Moving to Italy

The DPCM of 2 October 2025 (Gazzetta Ufficiale n. 240 of 15 October 2025) admits workers resident abroad within 164,850 entries in 2026, 165,850 in 2027 and 166,850 in 2028 (art. 5). Each year 76,850 of them are for non-seasonal work — 76,200 employed and 650 self-employed — and 88,000, 89,000 and 90,000 are for seasonal work in agriculture and tourism (arts. 6 and 7). Inside the non-seasonal quota, 25,000 places a year go to nationals of the countries art. 6(2)(a) lists, which cooperate with Italy on migration; 18,000 (2026), 26,000 (2027) and 34,000 (2028) go to countries whose cooperation agreements come into force during the period; and 13,600, 14,000 and 14,200 are for domestic care work (assistenza familiare). Applications for a work authorisation (nulla osta al lavoro) open at 9:00 on 12 January for seasonal agriculture, 9 February for seasonal tourism, 16 February for the non-seasonal country quotas and 18 February for domestic care work, and stay open until the quota is used up or 31 December (art. 8).

Qualify with a higher-education qualification from a course of at least three years, OR a higher professional qualification shown by at least five years of professional experience relevant to the job, OR — for managers and specialists in information and communication technology only — at least three years of relevant experience within the seven years before applying. Regulated professions must also meet the national legal requirements. A work contract or binding job offer for highly qualified employment lasting at least six months. A gross annual salary at or above Italy's threshold, which the European Commission's EU Immigration Portal gives as EUR 33,500 for 2024. Italy applies a labour market test. The card is issued for two years with a permanent contract, otherwise for the length of the contract plus three months, and national law sets a maximum processing time of 90 days.

The company must be an innovative start-up under art. 25(2) of Decree-Law 179/2012. Before applying for the visa the founder needs a nulla osta from the Italia Startup Visa technical committee (Comitato Tecnico). The consulate then asks for proof of financial resources dedicated to the start-up of at least EUR 50,000, proof of lodging, and income in the country of residence above the minimum level set for exemption from health-service charges (EUR 8,400, as the Consulate General in Chicago states it). The route counts against Italy's self-employment quota: the DPCM of 2 October 2025 admits 500 self-employed people a year under art. 6(4), across five categories of which founders of innovative start-ups are one.

Both profiles must be highly qualified as art. 27-quater(1) of D.Lgs. 286/1998 defines it (the Blue Card qualification rules: a higher-education qualification from a course of at least three years, a regulated-profession qualification, or qualifying professional experience); have a minimum annual income from lawful sources of at least three times the minimum level for exemption from health-care charges (the consulate states the rule, not a euro figure); hold health insurance for medical care and hospital treatment valid in Italy for the whole stay; have suitable accommodation in Italy; and have at least six months' previous experience in the remote work to be done. A remote worker also needs the employment or collaboration contract or binding offer, paid no less than the national collective agreement and the ISTAT average gross annual salary, and a declaration signed by the EMPLOYER that it has no convictions in the last five years for the immigration offences the consulate names. The Consulate General in Paris gives processing times of up to 30 days for remote workers and 120 days for digital nomads and a EUR 116 consular fee; the residence permit must be requested at the Questura within eight working days of arrival.

Requires substantial, steady economic resources from private income such as pensions or annuities, property, revenue from securities or stable entrepreneurial activities; income from self-employment or employment does not count, and the visa does not allow any work. The Consulate General in Paris treats the minimum in Table A of the Interior Ministry's Directive of 1 March 2000 (approximately EUR 31,000) as only one of the parameters it considers — a starting point for assessing the extensive resources the applicant must prove. Accommodation must be a registered lease of, or ownership of, a property in Italy, and international medical insurance covering the whole stay is required (the Paris consulate asks for at least EUR 30,000 of cover). Processing may take up to 90 days; the visa fee is EUR 116.

One of four commitments under art. 26-bis of D.Lgs. 286/1998: at least EUR 2,000,000 in Italian government bonds held for at least two years; at least EUR 500,000 in the capital of a company, or of a venture capital fund, set up and operating in Italy, held for at least two years — or EUR 250,000 where the company is an innovative start-up entered in the special section of the companies register; or a philanthropic donation of at least EUR 1,000,000 to a project of public interest in culture, education, immigration management, scientific research or the recovery of cultural and landscape heritage. The applicant must hold at least EUR 2,000,000 (bonds) or EUR 1,000,000 (the other options) available and transferable to Italy, undertake in writing to make the investment or donation within three months of entering Italy, and have further means of support above the minimum level for exemption from health-care charges. Admitted outside the quota. The permit lasts two years, can be revoked if the investment is not made within three months or is sold before the two years are up, and is renewable for further three-year periods while the money stays invested. Family members who qualify for family reunification may accompany the investor.

The sponsor must hold an Italian residence permit valid for at least one year issued for employment, study, protection or other qualifying grounds. Eligible family members: an adult spouse who is not legally separated; unmarried minor children of the sponsor or spouse; dependent adult children unable to support themselves for serious health reasons; and dependent parents who have no other children in the country of origin, or who are over 65 where other children cannot support them for proven health reasons. The sponsor must show an adequate annual gross income (calculated by reference to the social allowance and household size, published by the Prefectures - the figure was not confirmed here and is left null) and accommodation meeting local housing standards. The family permit carries the same validity as the sponsor's and gives access to employment. The family member needs an entry visa and must request the residence permit within 8 days of arrival. Separately, a spouse of an Italian citizen can naturalise after 2 years of legal residence in Italy (3 years if resident abroad), halved where there are children.