In short. Italy’s digital nomad and remote worker visa lets non-EU citizens live in Italy while working remotely, including for clients or employers abroad. It sits outside the Decreto Flussi quotas and no work authorisation (nulla osta) is needed. You need highly qualified work, at least six months’ experience, an annual income of at least three times the Italian health-charge exemption threshold (consulates quote €24,789 or €25,500), health insurance and accommodation. After arrival you apply for the residence permit at the Questura within eight working days.
This guide explains who qualifies, the requirements of the decree of 29 February 2024, the figures consulates actually use, the documents, where to apply from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and Brazil, processing times and what to do once you are in Italy.
Updated on 13 November 2026. Document lists differ from one consulate to another: before booking, always check the page of the Italian office that covers the place where you live.
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What is Italy’s digital nomad and remote worker visa?
It is a national (type D) visa for stays of more than 90 days. The legal basis is Article 27(1)(q-bis) of Italy’s Consolidated Immigration Act (Legislative Decree 286/1998); the practical rules are in the Ministry of the Interior decree of 29 February 2024, published in the Official Gazette on 4 April 2024 and applied from the following day. The decree distinguishes two profiles:
| Digital nomad | Remote worker | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of work | Self-employed: freelancer, consultant, independent professional | Employee or collaborator of an employer or client |
| Contract | Evidence of your business and clients | Employment or collaboration contract, or a binding job offer |
| Nulla osta | No provisional nulla osta needed | No work nulla osta needed |
| Processing time quoted by many consulates | Up to 120 days | Up to 30 days |
| After arrival | You must register for an Italian VAT number (partita IVA) | Your contract is sent to INPS, INAIL and the labour inspectorate |
It is not a visa for anyone who works online: your professional qualification, your experience and whether the job can genuinely be done remotely all count.
What are the Italy digital nomad visa requirements in 2026?
Highly qualified work
The decree refers to the requirements of Article 27-quater(1) of the Consolidated Act, the same as for the EU Blue Card. Consulates ask you to prove at least one of the following:
- a higher education qualification lasting at least three years (for a non-Italian qualification you need a declaration of value or a CIMEA statement of comparability);
- a qualification for a regulated profession;
- at least five years of professional experience at a comparable level;
- for managers and ICT specialists, at least three years of relevant experience in the last seven years.
At least six months’ experience
You need at least six months of previous experience in the work you will do as a digital nomad or remote worker. Contracts, invoices and letters from clients or your employer help to prove it.
Minimum income: the formula and the consulates’ figures
The decree requires an annual income from lawful sources of at least three times the minimum level set for exemption from health-care charges in Italy. It does not give a figure in euros: consulates do, and not all in the same way.
- €24,789 a year: the Embassy in Washington and the consulates in New York, Boston and Los Angeles (amount calculated in 2024);
- €25,500 a year (€8,500 multiplied by three): the Consulate General in London and the consulates in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
For remote workers the salary also matters: it must respect Italian collective agreements and must not be lower than the average gross annual salary calculated by ISTAT, the Italian statistics office. Some offices, such as the Embassy in Washington and the consulates in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, state a precise figure: at least €33,000 gross a year.
Many consulates look at the previous year’s income, shown through payslips, tax returns and bank statements. The consulates in the United States state that passive income, such as Social Security, rents or shares, is not taken into account.
Health insurance
You need insurance covering medical treatment and hospital care, valid in Italy for your whole stay. Many consulates, for example in the United States, Australia and Dubai, ask for minimum cover of €30,000 (in the United States €30,000 or $50,000); the US consulates do not accept the insurance card on its own.
Accommodation
The decree requires documents about your accommodation in Italy. In practice consulates want a rental contract registered with the Italian Revenue Agency or a property deed. The consulates in New York, Boston and Los Angeles add that the lease must be in your name for the whole length of the visa and that hospitality from other people or a hotel stay is not enough.
Contract and employer declaration
Remote workers submit their employment or collaboration contract, or a binding job offer. The employer or client also signs a declaration, with a copy of an identity document, stating that they have no convictions in the last five years for the offences listed in Article 22(5-bis) of the Consolidated Act. If an employer resident in Italy has such convictions, the visa is refused or revoked.
