Legal basis: Art. 27-quater D.Lgs 286/1998, amended by DL 20/2023. Italy's dedicated visa for highly skilled remote workers and freelancers from non-EU countries.

Who Qualifies?

  • Non-EU / non-EEA nationality
  • Work remotely using digital tools and technology
  • Employer or clients established outside Italy
  • Minimum gross income: €28,000/year (2026)
  • No criminal record
  • Valid health insurance covering Italy (min. €30,000)

The 9-Step Process

1
Confirm eligibility: income, activity type, and nationality
You must: (a) be a non-EU/non-EEA national, (b) carry out work activity remotely using digital tools, (c) work for employers or clients established outside Italy, and (d) earn a minimum gross income of €28,000/year (2026 threshold — adjusted annually for inflation). Acceptable work types: remote employee, freelancer, sole trader, consultant, or digital entrepreneur. Italian nationals and EU citizens do not need this visa.
💡 Tip: The €28,000 income threshold is gross — before tax. You must prove this with tax returns, contracts, payslips, or bank statements covering the last 12 months.
2
Secure accommodation in Italy — registered rental contract required
You must have a fixed address in Italy before submitting your visa application. This must be a registered rental contract (contratto di locazione registrato all'Agenzia delle Entrate) or property ownership. Sublets and informal arrangements are not accepted. Short-term Airbnb rentals are generally not accepted — you need a contract of at least 12 months. A furnished apartment rental in a major city typically costs €800–€1,800/month.
💡 Tip: Consider cities with a strong expat/nomad community: Milan (fashion, finance, tech), Rome (culture, government), Bologna (food, academia), Palermo (affordable, sunny), Turin (tech, automotive).
3
Obtain comprehensive health insurance (minimum €30,000 coverage)
You must have health insurance valid in Italy covering the entire duration of your stay (minimum 1 year) with at least €30,000 coverage for medical emergencies, hospitalisation, and repatriation. International health insurance plans from providers like Cigna Global, AXA, Allianz Care, SafetyWing, or Foyer Global Health are accepted. Annual cost: €400–€2,500 depending on age, coverage level, and provider.
4
Prepare the complete document package — apostilled and translated
Required documents: (1) Valid passport (min. 1 year remaining validity + 2 blank pages). (2) Completed visa application form. (3) 2 recent passport photos. (4) Registered rental contract or property deed for Italian accommodation. (5) Proof of income for last 12 months: employment contract + 3 months payslips, or freelance contracts + tax returns + bank statements. (6) International health insurance certificate (min. €30k coverage). (7) Clean criminal record certificate from your country of residence, apostilled. (8) Statement of purpose explaining your remote work activity. All foreign documents must be apostilled and officially translated into Italian.
💡 Tip: Get your criminal record certificate early — in the USA this requires an FBI background check which takes 3–5 weeks. In the UK, a DBS check takes 1–3 weeks.
5
Book your consulate appointment via Prenot@mi and pay the visa fee
Apply at the Italian consulate or embassy in your country of legal residence. Use the Prenot@mi booking system (prenotami.esteri.it) to schedule your appointment. Visa fee: €116 for a Type D national long-stay visa. Some consulates accept appointments 2–4 months in advance. Bring all original documents plus copies. The consulate officer will interview you briefly about your remote work activity.
6
Enter Italy on your Type D national visa
Once approved (typically 2–4 weeks after your consulate appointment), you receive a Type D national visa (visto nazionale per lavoro autonomo/dipendente da remoto). This visa is valid for 1 year and allows you to enter Italy and remain for the full duration. Enter before the visa expiry date — the clock on your 'first 8 working days' starts from your entry date.
7
Apply for the Permesso di Soggiorno within 8 working days of arrival
Within 8 working days of entering Italy, you must apply for a Permesso di Soggiorno (residence permit) at a designated Sportello Amico post office. Bring: passport + visa, completed kit postale forms (available at the post office), €107.50 in revenue stamps (marche da bollo) plus €30 post office fee, 4 passport photos, lease contract. You receive a receipt (ricevuta) immediately — this is your legal proof of pending status. The actual permit card is issued in 2–6 months.
💡 Tip: Do NOT miss the 8-working-day deadline. Overstaying without a pending permesso application is a violation that can result in removal from Italy and a re-entry ban.
8
Register residenza anagrafica at your Comune
Within 20 days of establishing your habitual residence in Italy, register at the Ufficio Anagrafe of your Comune (town hall). Bring: passport, permesso di soggiorno receipt, rental contract. A Comune officer may visit your address within 45 days to verify residency. Once registered, you receive your residency certificate (certificato di residenza) and can apply for your Codice Fiscale (Italian tax code) at the Agenzia delle Entrate — essential for bank accounts, phone contracts, and tax obligations.
9
Renew your Permesso di Soggiorno and plan your long-term path
The DNV permit is issued for 1 year, renewable for a further 1 year (maximum 2 years total on the DNV). After 5 years of continuous legal residency in Italy, you can apply for the EC Long-Term Residence Permit (permesso CE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo) which has no expiry. After 10 years, you may be eligible for naturalisation (Italian citizenship by Art. 9 L. 91/1992). Consider the Impatriate Regime tax benefit from year 1 — it gives you a 50% or 70% income tax exemption for 5–10 years.

Tax Strategy: Impatriate Regime + DNV

The Digital Nomad Visa is one of the few Italian visas that can be combined from day one with the Impatriate Workers Regime (D.Lgs 209/2023). This combination is extremely powerful:

Standard IRPEF (without regime)

Income €60,000 → IRPEF approx. €18,500/year

With Impatriate Regime (50%)

Income €60,000 → taxed on €30,000 → IRPEF approx. €6,900/year. Saving: ~€11,600/year

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work for Italian clients on a Digital Nomad Visa?
The Digital Nomad Visa requires that your employer or clients are established outside Italy. Working for Italian-based clients is not permitted under this visa. If you want to work for Italian clients, you would need a different permit — typically a self-employment permit (permesso per lavoro autonomo) or to open an Italian VAT number (Partita IVA) and establish tax residency.
Is the €28,000 income threshold per person or per household?
The €28,000 minimum income threshold applies per individual applicant. If you bring a dependent spouse or children, their presence does not increase the income requirement for the DNV itself — however, for the permesso di soggiorno renewal, authorities may consider household income. Family members can join via family reunification (ricongiungimento familiare) if you hold a valid permesso.
Can I combine the Digital Nomad Visa with the Impatriate Regime tax benefit?
Yes — this is one of the most tax-efficient combinations available. Once you establish Italian tax residency (register at the Comune and obtain your Codice Fiscale), you can elect the Impatriate Workers Regime in your first Italian tax return. This exempts 50% of your Italian-source income from IRPEF (70% if you relocate to southern Italy). Valid for 5 years, extendable to 10 years if you buy a property or have dependent children in Italy.
What happens if my income drops below €28,000 during my stay?
The income threshold is assessed at application and renewal. If your income drops significantly during the permit period, it does not automatically invalidate your existing permit. However, at renewal you must demonstrate you still meet the €28,000 threshold. If you cannot meet it at renewal, you would need to change your permit category or leave Italy. We strongly recommend maintaining documented evidence of consistent income throughout your stay.