Please, read carefully all the information provided below.
Documents required to apply for a Digital Nomad or a Remote Worker Visa
What is the visa fee and how can I pay?
How do I submit my application and how do I collect my visa?
Residence Permit once in Italy
DIGITAL NOMAD VISA and REMOTE WORKER VISA
Who can apply for a digital nomad visa?
A digital nomad is a highly skilled worker in the tech sector. He/she can be an autonomous worker using hi-tech tools to create and promote digital contents or, more broadly, a highly skilled independent professional using (digital) technology to carry on his/her activities.
Who can apply for a remote worker visa?
Please note that there is a difference between a digital nomad and a remote worker. A remote worker is a subordinate worker who can use digital tools to work for its employer from abroad or from any place other than a central office operated by the employer. Remote workers may apply for a “subordinate work/remote worker visa”.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR A DIGITAL NOMAD OR A REMOTE WORKER VISA (NATIONAL VISA – longer than 90 days)
REQUIREMENTS COMMON TO BOTH VISA TYPES
a) Application form duly filled out and signed (once printed)
b) Valid passport (original plus photocopy), valid at least 3 months beyond the return date of your trip from Italy and at least with two blank pages for the visa.
c) If the applicant is not a Canadian citizen, Canadian Residence Permit valid at least 3 (three) months beyond the return date of your trip in Italy;
d) Proof of residence (proof of address) in the consular jurisdiction of the Consulate General of Italy in Toronto (utility bill, driving licence, bank statement)
e) Passport-style photo full front and white background and not older than 6 months. Styled poses (looking over one shoulder, head bowed etc.) are not allowed. The head must be free of all headgear, no hats, scarves, headbands or other decorative objects.
f) be able to prove a yearly income deriving from lawful sources for an amount at least equal to the triple of the minimum income level to be exempted in Italy from participating in medical and public assistance (Esenzioni per reddito (salute.gov.it)) .
g) Proof of health insurance that can cover medical and hospitalization expenses in Italy for the entire length of stay;
h) Proof of adequate accommodation;
i) Flight tickets (return trip if at the time of applying for a visa you already know when you will travel back to Canada or to your other destination)
j) Proof of a minimum 6-month experience in the field as a digital nomad or remote worker
k) be highly skilled workers as per Italian Legislative Decree no. 286 of 1998, article 27 quater paragraph. You may demonstrate the possession of (k) requirement by submitting alternatively:
- a diploma, issued by a recognized University in the issuing Country, proving the completion of at least a 3-year course of studies (Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, Ph.D.) or a professional/vocational certificate proving the completion of a post-secondary 3-year course equivalent at least to a level 6 of the Italian Qualification Framework (LINK)
- Proof of the requirements set forth in the Italian Legislative Decree of November 6, 2007, no. 206, ONLY if the work activity carried out falls into the category of regulated professions (List of regulated professions and competent authorities – impresainungiorno.gov.it)
- Possession of a higher vocational qualification attested by at least five years of professional experience of a level comparable to higher education qualifications at tertiary level, relevant to the profession or sector specified in the employment contract or binding offer. To prove possession of this requirement, the applicant must submit the following documents issued by public authorities in the country in which they gained such experience (e.g. Chamber of Commerce, Municipality, relevant Public Authorities, Social Security Institutions, etc.): – identification data of the company 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 employment contract and/or copies of pay slips relating to the period of work performed (at least two for each year declared); – certificate from the employer describing the experience gained within the company and indicating the dates of employment of the company and indication of the dates of commencement and end of employment
- 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 information and communication technology referred to in ISCO-08 classification no. 133 and no. 25.
The documents referred to in (1) (2) and (4) above, issued by authorities/entities NOT belonging to EU countries must be submitted in true copy, after having been legalised or apostilled by the competent Authorities and accompanied by a translation into Italian. The translation must be certified as conforming to the original text. Click here to know more about the Apostille and here for a list of ATIO certified translators.
