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Self-Employment (Schengen Visa)

Immigration to Italy of foreign citizens for work reasons, both for a short stay (up to 90 days) and for a long stay (National Visa), is regulated by the Consolidated Law on Immigration according to the principle of flow planning.

Pursuant to art. 6 (3) of Reg. (EC) 2018/1806), citizens of countries normally not subject to visa requirements must apply for a Schengen visa, if they travel to Italy to exercise their profession as self-employed workers (for stays of up to 90 days). For stays longer than 90 days, please see  Self -Employment National Visa page. 

Click on the items below and read carefully. 

Documents required to apply 
Documents common to all categories of Self-employment Schengen Visa applicants 
  1. Proof of residence within the Toronto consular jurisdiction area: domestic utility bill or driver’s license (original and a photocopy).
  2. For non-Canadians, proof of legal residence in Canada: Canadian permanent residence card or visa valid for at least three months after the date of re-entry (original and a photocopy).
  3. For travelers not returning to Canada after leaving the Schengen area: relevant visa or travel document authorizing entry into the Country of destination, and a photocopy.
  4. Electronic Schengen Visa application form, carefully and correctly completed and signed. Please ensure that you leave no blank spaces. If a question does not apply to you, enter N/A (not applicable). Be sure to print the form in high resolution.
  5. One recent passport-size colour photo (must have been taken less than six months before the application), size 35mm x 40mm, full-face and light coloured background. The face must be correctly centred and must be seen from a front view, with both sides visible. 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.
  6. Your passport, which must be valid for at least 3 months after the visa expiry date, as well as photocopies of the first 2 pages and of visas previously issued, if any. Furthermore, there must be at least two blank pages in the passport.
  7. Prepaid Xpresspost post envelope (or any other Courier service prepaid and self addressed envelope) with your address already filled (TO) and the Address of the consulate as sender (FROM), with a photocopy to return your passport. Please be aware that the Consulate does not take responsibility for applications, passports or money order lost by the postal/courier services.
  8. The visa fee paid in Canadian dollars. Visa fees can be paid at the counter, preferably by Canadian debit card (credit cards cannot be accepted) or alternatively in cash or through money order/bank draft payable to the Consulate General of Italy in Toronto (Canadian dollars only). Because of the fluctuation of the exchange rate, the type of visa and duration of stay, the fees are subject to change. Please refer to the dedicated page on this website.
  9. A copy of your round trip flight reservation or ticket and full itinerary. Buying your ticket in advance does not ensure that a visa will be issued.
  10. Hotel booking for each day of your stay in the Schengen area stating number of reservation, name of the applicant, address and telephone number of the hotel, OR letter of invitation (declaration of hospitality), signed by the person inviting, plus a copy of his/her ID (in case of person without Italian citizenship, copy of his/her Italian permanent residence permit, ‘’ Permesso di soggiorno’’).
Specific requirements by category of applicants 
Self-employed professionals and Entrepreneurs
  1. All Common requirements listed above from 1) to 10);
  2. A) Self-Employed professionals are those mentioned in the list of the Italian Ministry of Justice ‘Associazione delle Professioni non Regolamentate’ according to D.Lgs 206/2007 art. 26 comma 3 and according to ‘Elenco Professioni Vigilate’ and included in ordini, collegi e albi professionali (professional orders, professional boards and bulletin boards). For medical professions the visa is issued upon recognition of your University Degree by the Italian Ministry of Health.
    B) Entrepreneurs are considered those business operators who intend to perform in Italy a commercial activity that is considered significant for the Italian economy.
  3. Declaration by the Office authorized to issue any required certification, license and authorization, to receive notices of commencement of business activity, or by the Body which supervises the relevant professional association. Such declarations should be issued within the previous 90 days;
  4. Declaration of compliance with the “parametri di riferimento” (list of specific assets to perform different commercial or professional activities) issued by the local Chamber of Commerce or by the relevant professional order. The amount referred to in the declaration cannot be lower than the triple of the minimum social welfare yearly income (14.000 Euro);
  5. Proof of income earned during the previous fiscal year in the country of residence, higher than the minimum level provided by the law for exemption from participation in medical and health public assistance (8.500 Euro);
  6. Nulla Osta (authorization) issued within the previous 90 days by the competent Italian Questura (Local Police Headquarters);
  7. Availability of suitable accommodation.
Managers or highly qualified employees, University language tutors and University professors, translators and interpreters
  1. All Common requirements listed above from 1) to 10);
  2. Certification, issued by the competent Labour Territorial Service of the Italian DTL (Territorial Labour Office) stating that, in virtue of the contract stipulated, the applicant will not be employed as a subordinate worker;
  3. Availability of accommodation (which can also be documented with a hotel reservation or a declaration by the inviting party certifying that it has made suitable accommodation available to the applicant);
  4. A contract showing a yearly income higher than the minimum level provided by the law for exemption from participation in medical and health public assistance (8.500 Euro);
  5. Nulla Osta from the competent Italian Questura (Local Police Headquarters) issued within the previous 90 days.
Sport personnel and Athletes
  1. All Common requirements listed above from 1) to 10)
  2. Declaration of consent by CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee) sent directly to the competent Italian Embassy/Consulate, indicating the athlete’s particulars, sports practiced, and details and address of the team/club of destination. This statement must be accompanied by the Nulla Osta (authorization) of the Italian Questura (Local Police Headquarters), stating that the sport practiced is included in the list of activities for which applicants are entitled to apply for a sport-self-employment visa. The Nulla Osta should be issued within the previous 90 days and must have been sent to this office to proceed with the visa application.
Artists and entertainment industry personnel – renowned artists and their entourage or artists invited by renowned Italian institutions or theatres
  1. All Common requirements listed above from 1) to 10);
  2. Job contract ensuring the self-employed applicant’s compensation is higher than the amount provided by the Italian national contracts for the same category of employees;
  3. Copy of a formal declaration by the inviting Entity’s legal representative to the Territorial Labour Directorate certifying that no subordinate employment relationship will be established with the applicant; for workers employed in circuses or traveling shows, the declaration must be addressed to the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies;
  4. Nulla Osta from the relevant Italian Questura (Local Police Headquarters) based on the place where the independent activity will be carried out;
  5. Availability of accommodation (which can also be documented with a hotel reservation or a declaration by the inviting party certifying that it has made suitable accommodation available to the applicant).
How to apply

You MUST book an appointment through the web portal Prenot@mi.

If you cannot find any available time slots on Prenot@mi, we suggest that you log in after a few hours or in one or two days and, in general, we advise to check regularly (particularly around 6pm Toronto time) for available slots as the situation my change quickly.
Please, read carefully our FAQ Section as it may contain useful information related to bookings.

Fees

Visa fees are periodically updated due to currency exchange fluctuations. You can find the updated list of consular fees here.
Please, be aware: the Consulate General of Italy in Toronto does not rely on any outsourcing agency for visa services.
Appointments can be booked only via Prenot@mi and they are always free of charge.

If someone asks you for money claiming that they can book an appointment at the Consulate for you, it is a scam.