Italy Digital Nomad Visa

Italy's Digital Nomad Visa (Visto per Nomadi Digitali) was introduced in Italian law by Decree-Law No. 152 of 19 October 2022, which added Article 27-quater to Legislative Decree No. 286 of 25 July 1998 (the Testo Unico Immigrazione, Italy's consolidated immigration act). After a two-year gap during which the statutory framework existed but implementing rules were absent, the Ministry of the Interior issued the operative decree on 29 February 2024, published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale No. 79 of 4 April 2024. The visa became available at Italian consulates worldwide following that publication.

The program targets non-EU citizens who are highly skilled remote workers — whether employed by a foreign company or self-employed with foreign clients — who perform work that can be carried out entirely using telecommunications technology. It is positioned as an attraction tool for the globally mobile knowledge economy and is deliberately exempt from Italy's annual decreto flussi (immigration quota system), making it one of the few Italian work-related permits that does not require an employer-sponsored nulla osta (work authorisation). The residence permit is issued directly by the local Questura (police headquarters).

The income threshold is pegged to three times the annual minimum income level for exemption from social health contributions (assegno sociale), a figure that changes with inflation indexation. As of 2025–2026, this works out to approximately EUR 28,000 per year (around EUR 2,333 per month gross), confirmed by the Ministry of the Interior's guidance and corroborated by Italian law firms and immigration specialists.

• Annual income: Minimum of approximately EUR 28,000 per year gross (three times the annual assegno sociale exemption threshold). This is assessed on gross income from the remote work activity, evidenced by six to twelve months of bank statements and employment contracts or invoices.
• Highly skilled qualification: Applicants must hold a relevant university or postgraduate degree or demonstrate at least five years of professional experience in the relevant field (three years for ICT/tech roles in some interpretations).
• Remote work experience: At least six months of prior experience in digital nomad or remote work activity must be demonstrated.
• Employment or contract documentation: A work contract, collaboration agreement, or binding offer from an employer or client located outside Italy.
• Work performed outside Italy's labour market: Employees must work for companies not resident in Italy; self-employed professionals must work primarily for foreign clients.
• Health insurance: Comprehensive private health insurance covering medical treatment and hospitalisation, valid nationwide in Italy for the entire duration of stay.
• Accommodation: Documentation of housing arrangements in Italy.
• Criminal record certificate: Apostilled and translated into Italian.
• Passport: Minimum six months' validity.
• Application fee: EUR 116 consular fee.
• Savings: Some sources cite a separate EUR 30,000 in accessible savings as a requirement alongside income; this appears to stem from the general mezzi di sussistenza rules. Verify the current consulate-specific requirement before applying.
• Dependents: Family reunification is permitted under standard Italian rules (Article 29 of the Testo Unico). Additional income is required: approximately EUR 825 per month for a spouse (EUR 9,900/year) and EUR 412.50 per month per minor child (EUR 4,950/year).
• Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationality required.

The visa is applied for at the Italian consulate in the applicant's country of residence. No nulla osta from an Italian employer is required. Within eight working days of arrival in Italy, the applicant must report to the Questura to obtain the residence permit (permesso di soggiorno marked "nomade digitale — lavoratore da remoto"), valid for up to one year and renewable annually. The applicant also receives an Italian tax code (codice fiscale) and must register for a VAT number (partita IVA).

• Path to permanent residency (after 5 years)
• Path to citizenship (after 10 years)
• Permits dual/multiple citizenship
• Exempt from annual immigration quota (decreto flussi) — no nulla osta required
• No investment requirement
• Family inclusion permitted
• Impatriate tax regime: 50% income tax exemption for qualifying new residents (available to DNV holders from April 2026 clarification)
• EU Schengen Area freedom of movement
• Access to Italian public healthcare once resident
• Rich cultural environment, diverse climate, high quality of life

Time spent in Italy on the Digital Nomad residence permit counts toward the qualifying period for both permanent residency and citizenship, as with any lawful Italian residence permit.

Permanent residency (the EU long-term resident permesso di soggiorno CE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo) is available after five years of continuous legal residence in Italy. Continuity requires that absences from Italy do not exceed six consecutive months or ten months in total during the five-year period. Applicants must demonstrate sufficient income (minimum EUR 8,263.31 per year for a single applicant under the current threshold) and hold a valid residence permit at the time of application.

Italian citizenship by naturalisation under Article 9 of Law No. 91 of 5 February 1992 requires 10 years of continuous legal residence for non-EU nationals. EU citizens qualify after four years; refugees and stateless persons after five years; and certain descendants of Italian citizens may qualify after just two years under Law 74/2025, which reduced the threshold for second-degree Italian descendants. Applicants must: pass a B1-level Italian language examination from an accredited institution (CILS, CELI, PLIDA, or Roma Tre); demonstrate income sufficient to support themselves (at least EUR 8,263.31 per year for singles over the three preceding tax years); have no serious criminal convictions; and pay a EUR 250 government fee. The application is submitted online via the Portale ALI (Portale Servizi DLCI) and reviewed by the relevant Prefettura or consulate. Processing typically takes up to 36 months.

Italy permits dual and multiple citizenship by naturalisation. Applicants are not required to renounce their original nationality.

Browse 195 countries' paths to citizenship in the hyper-detailed IMI Citizenship Catalog.

Applications for the Digital Nomad Visa are submitted to the Italian diplomatic or consular representation competent for the applicant's country of residence. The in-country residence permit is issued by the local Questura (police headquarters) under the Ministry of the Interior.

The legislative basis is Article 27-quater of Legislative Decree No. 286 of 25 July 1998, as introduced by Decree-Law No. 152 of 19 October 2022, converted with amendments into Law No. 233 of 21 December 2022. The operative implementing rules are contained in the Ministry of the Interior Decree of 29 February 2024, published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale No. 79 of 4 April 2024. The income threshold is derived from the annual assegno sociale exemption minimum, administered by INPS.

Last updated: July 2026.