Which documents should you prepare?
The final list is the one published by the competent consulate. You will usually need:
- a valid passport, with the remaining validity the consulate asks for;
- the national visa application form and a photo;
- proof of legal residence in the consulate’s area and, if you are not a citizen of the country where you live, your residence permit there;
- your degree or proof of your qualification, with a declaration of value or CIMEA statement for non-Italian qualifications;
- proof of six months’ experience;
- proof of income: payslips, tax returns, bank statements;
- for remote workers, the contract or binding offer and the employer declaration; for digital nomads, documents about your business and clients;
- a health insurance policy showing cover and dates;
- a registered rental contract or property deed in Italy;
- Italian translations and apostilles or legalisation of foreign documents, where the consulate requires them;
- the consular fee, in the currency and by the payment method the consulate states.
Your documents must tell the same story: dates, role, income and remote work should match across contracts, invoices and bank statements.
Where do you apply?
You apply to the Italian embassy or consulate that covers the place where you legally reside, not the country of your citizenship. This is how it works in the countries most applications come from:
| Country | Competent office | How to apply |
|---|---|---|
| United States | The Embassy in Washington or the consulate covering your state (full list in our guide to the Italy visa for US citizens) | Appointment as instructed by the consulate, often through Prenot@mi; in Houston you choose “national visa” and state “Digital Nomad” or “Remote Work” |
| United Kingdom | The Consulate General in London, for the whole UK (see our guide to the Italy visa for UK citizens) | Appointments only through VFS Global (London, Manchester, Edinburgh); separate pages for digital nomads (self-employed) and remote workers (employees) |
| Canada | The Embassy in Ottawa (Ottawa area) and the consulates general in Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver | Toronto: postal applications only, with Prenot@mi registration for fingerprints; Vancouver: in person with a Prenot@mi appointment; Ottawa: Prenot@mi appointment; Montréal: check the consulate’s current instructions |
| Australia | The consulates in Sydney (New South Wales), Melbourne (Victoria and Tasmania), Brisbane and Perth, according to your state | In person by appointment; Sydney and Melbourne do not accept applications more than 180 days before departure |
| United Arab Emirates | The Embassy in Abu Dhabi (Emirate of Abu Dhabi) and the Consulate General in Dubai (Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain) | Abu Dhabi: Prenot@mi appointment; Dubai: VFS Global visa centre. You need a valid UAE residence visa |
| Brazil | The Embassy in Brasília and the consulates in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre, Curitiba, Belo Horizonte and Recife, according to your state | In Brasília, Prenot@mi appointment; the Embassy states that it has no authorised intermediaries |
Many offices have taken fingerprints for national visas since 11 January 2025. If you live in a country but hold another citizenship, you must prove that you reside there legally.
How long does it take?
The decree sets no deadline. The consulates in Paris, Houston, London, Sydney and Melbourne quote up to 30 days for remote workers and up to 120 days for digital nomads; Toronto quotes 45 to 90 working days. Some offices do not accept applications more than 180 days before departure, so plan your lease and insurance around these timings.
What do you do after arriving in Italy?
- Residence permit within eight working days. You apply directly at the Questura of the province where you are. The permit is called “nomade digitale – lavoratore da remoto”, lasts up to one year and is renewed every year if the requirements and conditions are still met.
- Tax code. The Questura generates your codice fiscale when it issues the permit.
- VAT number. Digital nomads must apply for a partita IVA: see our guide to the VAT number for foreigners.
- Checks. The Questura sends your contract to INPS, INAIL and the labour inspectorate and notifies the Revenue Agency of your permit. The permit is revoked if you do not meet your tax and social security obligations.
- Residence. With your permit you can register with the local registry office (anagrafe): see our guide to registering residence in Italy.
Can your family join you?
Yes. The decree allows family reunification with your spouse and minor children (Article 29(1)(a) and (b) of the Consolidated Act). They receive a residence permit for family reasons lasting as long as yours. The family reunification rules, including income and accommodation, still apply: check them with the consulate or the Questura first and read our guide to family reunification in Italy.
