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The Italy Digital Nomad Visa is a residence permit that allows non-EU remote workers to live and work legally in Italy for up to one year. Launched in April 2024 and renewable annually, Launched in April 2024, this visa requires a minimum income of €28,000 per year, health insurance with €30,000 coverage, and proof of remote work for a foreign employer or clients. The application costs €116, takes 30-60 days to process (up to 120 days in some cases), and leads to permanent residency eligibility after five years.
This guide covers everything you need to know about Italy's Digital Nomad Visa in 2026: eligibility requirements, the application process, costs, tax implications, and how to navigate Italian bureaucracy successfully.
TL;DR: Italy Digital Nomad Visa
- Income requirement: €28,000/year minimum (€2,333/month)
- Cost: €116 visa fee + ~€200 residence permit
- Processing time: 30-60 days (up to 120)
- Validity: 1 year, renewable annually
- Best for: Remote workers earning €28k-85k seeking EU base, Schengen access, quality of life
- Not ideal if: You need to work for Italian clients/companies, earn under €28k, or hate bureaucracy
- Path forward: Permanent residency after 5 years → citizenship after 10 years
Who Should Apply? (Quick Assessment)
Italy's Digital Nomad Visa is right for you if:
- You earn €28,000+/year from remote work for non-Italian clients
- You want a legal EU base with path to permanent residency
- You value quality of life and can tolerate bureaucracy
- You're prepared to stay 1+ years (not just passing through)
Consider other options if:
- You need to work for Italian clients (requires different visa)
- You earn under €28,000/year
- You want minimal paperwork (try Portugal or Spain instead)
Italy vs Other European Digital Nomad Visas
Italy Digital Nomad Visa
- Income: €28,000/year
- Duration: 1 year (renewable)
- Tax: 5% flat tax possible (Forfettario)
- Processing: 30-60 days
- Path to PR: 5 years
- Best for: Quality of life seekers, those wanting low tax + EU residency path
Note: Figures for other countries are approximate and change frequently. Verify with official sources before applying.
Spain Digital Nomad Visa
- Income: ~€28,000/year (200% minimum wage)
- Duration: 1 year (renewable to 3)
- Tax: 24% flat tax (Beckham Law for employees)
- Processing: 20-30 days
- Path to PR: 5 years
- Best for: Those wanting faster processing, warmer climate
Portugal Digital Nomad Visa
- Income: ~€3,500/month (~€42,000/year)
- Duration: 1 year (renewable to 2)
- Tax: NHR ended; standard rates apply
- Processing: 60-90 days
- Path to PR: 5 years
- Best for: English speakers, existing expat community
Greece Digital Nomad Visa
- Income: €3,500/month (~€42,000/year)
- Duration: 1 year (renewable to 2)
- Tax: 50% income tax exemption for 7 years
- Processing: 30-60 days
- Path to PR: 5 years
- Best for: Higher earners wanting tax benefits + Mediterranean lifestyle
Bottom line: Italy has the lowest income requirement (€28,000) and best tax regime for self-employed (5% Forfettario). Spain is faster to process. Portugal has the largest English-speaking expat community. Greece offers the best tax deal for employees.
Who Can Apply for Italy's Digital Nomad Visa?
The Italy Digital Nomad Visa (officially "Visa for Remote Workers") is available to non-EU citizens who work remotely for employers or clients outside Italy. EU/EEA citizens don't need this visa — they have automatic right to live and work in Italy.
Basic Eligibility Requirements
To qualify, you must meet ALL of the following:
1. Non-EU/EEA nationalityThe visa is exclusively for citizens of countries outside the European Union and European Economic Area.
2. Remote work for foreign entitiesYou must work remotely for:
- A company based outside Italy, OR
- Clients located outside Italy (if self-employed/freelance)
You cannot use this visa to work for Italian companies or serve Italian clients as your primary income source.
3. Highly qualified professional statusYou must demonstrate "highly qualified" status through ONE of:
- A Bachelor's degree (three-year higher education) or higher
- Professional registration in a regulated field (e.g., licensed architect, accountant)
- Five years of documented work experience in your field (three years for ICT professionals)
You need at least six months of prior experience in remote work or your professional field.
