Italy is one of the latest countries to announce a visa option for remote workers and the Mediterranean nation is fast hitting the top of many bucket lists. The government, however, haven’t released many details of the programme so many workers are still using the Self Employment Visa option that’s been in place for years. Before you get too excited about sipping aperol spritz by your laptop, be warned, the hoops are quite a lot harder to jump through than most DMVs. Here’s everything you need to know about the Italy Digital Nomad Visa and Self Employment Visa.
What Are The Requirements For The Italy Digital Nomad Visa
Despite being announced in 2022, there are still very few details of the Italy Digital Nomad Visa that should be coming in 2023. All we know so far is that it will be for ‘highly skilled’ workers who meet a to-be-confirmed income requirement. These criteria sadly look likely to exclude a larger portion of the digital nomad community that other country’s equivalents.
Is There An Alternative To The Italy Digital Nomad Visa?
Italy does currently offer a Self Employment Visa which would work for a lot of digital nomads. Upon initial acceptance for the visa, you’ll receive a one year permit which can be renewed every year. After 5 years you will eligible to apply for permanent residency for you and your family, something which isn’t available on most digital nomad visa programmes. It takes about 2 months to secure this visa and will require a visit to your local Italian Embassy.
What Are the Eligibility Criteria For The Italy Self Employment Visa?
- Be a national of a non-EU or non-EEA country
- Have a clean criminal record
- Show proof of accommodation in Italy
- Have health insurance to cover potential medical expenses in Italy for the first 30 days.
- Have an annual gross income of at least €8,500 that was earned one year prior to their visa application.
- Possess a ‘certificate of no impediment’ for them to provide their freelance services and engage in work activities in Italy
- Provide proof of sufficient funds.
Other Countries Offering Digital Nomad Visas
If you don’t meet the requirements for the Italian Visa, many other countries are now offering digital nomad visas with more flexible eligibility criteria. You can find more info on 10 of the best here.