Which mistakes should you avoid?
- Applying to the wrong consulate: what counts is where you legally reside, not your citizenship.
- Using hospitality or a hotel as proof of accommodation, or a lease that does not cover the whole period.
- Bringing only your insurance card instead of the policy showing cover and dates.
- Counting income the consulate does not consider, such as rents or investments.
- Forgetting the declaration of value or CIMEA statement for a non-Italian degree.
- Arriving in Italy and not applying for the permit within eight working days, or not registering for a VAT number if you are a digital nomad.
How do taxes and social security work?
The visa and the permit do not decide on their own where you pay tax: tax residence, the source of your income and double taxation treaties all matter. For social security, any agreement between Italy and your country applies; otherwise Italian rules apply. Read more in our guide to digital nomad taxes in Italy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum income for the Italy digital nomad visa in 2026?
The law uses a formula: at least three times the threshold for exemption from health-care charges. Consulates turn it into different figures: €24,789 a year in the United States, €25,500 in the United Kingdom and Australia. For remote workers some consulates ask for a salary of at least €33,000 gross. Check your consulate’s figure before booking.
Do you really need €28,000?
No, it is not a legal threshold. The figure circulates online, but the consular pages we checked on 13 November 2026 show €24,789 and €25,500 for digital nomads. What counts is the amount stated by the consulate that covers the place where you live.
Do you need the Decreto Flussi or a nulla osta?
No. Entry is outside the Decreto Flussi quotas; digital nomads do not need a provisional nulla osta and remote workers do not need a work nulla osta. All the other requirements still apply and the consulate decides.
How long does the visa take?
Many consulates quote up to 30 days for remote workers and up to 120 days for digital nomads; Toronto quotes 45 to 90 working days. Some offices do not accept applications more than 180 days before departure.
Can I bring my family?
Yes. Your spouse and minor children can obtain family reunification and a residence permit for family reasons lasting as long as yours, provided you meet the income and accommodation requirements set by law.
Official sources
- Ministry of the Interior decree of 29 February 2024 – Official Gazette no. 79 of 4 April 2024 (in Italian)
- Legislative Decree 286 of 25 July 1998 (Consolidated Immigration Act) – Normattiva (in Italian)
- Digital nomad and remote worker visa – Consulate General of Italy in Paris (in Italian)
- Digital nomad / remote worker visa 2026 – Embassy of Italy in Washington (PDF)
- Digital nomad / remote worker visa – Consulate General of Italy in New York
- Digital nomad / remote worker – Consulate General of Italy in Houston
- Digital nomad visa and remote worker visa – Consulate General of Italy in London
- Digital nomad and remote worker national visa – Consulate General of Italy in Toronto
- Visas – Consulate General of Italy in Vancouver
- Digital nomad and remote worker checklist – Consulate General of Italy in Sydney (PDF)
- Digital nomad / remote worker visa – Consulate of Italy in Perth (PDF)
- Digital nomad visa checklist, May 2026 – Consulate General of Italy in Dubai (PDF)
- The consular network – Embassy of Italy in Abu Dhabi
- Consular services and visas – Embassy of Italy in Brasília (in Italian)
- Visa for Italy – Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Sources checked on 13 November 2026. Figures, document lists and booking methods can change: always check the current instructions of the competent office.
How can SH Immigration Specialists help?
SH Immigration Specialists offers administrative help to digital nomads and remote workers: checking your profile, organising your documents to match the competent consulate’s list, declarations of value and translations, and the residence permit application and renewal at the Questura. For your VAT number and tax matters you are supported by SH’s accountant. Legal advice, appeals and representation are handled by the specialist immigration lawyers of SH Immigration Specialists. The outcome depends on the competent authorities. For an assessment, contact us.
This content provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.
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Which other guides may help you?
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- Italy visa for UK citizens: where to apply and which visa you need
- Elective Residence Visa Italy: Requirements, Income and Permit
- Self-Employment Visa and Residence Permit in Italy: Full Guide
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