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Italy digital nomad visa: the complete 2026 guide
Italy has a visa made for remote workers. If you earn your living online and you are not an EU citizen, it lets you live in Italy for a year, and renew, without an Italian employer. Here is everything you need to know before you apply.
- Open since 5 April 2024, for non-EU citizens.
- For self-employed digital nomads and employed remote workers.
- You need a highly qualified profile, about €25,000 a year in income, health insurance and a place to live.
- The permit lasts up to 1 year and is renewable. Spouse and minor children can join you.
- No Italian job offer and no work authorisation (nulla osta) needed.
Who can apply
The visa is for citizens of countries outside the European Union. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not need it: they can already live and work in Italy freely.
It covers two kinds of people:
- Digital nomads: self-employed people who work remotely with digital tools. Freelancers, consultants, creators and founders usually fit here.
- Remote workers: employees or contractors who work remotely for a company. The company can be in Italy or abroad.
Your work must be highly qualified. In practice you meet this with one of the following:
- a university degree or post-secondary qualification of at least three years;
- at least five years of relevant professional experience;
- for IT managers and specialists, at least three years of relevant experience in the last seven years;
- for regulated professions, recognition under the Italian rules for that profession.
You also need at least six months of experience working remotely in your field.
Requirements
| Requirement | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Income | At least three times the Italian healthcare exemption threshold. About €24,789 to €25,500 a year, depending on the consulate. See below. |
| Health insurance | Covers medical care and hospital stays in Italy for your whole stay. Many consulates ask for at least €30,000 of cover. |
| Accommodation | Proof of a place to live in Italy, such as a rental contract or property deed. Many consulates ask for a lease registered with the Italian tax office. A hotel booking is often not enough. |
| Qualification | Degree, or enough professional experience (see above). |
| Remote experience | At least six months of remote work in your activity. |
| Clean record | No criminal convictions in the last five years for the offences listed in Italian immigration law. |
| Remote employees only | Your contract or binding job offer, and a signed declaration from your employer. |
How much income you need
The law does not name a fixed number. It asks for a yearly income at least three times the minimum level that exempts Italians from healthcare co-payments.
- The Italian government's own FAQ uses €24,789 a year for a single applicant (€8,263.31 × 3).
- Many consulates now publish €25,500 a year (€8,500 × 3) on their 2026 checklists.
- Remote employees also need a salary in line with Italian collective agreements and not below the national average. Consulates currently put this at about €33,000 a year.
How to apply, step by step
- Find your consulate. Apply at the Italian embassy or consulate responsible for the country where you legally live. Each one publishes its own checklist on its esteri.it website.
- Prepare your documents. Passport, proof of income, proof of qualification and remote experience, health insurance, proof of accommodation, criminal record check, and, for employees, your contract and the employer declaration.
- Book an appointment. Most consulates use the Prenot@mi booking system. Processing times vary: some consulates quote up to 90 to 120 days.
- Get your visa and travel to Italy. The national (type D) visa is valid for up to one year.
- Apply for your residence permit. Within eight working days of arrival, apply at the Questura (police immigration office) of the province where you live. You receive your tax code (codice fiscale) with the permit.
- Self-employed? Open a partita IVA. Digital nomads must register for an Italian VAT number.
Duration and renewal
The residence permit, marked "nomade digitale – lavoratore da remoto", lasts up to one year. You can renew it every year while you still meet the requirements. The decree sets no limit on the number of renewals.
Keep in mind that a renewal can be refused if you spend more than six continuous months outside Italy without a serious reason. After five years of legal stay you can apply for EU long-term residence.
Bringing your family
Your spouse and your minor children can join you through family reunification, with the usual Italian housing and income conditions. Their permit lasts as long as yours and lets them work.
Taxes
The visa does not come with a special tax rate. What matters is where you are tax resident. Under the rules in force since 2024, you usually become an Italian tax resident if, for most of the year (183 days or more in 2026), you live in Italy, have your main personal ties here, are physically present, or are registered as a resident.
Italian tax residents pay tax on their worldwide income, subject to tax treaties. If you qualify, the impatriati regime can reduce the taxable part of your Italian work income to 50% (or 40% with minor children). Check your situation with a qualified Italian tax advisor before you move.
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Join the communityFAQ
How much income do I need for the Italy digital nomad visa?
The rule is at least three times the minimum income for exemption from healthcare co-payments. The government's own example gives about €24,789 a year for a single applicant. Many Italian consulates now round this to €25,500. Remote employees also need a salary in line with Italian averages, which consulates put at around €33,000 a year.
How long does the Italy digital nomad visa last?
The residence permit lasts up to one year. You can renew it every year as long as you still meet the requirements. The decree does not set a maximum number of renewals.
Can my family come with me?
Yes. Your spouse and your minor children can join you through family reunification, with the usual housing and income conditions. Their permit lasts as long as yours.
Do I need an Italian employer or job offer?
No. You can be self-employed with your own clients anywhere, or employed by a company in Italy or abroad. You do not need the usual Italian work authorisation (nulla osta).
Do I pay tax in Italy with a digital nomad visa?
The visa itself does not change your taxes. If you spend most of the year in Italy (183 days or more in 2026), or make Italy your home, you usually become an Italian tax resident. Talk to a tax advisor before you move.
Sources
- Decree of the Minister of the Interior, 29 February 2024, Gazzetta Ufficiale n. 79 of 4 April 2024.
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, art. 27, as amended by Law 25/2022 (Normattiva).
- Ministry of Labour and Ministry of the Interior, official FAQ on digital nomads (7 June 2024).
- Agenzia delle Entrate, Circular 20/E of 4 November 2024 on tax residence.
- Italian visa portal: vistoperitalia.esteri.it.
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules and consular practice change. Always check the checklist of the consulate responsible for you.