Italy – Europe’s Mediterranean hub

Located in South-Central Europe, Italy is the world's eighth-largest economy and the world's sixth-largest manufacturing country. Its primary revenue generators are the automobile, agriculture, machinery, fashion, and design sectors.   Tourism is also Europe's fourth-largest economy's important industry.

Migrating to Italy

Citizens of Israel, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and the US who wish to stay in Italy for a long time have to get a residence permit from the Italian immigration authorities. They have to apply for it within three months of arriving in the European country.

Citizens of countries that have not entered into a visa-free agreement with the Republic of Italy need to get a visa before arriving in Italy.

Those wanting to work in Italy must have a work permit before entering the country. To get a work permit, they must get a job offer from an Italy-based employer and then apply for a work permit in no more than eight days of their entry into the country.

Italy has on offer various types of work visa types, including salaried employment, seasonal work (related either to tourism or agriculture), long-term seasonal work that lets people stay and reside in Italy for two years for seasonal activities, sports activity-related, artistic work, working holiday and scientific research visas.

Work visa opportunities

Prior to applying for any type of work visa, applicants need to make sure that they are eligible for it as the government of Italy accepts applications for work permits for a few months only every two or three years, depending on the requirements of its labor market and immigration status.

In 2022, the ancient country introduced Decreto Flussi, or the Immigration Flow Decree, allowing its government to set entry ceilings each year for citizens not belonging to the EU countries to enter Italy to work or be self-employed or partake in seasonal work.

 It also determines which residence permits and how many conversions of them to different types of permits foreign nationals already staying in Italy can request for.

 Individuals can apply for it, provided they meet the following conditions.

• The Decreto Flussi has to be available
• If there still are vacancies in the annual quota
• Italian employers have to be ready to apply for the work permits of their prospective employees

The permission to reside and work in Italy involves the following.

1. Initially, an Italian employer must be ready to hire you and will apply for your work permit.
2. After your employer obtains your work permit and sends it to you, you can apply for the country's work visa at its embassy or consulate in your native country.
3. Finally, after you can enter Italy with your work permit, apply for getting an Italian residence permit to work and reside in Italy legally.

Occupations that have skill shortages

Skills Panorama released a report on the occupations that face shortages in Italy. Among them, certain professions will most likely have a lack of skills until 2030. The said skills are in the sectors of healthcare, science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), marketing, creativity, and teaching.

Studying options in Italy

Italian universities offer four types of courses. They are university diplomas, bachelor's degrees, doctorates in research, and specializations diplomas.

Citizens of non-EU countries need to have a student visa to pursue higher education in Italy. Italy issues a short-term and a long-term student visa, which is dependent based on the duration of the courses students are involved in there.

For tourists

With visa type C, a short-stay visa, or a travel visa, foreign nationals can enter the country one or more times and stay for up to 90 days. Visa type D allows its holders to stay in Italy for over 90 days.

Students belonging to non-EU countries are allowed to work in Italy while pursuing their courses if they manage to obtain a work permit from an Italian employer.

If you are planning to work in Italy, contact Y-Axis, the World's No. 1 Immigration Consultant. 

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