With reference to the higher education qualification and tertiary level vocational qualification, referred to in point 1, instead of a Declaration of Value you may submit a statement of comparability issued by the Centre for Information on Mobility and Academic Equivalences (CIMEA).
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR REMOTE WORKERS ONLY
Applicant for a remote-work visa, in addition to the aforesaid requirements, must submit also:
- the employment or collaboration contract or the related binding offer to carry out a work activity that requires the possession of one of the requirements set out in Article 27 – quater, paragraph 1, of Legislative Decree No. 286 of 25 July 1998. The amount of the annual salary, as derived from the employment contract or from the binding offer, must not be lower than the salary provided for in the national collective agreements entered into by trade unions that are comparatively more representative at national level, and in any case not less than the average gross annual salary as recorded by ISTAT and available at the following link: Principali aggregati annuali di Contabilità Nazionale : Valori pro capite (istat.it)), and
- a declaration signed by the employer, accompanied by a copy of a valid identification document, certifying the absence of convictions against him/her, in the last 5 years, for offences referred to in Article 22, paragraph 5-bis, of the Consolidated Text. Italian Authorities will carry out random checks on these declarations through Italian Police Headquarters.
WHAT IS THE VISA FEE AND HOW CAN I PAY IT?
National visa fees can be found here. You must include in your postal application (see below) a money order or bank draft for the exact amount in Canadian dollars only, made out to the Consulate General of Italy in Toronto.
Please, note that fees change quarterly.
Make sure to check the current visa fees at the time you apply.
If you provide an incorrect amount, your application will not be processed.
HOW DO I SUBMIT MY APPLICATION and HOW DO I COLLECT MY VISA? (NATIONAL VISA)
If you are applying for a National Visa, this means that you intend to stay in Italy for more than 90 days.
You do not need to book an appointment to submit your application. National Visa applications are received by mail only (not e-mail).
IMPORTANT NOTE: As of January 11, 2025, fingerprints must be acquired even for National Visa Applicants.
(1) Please send all necessary documents, including a money order or bank draft for due consular fees payable to the Consulate General of Italy in Toronto and a prepaid and pre-addressed XpressPost (or any other courier service) envelope, which will be used to return your passport, by mail to the Visa Office at the address below.
Consulate General of Italy
VISA OFFICE
136 Beverley St.
Toronto M5T 1Y5
Please be aware that the Consulate does not take responsibility for applications, passports or money order / bank draft lost by the postal service or by courier services.
(2) If you do not already have an account, please, set up an account on Prenot@mi (press the button “register your account”. You only need to register as user. DO NOT book any appointment. The Consulate will contact you to schedule an in-person appointment for fingerprints, in due time. In order to allow the Consulate to assign you an appointment, you must be registered as a Prenot@mi user.
(3) Once the Consulate will have received your postal application, if you will have registered on Prenot@mi, the Visa Office will contact you to make an appointment. On the day of the appointment, applicants must attend the Consulate in person. Being summoned for fingerprinting DOES NOT imply that your visa application will be granted.
The only exemptions to the requirement of fingerprints are: children under the age of 12; physical inability, even temporary; Heads of State and Government and members of foreign governments with their delegations on official missions; sovereigns and members of royal families on official missions. Even if exempt from the requirement of fingerprints, children under the age of 12 must attend the appointment for identification purposes.
BEWARE: Incomplete applications will not be processed and will be returned to the sender with the pre-paid and self addressed envelope provided with the application. If you fail to provide a pre-paid envelope, we will not be able to return your documents.
RESIDENCE PERMIT ONCE IN ITALY
You must apply for a residence permit directly at the Questura (police headquarters) of the Municipality in which you reside as digital nomad or remote-work employee, within eight working days of your arrival into Italian territory, even in the case of a visa lasting less than 90 days.
For the purposes of applying for a residency permit, you must submit to the Italian Questura the same original documentation you used to apply for your visa, stamped by the Italian diplomatic/consular mission.