5. Clean criminal recordNo serious criminal convictions that would make you inadmissible to Italy.
Qualifying Professions
Italy doesn't publish an exhaustive list, but these professions are routinely approved:
- Software developers and programmers
- Web designers and UX/UI designers
- Digital marketers and SEO specialists
- Content writers and copywriters
- Graphic designers
- Data analysts and data scientists
- Project managers
- Consultants (business, IT, management)
- Online educators and course creators
- Video editors and content producers
Income and Financial Requirements
Minimum Income: €28,000 Per Year
You must demonstrate a minimum annual income of €28,000 (approximately €2,333 per month) from legal sources. This threshold equals three times the income level that exempts Italian residents from healthcare system contributions.
How to prove income:For employees:
- Employment contract showing salary
- Recent pay slips (3-6 months)
- Bank statements showing regular deposits
- Tax returns from your home country
For freelancers/self-employed:
- Client contracts
- Invoices from the past 6-12 months
- Bank statements showing client payments
- Tax returns or accountant's letter confirming income
If bringing dependents, income thresholds increase:
- With spouse: approximately €34,087/year
- Each dependent child: add approximately €1,550/year
Proof of Accommodation
You must provide evidence of where you'll live in Italy:
- Signed rental contract, OR
- Hotel/Airbnb booking for initial period, OR
- Letter of invitation from an Italian resident (with their ID and proof of residence)
A long-term rental agreement is preferred, but consulates accept hotel bookings for the initial visa period.
Savings (Recommended)
While not officially required beyond the income threshold, having savings equivalent to 3-6 months of expenses strengthens your application and demonstrates financial stability.
Health Insurance Requirements
You must have comprehensive health insurance that covers:
- Medical treatment
- Hospitalization
- Emergency repatriation
The policy must be valid for the entire duration of your stay. Italian consulates are strict about this — travel insurance won't suffice. You need a proper international health insurance policy or expat health coverage.
Options:- International health insurance (SafetyWing, Cigna, Allianz Global) — €80-200/month
- Italian private health insurance — Available after arrival
- SSN (public healthcare) — Available after obtaining residence permit, but doesn't satisfy visa requirements
Required Documents
Gather these documents before your consulate appointment:
Essential Documents
- Passport — Valid for at least 15 months beyond intended stay, with at least two blank pages
- Completed visa application form — Available from Italian consulate website
- Passport photos — Two recent photos meeting Schengen visa specifications
- Proof of income — Employment contract, pay slips, tax returns, bank statements
- Health insurance certificate — Showing €30,000+ coverage, valid for Italy
- Proof of accommodation — Rental contract or booking confirmation
- Criminal record certificate — From your country of residence, apostilled or legalized
- Proof of qualifications — Degree certificates or proof of work experience
- Proof of remote work status — Employment contract specifying remote work, or client contracts for freelancers
For Employees of Foreign Companies
If employed by a company outside Italy, you'll also need:
- Letter from employer confirming:
- Your remote work arrangement
- Your salary and employment terms
- That the company has no convictions for labor law violations, illegal immigration, or exploitation
- Company registration documents — Proving the employer is a legitimate business
For Freelancers/Self-Employed
- Client contracts or letters confirming ongoing engagements
- Portfolio or evidence of professional work
- Business registration (if applicable in your home country)
- Invoices from past 6-12 months
Step-by-Step Application Process
Step 1: Gather Documents (2-4 weeks before appointment)
Collect all required documents. Start early — getting apostilles, translations, and employer letters takes time.
Step 2: Book Consulate Appointment
Contact the Italian consulate or embassy in your country of residence to schedule an in-person appointment. Wait times vary significantly — some consulates have 2-3 week waits, others may have 2-3 month backlogs.
Tip: Book your appointment before you have all documents ready. You can gather documents while waiting.Step 3: Attend Visa Appointment
Appear in person with all documents and the visa fee (€116, non-refundable). The appointment typically includes:
- Document review
- Brief interview about your work and plans in Italy
- Biometric data collection (fingerprints)
Be prepared to explain:
- What work you do remotely
- Who your employer/clients are
- Why you want to live in Italy
- Your accommodation plans
Step 4: Wait for Processing (30-60 days, up to 120)
Processing typically takes 30-60 days, though it can extend to 120 days during busy periods or if documents need clarification. Times vary by consulate. You can track status through your consulate.
If approved, you'll receive a visa sticker in your passport valid for entry into Italy.
Step 5: Enter Italy and Apply for Residence Permit (within 8 days)
After arriving in Italy, you must apply for a Permesso di Soggiorno (residence permit) within 8 working days. This is done at your local Questura (police headquarters).
