Digital Nomad Visa for Italy: how do you prove you are a digital nomad?

Italy allows highly qualified non-EU nationals to live in the country and carry out their professional activity remotely through the visa for digital nomads and remote workers. To obtain it, however, working online is not enough: applicants must prove that they meet the professional, financial and insurance requirements laid down by law and that they carry out their activity as digital nomads.

Who can apply for the digital nomad visa?

The law distinguishes between digital nomads, who are self-employed, and remote workers, who work as employees. Both categories must carry out a highly qualified activity, demonstrating that they have adequate training or the required professional experience.

In both cases, at least six months of experience in the activity the applicant intends to carry out in Italy as a digital nomad must be documented before submitting the visa application.

How do you prove your status as a digital nomad and highly skilled worker?

To demonstrate their skills as digital nomads and highly skilled workers, applicants may submit previous contracts, engagement letters, agreements with clients, invoices and other documents certifying the nature and duration of their professional experience. To prove high skills and professional qualifications, the same conditions apply as for workers applying for an EU Blue Card, so the worker can demonstrate:

a) a tertiary-level higher education qualification or a post-secondary professional qualification, issued by the competent authority in the country where it was obtained, certifying the completion of a higher education program lasting at least three years;

b) the requirements laid down by Legislative Decree No. 206 of 6 November 2007, exclusively for the practice of regulated professions;

c) higher professional skills attested by at least 5 years of professional experience relevant to the profession or sector in which they intend to work;

d) for IT specialists only, higher professional skills attested by at least 3 years of relevant professional experience acquired in the 7 years preceding the visa application.

What requirements must be met?

In addition to professional qualifications, the applicant must prove that they have a lawful annual income sufficient to support their stay. The law sets a threshold equal to three times the amount required for exemption from healthcare cost-sharing (approximately €28,000 gross).

Tax returns and other documents relating to the previous year’s earnings are useful to prove financial means. Employees may also submit their employment contract or a binding job offer, which must meet the salary requirements laid down by law.

It is also necessary to have health insurance valid in Italy for the entire stay and to document suitable accommodation, for example through a lease agreement or a deed of ownership of a property in Italy. For employees, the employer must also provide the declaration required by law confirming the absence of relevant convictions under immigration law in the last five years.

How is the application submitted?

The procedure begins at the competent Italian embassy or consulate in the country of residence, where the visa must be requested and the necessary documentation submitted. For this category, no prior work authorization (nulla osta) is required.

After entering Italy, the applicant must apply for a residence permit within eight working days at the competent Police Headquarters (Questura), presenting the documents already submitted for the visa.

The permit is generally valid for one year and is renewable if the professional, income and insurance requirements continue to be met. Renewal therefore depends on maintaining the required conditions, not merely on holding the initial permit.

What are the tax and social security obligations?

Staying in Italy may give rise to tax and social security obligations even when the employer or clients are located abroad. The situation must be assessed by considering tax residence, the length of stay and any applicable international tax treaties.

Self-employed professionals will need to open a VAT number (partita IVA), which is not issued automatically with the residence permit but is a separate, additional requirement usually handled with the help of an accountant (commercialista).

Conclusions

To prove that you are a digital nomad in Italy, you must submit documents certifying your professional experience, the qualified nature of your activity, your financial means, your health insurance and your accommodation.

Preparing consistent documentation and checking the current requirements with the competent consulate are essential steps to handle the procedure correctly and to prevent the consulate from requesting additional documents and/or assessing the application negatively.

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The content of this article is intended to provide general information on the topic. For doubts or specific cases, it is advisable to seek specialized legal advice tailored to your particular situation.

Article written by Alessia Ajelli, Managing Associate of LCA Studio Legale, Italian lawyer specialized on Italian immigration and citizenship law, and Paolo Grassi, Trainee of LCA Studio Legale.