Italy has Launched its Digital Nomad Visa: Check Who is Eligible & How to Apply

 Have you ever dreamed of living in Italy? Well, there is good news for all remote workers!

The country has recently launched a digital nomad visa that allows remote workers to stay for a year. As millions of people are no longer required to stay in the office, you can explore Italy's breathtaking views, like Lake Como, the Grand Canal, and more, while working. So, make your dream a reality.

This new visa was passed by law on 28 March 2022 but officially initiated on 4 April 2024. Upon arrival in Italy, it grants digital nomads and remote workers eight days to apply for a resident permit. However, the condition is that the applicant must earn at least €28,000 annually, ensuring financial stability and healthcare coverage during their stay.

Let’s first understand who can apply for an Italian digital nomad visa.

These newly launched remote workers or digital nomad visas are made for those working remotely full-time. However, global mobility expert Damien O’Farrell explained to Euronews Travel that “it’s being managed under article 27 of the immigration code, which means that it’s aimed at highly skilled workers.” 

Italy's government decree defined a digital nomad “who carries out a highly qualified work activity with the use of technological tools capable of allowing them to work remotely, both as a worker self-employed or as a collaborator or employee of a company even if not resident in Italy.”

The criteria for identifying ‘highly skilled workers’ were totally ambiguous in 2022. Thus, there is now a clearer and more transparent definition, albeit with some changes. As of March 2024, the visa is available to remote workers with an annual income of at least three times the minimum level required to be exempt from healthcare costs in Italy - approximately €28,000 annually.

The most crucial requirement for attaining a digital nomad visa is the approval of health insurance, as applicants must get comprehensive plans that are valid for the entire period of their stay.

Another crucial pre-requisite is that candidates who submitted an application for the visa must show that they have suitable accommodation for the length of their stay. Also, they have worked remotely or as a digital nomad for at least six months in the past.

Before receiving a visa, they must visit a legitimate diplomatic or consular office and turn in a declaration that their employer has signed.

It is not open to all applicants, though. Anyone convicted of a crime within the last five years, even if the sentence was not final, is advised to be automatically disqualified from the visa application process.

Now check out how long Italian digital nomad visas will last.

Luca Carabetta, a former Five Star Movement politician and advocate of the digital nomad visa, hinted that it would initially last one year. Hence, the duration has been confirmed this week. The permit, titled "digital nomad - remote worker," lasts for a maximum of one year and may be extended each year, given the initial requirements are met.

If you have "advanced technological means," you are qualified for remote work in Italy. Accompanying family members is permitted, subject to approval by Italy's police headquarters for family-related residence permits.

Head over to see how taxation will work for digital nomads in Italy.

Applicants must be tax-compliant in their home country, as the Italian taxation office will speak to their equivalent. Further, Damein recommends that you should talk to an Italian tax expert before applying, as you must understand what tax you’ll need to pay and the associated paperwork.

If a tax infringement occurs, the office will promptly report it to the authority that granted the visa. Therefore, you will need to complete a comprehensive list of conditions to get one of Italy's digital nomad visas.

When will the Italian digital nomad visa be available?

Applications for digital nomad visas will begin after 4 April 2024. Those interested must schedule an in-person appointment with an Italian consulate in their place of residence. In terms of documentation, you must provide:

• A valid passport

• Proof of employment

• Proof of income

• Health insurance

• Proof of accommodation in Italy

• A criminal record certificate

After approval of the visa, you will have eight days from your arrival in Italy to apply for a residence permit, commonly known as permesso di soggiorno.

Current Visas for Remote Workers in Italy

There are alternative visas available that may be appropriate for your case. They fall under the 'decreto flussi' (foreign worker quota), and the specifics are encouraging for future digital nomads. As with present visas, it appears that there will be no yearly restriction on the number of permits provided to potential remote workers in Italy.