Digital Nomads and Remote Workers

Visa for Digital Nomads and Remote Workers

The “Digital Nomad“ and “Remote Worker” visa is intended for foreign citizens who want to carry out highly qualified work activity in Italy pursuant to Article 27 quater, paragraph 1 of Legislative Decree 286/98.

The visa is intended for so-called “Digital Nomads” i.e., foreigners who will carry out self-employment activities through the use of technological tools that allow them to work remotely, or “Remote Workers” i.e., those who, through the use of technological tools that allow working remotely, will carry out subordinate work or collaboration activities in accordance with the procedures set out in Article 2, paragraph 1, of Legislative Decree No. 81 of 15 June 2015.

Please note that citizens of third countries listed in Annex II of EU Regulation 2018/1806 will also need to apply for a “Digital Nomad” or “Remote Worker” visa.

How to apply for a visa

Applications must be submitted exclusively through VMS. The period of consideration may take up to 90 days for “Remote Workers” and 120 days for “Digital Nomads.” An insufficiently complete application may be rejected or result in extended processing times.

On the day of the appointment, you will need to provide the following documents:

Application form duly completed and signed; For details
A valid passport (and a copy) that meets the following criteria: For details
1. the validity period must be at least three months longer than the requested visa;
2. it must contain at least two blank pages;
3. it must have been issued within the last 10 years;
One photo of established format: white background, dated less than 6 months ago. Dimensions: 35 mm wide × 45 mm high (3.5 × 4.5 cm). Resolution: At least 600 dpi to ensure sharpness. Format: Color (no black and white or sepia); For details
Original and copy of a national passport with valid registration in the Saint Petersburg Consular demarcation: Saint Petersburg and Leningrad region, Murmansk, Pskov, Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Veliky Novgorod and the relevant regions as well as the Republic of Karelia; For details
Copy of any previous Schengen or “D” visas;
When submitting the visa application, both “Digital Nomads” and “Remote Workers” must demonstrate:
1. to be highly qualified workers pursuant to Article 27 quater, paragraph 1 of Legislative Decree 286/98. To this end, the applicant must provide documents certifying:
  1. Possession of a tertiary level higher education qualification (issued by a competent University in the country where it was obtained) which certifies the completion of a higher education course lasting at least three years or a post-secondary level professional qualification lasting at least three-years or corresponding at least to level 6 of the National Qualifications Framework referred to in the decree of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policies of 8 January 2018, on “Establishment of the National Qualifications Framework issued within the scope of the National Skills Certification System referred to in the legislative decree of 16 January 2013, n. 13″, published in the Official Journal no. 20 of 25 January 2018.
    
    If the qualification was obtained in a non-EU country, it must be presented in original with an apostille. The visa application must also include a declaration of value (DDV) for the qualification, which can be requested from the Legalization Office of the Consulate General (https://conssanpietroburgo.esteri.it/ru/servizi-consolari-e-visti/servizi-per-il-cittadino-straniero/dichiarazioni-di-valore-in-loco/) or a Declaration of Comparability issued by CIMEA (https://www.cimea.it/EN/). The aforementioned documents must be submitted in duplicate, both a simple copy and an original document; the original will be returned to the interested party.
  2. Possession of the requirements set out in Legislative Decree no. 206 of 6 November 2007 for the exercise of regulated professions.
    
    Possession of these requirements must be certified prior to the visa application by one of the Italian authorities listed in Article 5 of Legislative Decree No. 206 of 6 November 2007 (see List of regulated professions and competent authorities – impresainungiorno.gov.it). For visa purposes, the applicant must therefore present an original or a copy of the aforementioned certification.
  3. Possession of a higher professional qualification attested by at least five years of professional experience of a level comparable to tertiary level higher education qualifications, relevant to the profession or sector specified in the employment contract or binding offer;
    
    To prove possession of this requirement, the applicant must present the following documents issued by public authorities in the country where this experience was obtained (e.g. Chamber of Commerce, municipality, competent public bodies, social security bodies, etc.):
    
    - Company identification data and the specific sector of activity in which the company operates or has operated;
    
    - The position held by the interested party within the company (owner, partner, employee);
    
    - Copy of the employment contract and/or copies of pay slips relating to the period of work carried out (at least two for each year declared);
    
    - Certification from the employer with a description of the experience achieved within the company and indication of the starting and ending dates of the relationship.
  4. Possession of a higher professional qualification attested by at least three years of relevant professional experience acquired in the seven years preceding the submission of the application, if the applicant is a manager or specialist in the field of information and communication technologies referred to in the ISCO classification -08, no. 133 and n. 25.
    
    The documentation referred to in clauses i, ii, and iiii, issued by authorities/subjects NOT belonging to EU countries must be presented in original (or notarized copy) with an Apostille and translation into Italian. The translation must be certified as compliant with the original text by the competent Diplomatic Consular Representation for the territory (documentation referred to in clauses i, ii and iiii) after the aforementioned procedures must be accompanied by a copy along with the original).
    
    In particular, with reference to the higher education qualification and related tertiary level professional qualification, referred to in clause 1, in place of the Declaration of Value it is possible to present the comparability certificate issued by the Information Center on Mobility and Academic Equivalences (CIMEA (https://www.cimea.it/EN/) (in original and copy).
2. Have a minimum annual income deriving from legitimate sources that is not less than three times the minimum level required for exemption from participation in healthcare spending (the minimum level is currently equal to 8,263 euros and increased up to 11,362 in the presence of a spouse and 516 for each dependent child);
3. Have health insurance for medical treatment and hospitalization valid for the national territory and for the period of stay;
4. Have suitable documentation relating to the accommodation arrangements:
  
  - a duly registered rental agreement or real estate purchase agreement (two copies and the original, the latter will be returned to the interested party);
5. Have at least six months’ prior experience in the work activity to be carried out as a digital nomad or remote worker.

7. “Remote workers” must also submit:

7.1. the employment or collaboration contract or the related binding offer for the performance of a work activity which requires possession of one of the requirements set out in Article 27-quater, paragraph 1, of Legislative Decree 25 July 1998, no. 286 (in original and in copy).

The amount of the annual salary, as derived from the employment contract or from the binding offer, must not be less than the salary provided for in the national collective agreements stipulated by comparatively more representative trade union associations on a national level, and in any case not less than the average annual gross salary as recorded by ISTAT (approximately 33,500 euros) and available at the following address.

7.2. A declaration signed by the employer, accompanied by a copy of a valid identification document, certifying the absence of convictions, in the last 5 years, for crimes referred to in Article 22, paragraph 5-bis, of the Consolidated Law (in original and in copy).

7.3. Copy of a confirmed travel reservation (flight/train/bus);

7.4. Payment of consular fees.

8. Consent for processing the personal data For details

Visa for family members

Family members (spouse and minor children) may issue a visa for family reasons upon receipt of the required Nulla Osta from the Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione responsible for the residence permit holder’s place of residence.

Residence permit (Il Permesso di soggiorno)

The residence permit must be requested directly from the Questura (Police Headquarters) of the province in which the foreigner is located within eight working days of entering the territory of the State, even if the visa lasts less than 90 days.

For the purposes of applying for a residence permit, the foreigner must show the original documentation presented at the time of the visa request endorsed by the Consulate General.

If necessary, the Consulate General reserves the right to demand any additional documents and/or a personal interview. Submission of all required documents does not guarantee a visa. The above information is subject to change without notice. No responsibility is assumed for the consequences of such changes.