Italy work visa: what to do to legally work in Italy 

Work for foreigners in Italy is regulated by various laws and regulations, however it is of crucial importance to have an Italy work visa.

More particularly, we may talk of “autonomous work visa” or “subordinate work visa”.

Both the above mentioned types of Italy visa permit allow entry in Italy within the limits of the annual numbers indicated by the “influx decree”, and consequently to stay in the country for a more or less long term.

Italy work visa: autonomous work visa to start your activity 

When we talk about work for foreigners in Italy, we may also include those activities of autonomous work, whose development in Italy follows a different pattern from those subordinate work activities in order to have the visa issued.

Foreigners, who are not resident in Italy (thus without resident permit or holders of a resident permit which does not allow any work activity), before starting the Italy visa application procedure, shall wait for the publication of the “Influx Decree” in order to verify the entry numbers for working in Italy. 

After that, foreigners shall obtain from the competent administrative authority (usually the Chamber of Commerce), even through their own attorney, declaration/go-ahead that there is no reason for precluding the autonomous work activity that they wish to start. Besides, they shall also obtain an economic-financial parameter certificate in which the administrative institution indicates the minimum financial availability that the foreigner needs to have in order to start his specific autonomous and entrepreneurial activity.

Both certificates are essential to have the go-ahead for temporary entry in Italy issued by the Police Headquarters.

Application for the go-ahead shall be directly filled in on the Ministry of the Interior website, with respect to the required terms and modes.

Declaration, economic-financial parameter certificate and go-ahead for temporary entry dated not earlier than three months shall be submitted to the Italian diplomatic mission or consular post located in the non-EU citizen's country of origin and relevant for entry visa issuing purposes.

The Italy visa requirements are the following:

•  having suitable financial resources available for carrying out the activity;

•  meeting the requirements envisaged by the Italian law for carrying out the single activity (e.g registration in the company bar and records etc.);

•  showing evidence of an available accommodation suitable to allow staying in Italy (alternatively one may prepare a declaration of hospitality);

•  benefiting from an annual income derived from legal sources, of amount higher than what envisaged by law for exemption from participation in health expenses.

Foreigners who already have a legal Italian resident permit for studying or professional training purposes may apply for converting it into a resident permit for autonomous work.

Italy work visa: subordinate work visa

Many foreigners are interested in working in Italy and searching for a job has become in recent years an extremely common practice which concerns a lot of non-EU citizens, who are looking for a much more stable life rather than what is offered in their countries of origin. 

Foreigners who work for Italian enterprises or companies necessarily need a subordinate work visa.

This type of Italy job visa is issued by the diplomatic authority after verifying the subordinate work go-ahead, which is issued by the local one-stop immigration point of the area in which the foreign intends to work.  

The latest term for go-ahead issuing is 40 days from submission of application, with due respect to the influx decree number limits.

There are two different types of influx decree for subordinate work:

- seasonal (only for tourism and agriculture), it allows one entry for an unlimited period and without possibility of renewal;

- other type, for a term of one year, with possibility of renewal.

About the procedure to follow.

The Italian employer, or legally resident foreign employer, who intends to hire a foreign resident employee, shall electronically forward a request for hiring by filling out a specific template.

The employer shall certify:

- to have a net minimum income, of value at least double the employee's expected annual salary plus contributions;

- to provide information about the existence of a suitable accommodation for the foreign employee;

- to draw up a resident agreement proposal including the basic agreement elements (type of work, working hours) and the commitment to pay the foreign citizen's return ticket in case of removal/expulsion order. 

- lack of  reasons for rejecting the foreign employee's entry.

The above listed evidence shall be handed to the one-stop immigration point at the moment of signing the resident agreement (in the event that the  nominative request has been accepted).

If the investigation has positive results, the one-stop immigration point will summon the employer in order to sign the resident agreement proposal and for  go-ahead collection.

The employer will then pass on the go-ahead to the foreign resident employee, while the one-stop immigration point will hand it to the Italian mission of the employee's country of residence. Afterwards, the employee will reach the Italian mission in order to apply for entry visa for work purposes.

The subordinate work go-ahead shall be valid for 6 months, after this period it may be extended by request to the issuing prefecture.

The subordinate work visa is issued by the Italian diplomatic-consular authority.

If you are interested to receive further information on how to apply for an Italy work visa, contact us.