How to Apply for Italy’s Digital Nomad Visa (My Personal Experience + Step-by-Step Guide)
Are you dreaming of living La Dolce Vita? 🍷 Do you have the freedom to work from anywhere? Then Italy’s new Digital Nomad Visa might be your ticket to turning your laptop lifestyle into your Italian dream life.
I just successfully completed the process of applying for my own Italian Digital Nomad Visa, and I’m excited to share my personal experience — what I’ve learned, what I wish I knew sooner, and a complete guide to help you navigate your own journey.
What Is Italy’s Digital Nomad Visa?
Italy’s Digital Nomad Visa allows remote workers and freelancers the opportunity to live and work remotely in Italy for one year.
Typically, tourists can only stay in Italy for up to 90 days. The Digital Nomad Visa allows those who work remotely and earn an income online to extend their stay and truly experience the Italian lifestyle.
Who Qualifies for the Italian Digital Nomad Visa?
There are two main categories of applicants:
- Freelancers – those who work for themselves or own their own business.
- Remote employees – those who work for a company but can perform their job remotely.
You’ll also need to meet a minimum income requirement, which (at the time of writing) is around €28,000 per year.
The law also mentions applicants should be “highly qualified,” though this definition isn’t clearly specified. For example, I work in marketing as a social media manager and faced some initial pushback at my consulate interview about whether that was considered “highly skilled.” However, I’ve run my own business for over five years and ultimately was approved, so there does seem to be some gray area.
Visa Application Process and Timeline
I decided in November 2024 that I wanted to move to Italy in Fall 2025, and I worked backward from there to create my timeline. Here’s the exact process I followed:
Step 1: Preliminary Qualification Research (1–2 weeks)
I started by researching and consulting a few immigration lawyers to confirm that I would qualify for the Digital Nomad Visa.
Step 2: Hire an Immigration Lawyer (1 week)
While not required, I found it very helpful to work with an expert. I hired Smart Move Italy, who guided me through every deadline, helped me gather documentation, and made sure I didn’t miss any details.
Step 3: Secure Accommodations (1–4 months)
One of the visa requirements is to have a 1-year lease contract signed and registered with the Agenzia delle Entrate (Italy’s tax agency). You must have both to satisfy this requirement.
This can take a while, especially if you’re looking for a specific type of apartme so start early.
It might feel risky to sign a year-long lease before your visa is approved, but most contracts include a 3-month cancellation clause, giving you flexibility if needed.
Where to find accommodation:
- Idealista / Immobiliare.it – Italy’s top rental websites (similar to Zillow or Realtor.com in the US).
- Smart Move Italy – offers vetted housing search services.
- Apartments Florence – I personally used this company and had a great experience.
- Facebook Groups – local expat and housing groups can be helpful, but watch out for scams.
Step 4: Gather Required Documents (3–4 months)
When it comes to paperwork, being over-prepared is better than under-prepared. Requirements vary slightly by consulate, so always double-check your specific consulate’s website.
Documents required for the Italian Digital Nomad Visa:
- Proof of accommodation – registered 1-year lease or property ownership.
- Health insurance – must meet the consulate’s coverage requirements.
- Proof of income – typically 3 years of tax returns, 6 months of bank statements, and client invoices or employment contracts.
- Proof of professional experience – work contracts (for employees) or business documents (for freelancers, e.g., LLC formation, client contracts, portfolio).
- Background checks – local and federal (optional but recommended).
- Proof of education – diploma and transcripts from a 4-year university, translated and apostilled, plus CIMEA equivalency certification.
Step 5: Digital Nomad Visa Appointment (1 day)
Once your documents are ready, schedule an appointment at your local Italian consulate in your home country.
Appointments can take months to secure, so book early. My appointment was three months out from when I scheduled it.
What to expect:
At my appointment at the Italian Consulate in Miami, I waited about an hour before meeting with my interviewer. They went through my application line by line using the official checklist.
Even though I was very prepared, I was still missing a few items — but they allowed me to submit the missing documents later by email. I left unsure if I’d be approved, but a few months later, I was thrilled to receive my visa!
Processing Timeline
Typically, the process can take 90-120 from your conuslate appointment to recieve your visa. Before my appointment, I had to sign a form acknowledging that processing can take up to 120 days and that I could not can contact the consulate for updates during that time.
Be aware: the consulate will keep your passport during this period.
I didn’t hear anything for the full 120 days. On the 120th day, I emailed the consulate, and they replied immediately to say my visa had been approved!
From there, I had to mail a box for them to send my binder of documents back, along with my passport and visa. This mailing process took about another 2–3 weeks.
Final Thoughts on the Italian Digital Nomad Visa
If you dream of living La Dolce Vita in Italy and already work online, the Italian Digital Nomad Visa is an amazing opportunity.
I’m so happy I went through this process — but I’ll be honest, it’s not for the faint of heart. The system is still new, requirements vary by consulate, and finding housing before visa approval can be stressful. Plus, once you arrive in Italy, you’ll need to start the Permesso di Soggiorno (residency permit) process — which is another adventure entirely!
Still, if you’re patient, organized, and determined, you can make this dream a reality. 🇮🇹✨
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