Italy's digital nomad visa

Since April 2024 Italy has a dedicated entry route for non-EU digital nomads and remote workers (art. 27, c. 1, lett. q-bis of the immigration code, implemented by the interministerial decree of 29 February 2024). Its two headline features: no nulla osta (no prior work authorisation) and no decreto flussi quota — you apply directly at the consulate. Facts below verified 21 July 2026 against the sources at the bottom; this is orientation, not legal advice.

Who qualifies

The law targets highly qualified workers who work remotely through technological tools, in two flavours: the nomade digitale (self-employed — freelancers, consultants) and the lavoratore da remoto (employee or collaborator, including for an employer with no Italian presence). "Highly qualified" borrows the EU Blue Card criteria: a 3-year degree, a regulated profession, five years of comparable professional experience, or three of the last seven years in ICT-specialist roles.

The requirements

• Non-EU national, highly qualified (3-year degree, regulated profession, 5 years’ comparable experience, or 3 of the last 7 years in ICT roles)
• A job or freelance activity you can perform remotely with technological tools
• At least 6 months’ prior experience working remotely
• Annual income from the remote work of at least 3× the healthcare co-pay exemption threshold (≈ €24,789/year, 2024 figure)
• Health insurance covering the whole stay in Italy
• Documented accommodation (registered lease or deed)
• Employees only: contract or binding offer, plus the employer’s declaration of no convictions in the last 5 years

The income floor is defined as three times the healthcare co-pay exemption threshold — the New York consulate quantifies it as no less than €24,789 a year (2024 figure; future indexation may move it), and it must come from the remote work itself, not passive income.

How it works

1. Apply for the type D visa (up to 365 days) at the Italian consulate for your place of residence.
2. Within 8 working days of entry, apply at the Questura for the permesso di soggiorno marked "nomade digitale – lavoratore da remoto" — max 1 year, renewable while the conditions hold.
3. Your codice fiscale is issued with the permit; self-employed nomads open a partita IVA.
4. Your spouse and minor children can be sponsored via the Questura once you hold the permit.

Italian tax and social-security rules apply from the start ("le disposizioni di carattere fiscale e contributivo vigenti"), subject to bilateral agreements — see our tax residency basics, which are nationality-blind. Once you hold the permit, most of what applies to non-EU residents applies to you.