Residence permit process:- Get the kit — Purchase a "kit" from any post office (Poste Italiane) for around €30
- Fill out forms — Complete the application forms in the kit
- Submit at post office — Take the completed kit to a designated post office ("sportello amico")
- Attend Questura appointment — You'll receive an appointment date for fingerprinting and photo
- Collect permit — Return to collect your residence permit (can take 1-3 months)
- Passport with visa
- Same documents you submitted for visa
- Proof of Italian address (utility bill, rental contract)
- Marca da bollo (revenue stamps) — approximately €16
- Payment of €100-200 permit fee
Costs Breakdown
Item: Cost
Visa application fee: ~€116 (adjusts quarterly)
Document translations: €50-200
Apostilles/legalization: €50-150
Health insurance (annual): €1,000-2,500
Residence permit: ~€200
**Total first-year costs**: **€1,400-3,200**
Ongoing annual costs:- Residence permit renewal: ~€200
- Health insurance: €1,000-2,500 (until eligible for SSN)
Timeline: From Application to Living in Italy
Stage: Timeframe
Document preparation: 2-4 weeks
Consulate appointment wait: 2-12 weeks (varies)
Visa processing: 4-8 weeks (up to 16 in busy periods)
Travel to Italy: Your choice
Residence permit application: Within 8 days of arrival
Residence permit issued: 4-12 weeks
**Total process**: **3-7 months typically**
Taxes for Digital Nomads in Italy
Once you have a residence permit and spend more than 183 days per year in Italy, you become an Italian tax resident. This means Italy taxes your worldwide income — not just what you earn in Italy.
Tax Regimes for Digital Nomads
Italy offers two favorable tax regimes for new residents:
1. Regime Forfettario (Flat Tax for Self-Employed)Best for: Freelancers earning under €85,000/year
- Tax rate: 5% for first 5 years (if you meet startup criteria), then 15%
- Taxable income: Only a percentage of revenue is taxed (varies by profession — typically 67-78%)
- No VAT: You don't charge VAT, but can't deduct VAT on expenses
- Simple accounting: Minimal bookkeeping requirements
- Taxable amount: €60,000 × 67% = €40,200
- Tax (5% startup rate): €2,010
- Effective rate: ~3.4%
Best for: Employees and higher earners with specialized qualifications
- Tax exemption on portion of income for qualifying new residents
- Eligibility and exemption rates changed significantly in 2024 (Legislative Decree 209/2023)
- Must meet qualification requirements and commit to multi-year Italian tax residency
- Important: Rules have changed — consult an Italian tax professional for current eligibility and rates
- Must not have been Italian tax resident for 3 prior years (6-7 years if same employer abroad)
- 60% exemption (only 40% taxable) if relocating with dependent child under 18
Social Security Contributions
In addition to income tax, you'll owe social security contributions (INPS):
- Self-employed: approximately 25-26% of taxable income
- Employees: split between employer and employee
Important Tax Considerations
- Get a commercialista — An Italian accountant is essential for navigating the tax system
- Codice fiscale first — You'll need this tax ID before you can do anything in Italy
- Double taxation treaties — Italy has treaties with most major countries to avoid being taxed twice
Renewal and Long-Term Options
Annual Renewal
The Digital Nomad Visa residence permit is valid for one year and renewable annually, as long as you continue to meet the requirements:
- Still working remotely for foreign entities
- Still earning at least €28,000/year
- Still have valid health insurance
- Haven't committed crimes
Renewal is done at your local Questura before your current permit expires.
