcharges of 1.23–3.33% and municipal surcharges of 0–0.9%.
Impatriati regime
For new tax residents who haven't been Italian-resident in the last 3 years: 50% of qualifying employment/self-employment income exempt for 5 years (rises to 60% with a child, 70% in southern regions). Capped at EUR 600k of income.
7% flat tax
For pensioners moving to towns under 20,000 inhabitants in Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, Puglia, Sardinia or Sicily: 7% flat tax on foreign-source income for up to 9 years. Not for active Digital Nomad Visa workers but useful to know if a partner is retired.
Renewal — getting your second year
Your initial permesso is valid one year. Roughly 60 days before it expires, file a renewal at the Questura. You'll need to show that you still meet the income, insurance, and accommodation criteria, plus an updated background check. Renewal fees mirror the initial application.
The decree does not place a cap on how many times you can renew. After 5 years of legal residence (Digital Nomad Visa permits count) you become eligible for the Permesso di Soggiorno UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo — Italy's EU long-term resident permit, which has no expiry and unlocks Italian citizenship eligibility after 10 years total residence.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Skipping apostilles. The single most common reason applications get bounced.
- Using a translator who isn't sworn (traduttore giurato). Italian authorities only accept sworn translations stamped by a court-recognised translator.
- Booking your flight before the visa is in your passport. Don't.
- Missing the 8-day permesso filing window. Falling outside that window can complicate your stay and force a re-entry.
- Insurance with no Italian coverage. A "global" policy that excludes Italy or the Schengen area won't qualify. Get explicit confirmation in writing.
- Mixing up the Digital Nomad Visa with the Self-Employment visa. The Digital Nomad Visa is for highly skilled remote workers paid from outside Italy. If you plan to invoice Italian clients, you need a different visa.
Do I need a visa just to visit Italy first?
For most readers — including US, UK, Canadian, Australian, Japanese, and most South American passports — the answer is no, not in 2026. Italy participates in the Schengen area, which allows visa-free entry for tourism, business meetings, or short visits for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
Coming changes — ETIAS
From late 2026, visitors who are visa-exempt today will need to apply for an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) before travelling. It's an electronic pre-authorisation, not a visa.
ETIAS quick facts
- Cost: EUR 7 (free for under-18s and over-70s)
- Processing: Most approvals in minutes; up to 96 hours typically
- Validity: 3 years or until passport expiry, whichever first
- Stays allowed: Up to 90 days per 180-day rolling window
- Where to apply: The official EU portal (not yet live as of mid-2026)
Watch out for
- Use only the official EU portal. Lookalike sites already exist; the genuine portal is on travel-europe.europa.eu.
- The ETIAS is not a work permit. You still cannot work in Italy on a visit; for that you need the Digital Nomad Visa.
- Roll-out dates have slipped before. Check the official site close to your travel date.
Common scenarios
- "I'm a US citizen and want to visit Italy for 2 weeks before applying for the Digital Nomad Visa." Fly in visa-free under Schengen. Use the trip to scout neighbourhoods, but apply for the Digital Nomad Visa from your US consulate after returning home — you can't file from inside Italy.
- "I'm British and want to do the Digital Nomad Visa." Apply at the Italian consulate in London, Edinburgh, or Manchester. UK passports get visa-free Schengen visits today; from late 2026 you'll need an ETIAS for tourism.
- "I'm German and want to live in Italy." EU citizens don't need the Digital Nomad Visa — you have automatic free movement. Just register at the Comune within 90 days of arrival.
- "I'm Canadian and got the Digital Nomad Visa from a consulate at home." You don't need a separate Schengen visa — your Digital Nomad Visa is your entry document. Travel direct to Italy.
Things people ask before they apply.
01 Can I work for my US employer while in Italy?
Yes — the Digital Nomad Visa is specifically designed for this. As long as your employer is outside Italy, you keep working for them on your existing contract. Italian payroll, social-security, and tax obligations may still apply once you're a tax resident — coordinate with a commercialista.
02 Can I freelance for Italian clients on the side?
Technically no — the Digital Nomad Visa restricts you to non-Italian sources of income. If you want to invoice Italian clients you'd need to switch to a different visa basis (most likely Self-Employment) and open a partita IVA.
03 What counts as "highly skilled"?
The decree references three pathways: a university degree of at least 3 years; a regulated professional qualification; or 5 years of relevant experience in the field. Software engineers, designers, marketers, consultants, writers, and academics typically qualify; service-trade workers without formal qualifications may not.
04 Do my spouse and kids count?
Yes. Spouses and dependent children can apply for accompanying visas under ricongiungimento familiare. You'll need apostilled marriage and birth certificates, and you'll need to show roughly EUR 8,000–12,000 in additional annual income per dependant.
05 Will the Digital Nomad Visa lead to permanent residency?
Yes. Time spent on the Digital Nomad Visa counts toward the 5 years of legal residence required for the EU long-term residence permit (Permesso UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo), and toward the 10 years required for Italian citizenship by naturalisation.
06 Do I need a lawyer?
No — many people file successfully on their own. A lawyer is most useful if (a) your case has any complications (mixed-source income, dependants, prior visa denials, gaps in residence history), or (b) you simply want a smoother experience. See our lawyer directory.
This guide is informational and current as of 2026. It is not legal advice. Always confirm requirements with the Italian consulate covering your jurisdiction and consult a licensed Italian immigration lawyer (registered with the Ordine degli Avvocati) for case-specific guidance.