Italy work visa, the good life, woo. At least once in one’s life, everyone should experience the Italian way of life.
Italy is a fantastic country to live in and work in due to its pleasant weather, an abundance of delicious food, relaxed culture, and fascinating history.
Forget about your wildest dreams for a moment and consider the practical considerations of moving to Italy and obtaining a visa and a work permit.
What to know before applying for an Italy work visa
It’s important to check your eligibility for an Italy work visa before applying. The Italian government only accepts applications for work permits for a short period once every year or two, depending on the health of the Italian labor market and immigration policies.
Moreover, Italy has a limited capacity to grant work visas.
Decreto Flussi simply means “flow edict.” In 2019, the Italian government opened the Decreto Flussi in April, with a cap of 30,850 work permits. The Decreto Flussi is the Italian law that regulates the issuance of work permits for seasonal and year-round employees of the Italian government.
As a result, the following conditions are necessary to apply for Italy work visa:
- Decreto Flussi can be accessed
- We are still short of our annual quota.
- You have an Italian employer who will submit the paperwork for your work visa (Nulla Osta)*
- An employment authorization document has been issued to you.
- Obtaining a “Nulla Osta al lavoro” (Work Permit) in Italy is necessary.
- A Nulla Osta must be requested by your employer from the Immigration Office (Sportello Unico d’Immigrazione – SUI) in the province in which the business is located.
- If a foreigner already residing in Italy wishes to change their existing student or training residence permit to a work residence visa, the Italian government will issue them a work permit.
Tips on how to get Italy work visa
Let’s say you’ve decided to move to Italy from another country in search of employment. Alas, non-EU citizens need to have a job offer in hand before they may apply for an Italy Work Visa (among other requirements).
Non-EU citizens must complete all three steps of a three-step process to obtain residency and employment authorization in Italy.
To obtain an Italy work visa, you must first secure employment with an Italian company (they have to apply for your work authorization in Italy).
Your company must first receive and issue you your work permit before you can do any of the following:
Visit the Italian Embassy or Consulate in your country to apply for Italy work visa. Only if you have the work visa you can:
Travel to Italy and apply for a Residence Permit if you want to live and work there legally.
It’s also important to note that the window of opportunity to apply for an Italian work visa is quite small.
The Italian government also establishes annual quotas for the number of non-EU citizens to whom work visas will be issued.
Documents to provide when applying for Italy work visa
There is a specific collection of documentation you’ll need to submit with your application for a work visa to Italy. When applying for a work visa in Italy, you must also meet the following conditions:
- A photocopy of the signed employment agreement.
- Your original Nulla Osta and a duplicate.
- Application for a Long-Term Stay Visa in Italy, duly filled out.
- Valid passport having at least three months of validity remaining beyond the visa’s expiration date and at least two blank pages.
- Passport photographs.
- Accommodation confirmation in Italy.
- Submit evidence that you have the means to support yourself.
- Receipt for visa application fee payment.
- Completion of a course of study leading to a diploma or equivalent qualification.
This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all necessary conditions.
However, you should always check with the relevant government in the nation or jurisdiction where you want to apply for a work visa, as requirements such as those for Italy can vary generally from one instance to the next.
Furthermore, it is also your responsibility to provide your Italian employer with the materials they require to apply for your work visa.
Since your employer is the one who applies for your work permit with the Immigration office in their province (and each immigration office has various requirements), you should inquire with them as to what paperwork you’ll need to bring in.
Location and time to apply for an Italy work visa
Employers in Italy are responsible for forwarding work permits issued by the Italian immigration office (usually electronically).
The Italian government also informs the Italian diplomatic mission or consulate in your home country that you intend to apply for a work visa there.
If your nation does not have an Italian diplomatic mission, you will need to submit your application through the Visa Application Center or the diplomatic mission of one of the other Schengen countries to whom Italy has outsourced visa processing.
After you have gathered all the required documents and filled out the Italy Visa Application Form, you must apply in person.
The Italian government will therefore evaluate your application for a work visa and let you know if you’ve met their standards.
If you are granted a work visa to Italy, you will have six months from the date of issuance to retrieve the visa and enter the country.
What happens after you apply for Italy work visa?
Your Italy work visa only gives you eight days to apply for a Permesso di Soggiorno card (residence permit).
The local post office is where you need to go to apply for a residency permit. You’ll need to bring in your work visa and work permit when you apply, along with other paperwork to prove your eligibility.
Once you’ve done that, you can get your Italian residence permit from the Foreign Department (Ufficio Stranieri) of your local Italian Police Headquarters (Questura).
How long is the Italy work visa valid?
An Italian work visa will typically be valid for the length of the employment contract, but no more than two years. In practice, it has a 5-year renewal period.
Steps to apply for an Italy work visa
If you are not a citizen of the European Union but would still like to work in Italy, you will need to start making arrangements as soon as possible.
- Finding a company willing to hire you should be your first step.
- The company will subsequently apply for your work visa.
- As soon as Italy begins accepting visa applications, you can submit your application for a work visa.
We’ll walk you through everything from finding a job and obtaining a work permit to securing a permanent abode and organizing the necessary paperwork.
How to get Italy work visa?
The best way to get a work visa in Italy is to find an Italian employer who is willing to recruit you.
Your Italian employer will apply for your work permit (nulla osta al lavoro) to the local Immigration and Naturalization Service (Sportello Unico for I’Immigrazione).
Your company will notify the consulate or embassy in your home country and provide you with a digital copy of your work permit once it has been approved.
You have 6 months from the time you receive the Nulla Osta to submit your application for a work visa at the Italian consulate or embassy in your country of residence.
You will have six months from the time your visa is approved to collect it and enter Italy.
There are a few things you and your company will need to apply for a work permit and a work visa, respectively. In this section, you’ll get the complete rundown.
Italy work visa requirements
To get an Italian work visa, you’ll need the following things:
- Application form for an Italian Long-Stay Visa.
- Proof that the visa fee was paid.
- A copy of the signed contract for your job.
- The original and the copy of your Nulla Osta.
- Valid passport and copies.
- Two recently taken photographs suitable for use in a passport.
- Documentation of a place to stay in Italy.
- Proof of sufficient finance.
- A copy of the flight plan.
- Health and travel insurance that covers Italy must be shown.
- Diplomas and other supporting documents.
Also, the processing time for a work visa to Italy is usually between 2 and 30 days. When your visa is approved, your local embassy will let you know, and you’ll have 6 months to pick it up.
FAQ
How long can I stay in Italy without a visa?
This regulation is strictly enforced in Italy. Tourists and business travelers from the United States can stay in Italy for up to 90 days without a visa. Complete a “declaration of presence” if you are not a resident of the country (dichiarazione di presenza).
Can I get a PR in Italy?
Permanent residency in Italy can be applied for after five years of living there on a temporary visa. You will be free to live and work in other EU countries without a visa or work permit, just like Italian citizens.
Conclusion
Italy welcomes citizens of other EU member states to work in the country without the need for a work visa or authorization.
Those from the other countries that make up the EEA can also legally work in Italy without any restrictions. Non-EU/EEA nationals working in Italy will require a special work visa known as a Nulla Osta.
Work visas in Italy are classified as Long-Stay visas, commonly known as National or D-Visas. It’s worth emphasizing that the Italian work visa does not guarantee employment once an individual arrives in Italy.
They will need to apply for a residence permit upon arriving in Italy if they intend to remain there.