Path to Permanent Residency
After 5 continuous years of legal residence in Italy, you can apply for:
Permesso di Soggiorno UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo (EU Long-Term Residence Permit)This gives you:
- Permanent right to live in Italy
- Right to work for Italian companies
- Easier travel/residence in other EU countries
- No more annual renewals
Path to Italian Citizenship
After 10 years of continuous legal residence, you can apply for Italian citizenship through naturalization. Requirements include:
- Clean criminal record
- Italian language proficiency (B1 level minimum)
- Financial stability
- Integration into Italian society
Family Reunification
You can bring immediate family members to Italy:
Eligible family members:- Spouse or registered partner
- Minor children
- Dependent adult children (in some cases)
- Dependent parents over 65
- You must first obtain your residence permit
- Apply for family reunification (ricongiungimento familiare) at your local Prefettura
- Prove adequate income to support family (higher thresholds apply)
- Prove adequate housing for family size
- Family members apply for their own visas at Italian consulate
- Add approximately 50% to your income requirement per additional family member
- Prove housing is adequate for family size
Where to Live in Italy as a Digital Nomad
Best Cities for Digital Nomads
Milan- Best coworking scene and tech community
- Highest cost of living
- Fast internet, international environment
- 1-bed apartment: €1,300-1,800/month
- Historic setting, vibrant expat community
- Good balance of cost and amenities
- Variable internet quality by neighborhood
- 1-bed apartment: €1,000-1,500/month
- Artistic atmosphere, walkable city
- Strong language school scene (useful for Italian studies)
- More touristy, smaller job market
- 1-bed apartment: €900-1,200/month
- University city, young population
- Excellent food scene
- More affordable than Milan/Rome
- 1-bed apartment: €800-1,100/month
- Dramatically lower costs
- 7% flat tax may apply (if you qualify as retiree)
- Slower pace, less English spoken
- 1-bed apartment: €500-700/month
Coworking and Internet
Major cities have reliable coworking spaces:
- Milan: Talent Garden, Copernico, WeWork
- Rome: Talent Garden, Alveare, The Hive
- Florence: Impact Hub, Nana Bianca
- Naples: STECCA, Vulcano
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Underestimating bureaucracy — Everything takes longer than expected. Build buffer time.
- Missing the 8-day deadline — Apply for your residence permit immediately upon arrival.
- Insufficient health insurance — Travel insurance won't work. Get proper international coverage.
- No Italian translation — All documents need certified translations.
- Working for Italian clients — This visa is specifically for foreign-source income.
- Forgetting about taxes — You will owe Italian taxes after 183 days. Plan accordingly.
- No Italian bank account — You'll need one for utilities, rent, and daily life. Open early.
- Not hiring a commercialista — DIY tax filing in Italy is extremely difficult. Budget for professional help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work for Italian clients on the Digital Nomad Visa?
No. The visa explicitly requires you to work for employers or clients outside Italy. Working for Italian companies or clients would require a different work permit.
How long can I stay in Italy on this visa?
The visa allows entry; the residence permit allows you to stay for one year. You can renew annually as long as you meet the requirements.
Can I travel to other Schengen countries?
Yes. With your Italian residence permit, you can travel freely within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
What if I earn less than €28,000?
You won't qualify for the Digital Nomad Visa. Alternatives include:
- Tourist visa (90 days, technically no work allowed)
- Student visa (if enrolled in an Italian program)
- Elective Residence Visa (if you have passive income/savings)
Do I need to speak Italian?
Not for the visa application. However, daily life in Italy is much easier with basic Italian. Outside major tourist areas, English is limited. Language also becomes important for citizenship applications (B1 level required).
Can I switch to a different visa type later?
Yes, it's possible to change visa categories while in Italy, though the process varies. Common switches include moving to a self-employment visa or work visa if you find Italian employment.
Is there a quota or cap on Digital Nomad Visas?
As of 2026, no. Italy hasn't implemented a quota system for this visa category.
Alternative Visas for Remote Workers
If the Digital Nomad Visa doesn't fit your situation:
Elective Residence Visa
- For those with passive income or savings
- No work requirement (but can work remotely)
- Income threshold: ~€32,000/year
- Best for retirees or those with investment income
Self-Employment Visa
- For freelancers working with Italian clients
- More complex application (requires business plan approval)
- Allows working with Italian companies
Golden Visa
- For investors (€250,000+ in startups or €500,000+ in companies)
- No income requirements
- Fastest path to residency
Is Italy's Digital Nomad Visa Worth It?
Yes, if:- You want a legal, long-term base in Europe
- You value quality of life over maximum tax optimization
- You're prepared for bureaucracy
- You earn between €28,000-85,000 (optimal for Forfettario tax regime)
- You want a path to EU permanent residency and citizenship
- You need to work with Italian clients
- You can't tolerate bureaucratic delays
- You earn under €28,000
- You prioritize low taxes above all else (Portugal NHR is gone, but other options exist)
Italy's Digital Nomad Visa isn't the simplest or cheapest option, but for those seeking long-term European residency combined with exceptional quality of life, it's one of the best paths available in 2026.
Related Guides
- Living in Italy: Complete Expat Guide
- Cost of Living in Italy 2026
- Elective Residency Visa Italy
- Italy Golden Visa
- Taxes in Italy
- Best Places to Live in Italy
Updated: February 2026 Sources: Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Italian Consulates, Global Citizen Solutions, official Questura guidelines