Italy Digital Nomad Visa: Requirements and How to Apply

The Italy digital nomad visa, officially the visa for digital nomads and remote workers, lets highly qualified non-EU citizens live in Italy for up to 365 days while working remotely. It is open to freelancers and to employees of foreign companies. The headline requirement is annual income of roughly €25,000, though consulates quote different figures.

Rules are set by Italy's foreign ministry and applied by each consulate, so details vary. Use the official visa portal and your consulate's checklist before you apply, and treat this page as a guide, not legal advice. For the wider picture, see our Italy country guide.

Who qualifies

You must be a non-EU citizen doing skilled work that can be done remotely. Consulates ask for a qualifying profile: a degree of at least three years, a regulated profession, or about five years of comparable experience. You also need at least six months of prior professional experience in the field you will work in. Employees need an employment contract with a salary at or above the relevant collective agreement and not below the ISTAT median, plus an employer letter on criminal convictions.

Spouses and minor children can usually join you, subject to clearance. Adult children and parents are generally not covered under family reunification.

Income requirement

The rule is that you need annual income from lawful sources of at least three times the amount that exempts you from Italian health-service contributions. The consulates we read quote about €24,789 (a 2024 figure) in New York and Boston, and €25,500 in Tbilisi and Pristina. We model that as roughly €2,125 a month. A secondary guide mentions about €28,000, but we could not verify it, so ask your consulate which figure applies. Employees must also meet the ISTAT median-salary floor, which can be higher.

Documents you'll need

• Valid passport, with blank pages and enough validity beyond the stay
• Completed national (D) visa application form and a photo
• Proof of qualifying profession (degree, professional registration, or experience)
• Proof of six months' experience: tax returns, invoices or pay slips
• Proof of income: tax returns, contracts or bank statements covering recent months
• Private health insurance valid in Italy; the New York and Boston pages specify at least €30,000 (or $50,000) including repatriation, and say a card alone is not accepted
• A registered lease or deed for the full stay; hotels and hospitality letters are not accepted
• Proof of legal residence in the consulate's district, apostilled or legalized documents, and Italian translations where required

Step-by-step application

1. Confirm which consulate serves your state or country and read its checklist.
2. Gather income, experience, insurance and housing documents; apostille and translate where required.
3. Rent or buy housing in Italy with a registered contract.
4. Book your appointment and submit your file in person.
5. Wait for the decision; consulates generally have up to 90 days for long-stay visas, but times vary.
6. Enter Italy with the visa, and apply for a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) at the Questura within eight working days.
7. Register your tax code (codice fiscale) and local residency.

Costs and timeline

The national visa fee varies by consulate and changes with the exchange rate; the New York page says it adjusts every three months. A residence-permit fee applies in Italy. Processing time is not stated on the pages we read, so plan for at least a couple of months and do not book a non-refundable lease before you have the visa.

Taxes once you're resident

If you spend more than 183 days in Italy, you are generally an Italian tax resident taxed on worldwide income. Italy's 2026 IRPEF rates are 23% up to €28,000, 33% to €50,000 and 43% above, plus local surcharges. Special regimes, such as the impatriate regime or the new-resident flat tax, have narrow conditions and may not suit remote workers. Get tax advice before you move.

Family members

Spouses and minor children can generally apply with you, subject to checks. Bring marriage and birth certificates, apostilled and translated.

Alternatives

If you have passive income instead of a job, consider the elective residency visa, which does not allow work. Investors may look at the Italy investor visa. In France, remote workers have a harder time; see the France freelance visa. To compare options across countries, see:

Thresholds and rules change often. Each route links to its official government page: confirm there before you apply. Not legal advice.

Rules change, so confirm requirements with the consulate or a qualified advisor.