After two years of waiting, Italy published the implementing decree for its digital nomad visa in the Official Gazette on 4 April 2024. The visa for digital nomads and remote workers is open to non-EU citizens who work remotely, either for themselves or for an employer, and want to live in Italy while they do it.
This guide covers the visa itself: who qualifies, the income threshold and the application. For where to work once you are here, see our guide to coworking spaces in Puglia.
This guide sets out who qualifies, what you need to show, and what happens once you arrive. It was checked in October 2026. Consulates apply the rules with some differences, so always follow the checklist of the consulate that will handle your application.
Who the visa is for
The visa covers highly qualified people who work using technology that lets them do the job from anywhere. A digital nomad is self-employed or freelance; a remote worker is employed. In both cases, the client or employer can be based in Italy or abroad. Unlike most Italian work visas, it does not need a work permit (nulla osta) from Italy first, and it is not subject to the annual quotas.
Qualifications and experience
You must count as a highly qualified worker under Italian immigration law. In practice, that usually means a university degree of at least three years, a qualification for a regulated profession, or, in some sectors, several years of relevant professional experience. You also need at least six months of experience in the work you plan to do remotely.
Employment
Remote employees need an employment contract or a binding job offer. The employer must also declare that it has had no criminal convictions in the previous five years for certain immigration-related offenses.
Income
You must show a lawful annual income of at least three times the minimum level for exemption from healthcare charges. Many consulates quote this as about €25,500 a year (three times €8,500), and some ask for up to about €28,000, so check the figure your consulate uses. Income can come from freelance work, employment or other lawful sources, and you prove it with tax returns, contracts or bank statements.
US citizens on the visa keep filing with the IRS; see our guide to US taxes while living in Puglia for the FBAR, the FEIE and the foreign tax credit.
Housing and health insurance
You need suitable accommodation in Italy, shown for example by a registered lease, a deed or a hosting declaration. You also need health insurance covering medical treatment and hospital care in Italy for the whole stay. Once you hold a permit, you can consider whether to join the national health service.
How to apply
You apply at the Italian consulate responsible for where you live, with the visa application form, a passport photo, a valid passport, the evidence above and the consular fee. Each consulate publishes its own list, and some ask for extra documents such as a criminal record certificate or a CV. A flight booking is usually optional. Processing times vary, and your passport normally stays with the consulate in the meantime.
After you arrive
Within eight working days of arriving in Italy, you apply for a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) for digital nomads or remote workers at the Questura, the provincial police headquarters, following its booking procedure. The permit lasts up to one year and can be renewed each year as long as you still meet the requirements. Family members can join you with a family permit.
You will need an Italian tax code (codice fiscale) for many steps. Where you pay social security contributions depends on any agreement between Italy and your home country. If you become tax resident in Italy and work for yourself, you will usually also need an Italian VAT number; our guide to the forfettario regime explains the simplest option. Talk to a commercialista about the tax side before you arrive, not after.
If you plan to invest rather than work remotely, the Italy golden visa is another route to residency.
Working from Puglia
Most of what the visa asks for is paperwork, but the reason people apply is the life around it. In Puglia that means a slower rhythm, a gentle cost of living and a small but growing network of coworking spaces, from Bari to the Salento. Gather the documents early, read your consulate’s page twice, and allow time for the permit once you land.
While your permit is being processed, read our guide to traveling while your permesso is pending before you book a trip.
Part of our tax guide: Taxes in Italy for foreigners, every guide we publish on Italian taxes, with a section for Americans, in one place.
