Italy — Digital nomad visa (national)
US citizens can apply for Italy's digital nomad / remote worker national visa — a route for highly specialized remote workers and freelancers — at the Italian consulate covering where they live, then convert to a Permesso di Soggiorno after arrival.
Italy's national digital nomad / remote worker visa for highly specialized non-EU professionals who work remotely, launched in 2024.
- Validity
- The permesso (residence permit) for digital nomads is issued for one (1) year and can be renewed locally at the Questura.
- Entries
- National long-stay (type D) visa for stays over 90 days; multiple entry.
- Max stay per visit
- Up to 1 year, renewable while you keep your employment, lodging, and health insurance.
When to start
Start 30 days–2 months before your travel date.
The digital nomad / remote worker visa is restricted to highly specialized non-EU professionals whose careers meet or exceed the requirements of article 27-quater of Legislative Decree no. 286 of 25 July 1998.
Assemble your passport, completed national visa form, photo, proof of residence, travel medical insurance, proof of qualifying profession, a lease or deed for property in Italy, proof of income, and proof of at least six months' prior work experience.
Submit the completed National Visa form and all supporting documents at your scheduled appointment at the Italian consulate covering where you live.
After entering Italy on the national visa, visit the local Questura and apply for your residence permit within the first eight working days of arrival.
What you'll need
- Valid passport — Passport or travel document accepted by the Schengen countries, valid for at least 15 months past your intended date of travel, with at least two blank pages. ✓ verified
- National visa application form — One National Visa form, completely and clearly filled out and signed by the applicant. ✓ verified
- Passport photograph — One recent ICAO-standard photograph: 40mm tall and 35mm wide, full face, front view, in colour. ✓ verified
- Travel medical insurance — A letter or certificate of travel medical insurance covering medical expenses, hospitalization and repatriation for the days you are outside the United States. ✓ verified
- Proof of qualifying profession — Documentation proving you hold a qualifying, highly specialized profession. ✓ verified
- Proof of accommodation in Italy — A lease, rental contract, or deed for property in Italy. ✓ verified
- Proof of legal income — Proof of legal income of at least three times the minimum necessary to pay healthcare taxes in Italy (in 2024, no less than 24,789 euros per year). ✓ verified
- Proof of prior work experience — Proof of six or more months' prior work experience in the field. ✓ verified
Where you'll apply
Where you'll apply in United States
Apply in your districtWho runs the centre: VFS Global at some consulates (e.g. New York, Chicago); others book directly via Prenot@Mi (e.g. San Francisco)
You must apply to the Italian consulate with jurisdiction over your US state of legal residence (10 consulates plus the Embassy). Some consulates use VFS Global for Schengen visas; others take appointments directly through Prenot@Mi.
Application centres: New York · Boston · Philadelphia · Washington DC · Detroit · Chicago · Houston · Miami · Los Angeles · San Francisco
🖐️ Under a May 2025 Italian MFA decree, residents who are nationals of the USA, Canada, Japan or the UK are exempt from giving fingerprints for an Italian visa.
Getting a slot — book early · community-reported, checked 2026-06-13
- Slots are released in batches with no fixed public schedule — most often early morning local time, on Monday mornings, and around the 1st of the month.
- For popular consulates (e.g. France, Italy and Spain in big cities), a fresh batch can be gone within minutes — be registered and logged in before you look.
- Cancellations free up slots throughout the day, so check daily even when it shows ‘no availability’.
- Because of this, apply as early as you are allowed — up to 6 months before travel. Waiting until 1–2 months out often means no slots are left at all.
Fees
| National visa application fee | EUR 116 |
Gotchas to watch
- This is a NATIONAL Italian visa (type D) for stays over 90 days — not a short-stay Schengen visa.
- The visa is only available to highly specialized workers under article 27-quater; ordinary remote work alone may not qualify.
- You must apply for your Permesso di Soggiorno at the local Questura within the first eight working days of arriving in Italy.