What counts as a "highly qualified worker" for Italy's digital nomad visa?
Updated · Who qualifies guide · Not legal advice
You count as highly qualified if you can show one of four things: a tertiary degree from a programme of at least three years (or an equivalent level-6 qualification), a regulated profession already recognised by the competent Italian authority, at least 5 years of professional experience at a level comparable to a degree, or, for ICT managers and specialists, at least 3 years of relevant experience in the last 7 years. This comes from art. 27-quater of Legislative Decree 286/1998, which the nomad visa rules point to.
| Route | Who it fits | What consulates ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | Bachelor's or higher from a programme of 3+ years | Diploma apostilled + Italian translation, plus a Dichiarazione di Valore or CIMEA comparability statement |
| Regulated profession | Doctors, nurses, engineers, architects, lawyers and other professions regulated in Italy | Recognition from the competent Italian authority (Legislative Decree 206/2007), obtained before applying |
| 5+ years' experience | No degree, but senior experience in the field | Documents from public authorities (company registration), employer attestations with duties and dates, contracts, 2+ payslips per year |
| ICT route | ICT managers and specialists (ISCO-08 groups 133 and 25) | 3+ years of relevant experience within the last 7 years, with job titles and duties |
Why Italy asks for this
Italy's digital nomad and remote worker visa sits in art. 27 of the Immigration Act (paragraph 1, letter q-bis and paragraph 1-sexies). The law describes the holders as people who do highly qualified work using technology that lets them work remotely. Consulates check this the same way they check EU Blue Card applicants, using art. 27-quater.
Which route to pick
- Have a 3+ year degree? Use it, even if your job is in another field: it is the simplest to document. See Dichiarazione di Valore or CIMEA.
- No degree? Use 5 years' experience, or the ICT route if you work in tech.
- Is your profession regulated in Italy (for example, medicine or engineering)? You need Italian recognition first, which takes time.
Common mistakes
- Sending a degree without the Dichiarazione di Valore or CIMEA statement.
- Experience letters without exact dates and duties.
- Forgetting that a two-year associate degree does not meet the three-year rule.
Quick answers
- Is the Italy digital nomad visa hard to get?
- The highly qualified worker rule is the main filter. If you have a 3-year degree, it is mostly paperwork; without one, you need well-documented experience. See is it hard to get?.
- What are the requirements for the Italy digital nomad visa?
- Highly qualified work, at least 6 months in the activity, income of about €28,000 a year, health insurance and a registered lease or purchase deed. Remote workers also need a contract and an employer declaration.
- Does my degree have to match my remote job?
- Consulate sheets ask for a qualifying degree; they do not spell out a matching rule for the degree route. The experience routes must be relevant to your profession. Ask your consulate if your case is unusual.
What to do next
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Sources
- Normattiva: Legislative Decree 286/1998, art. 27-quater (highly qualified workers)
- Normattiva: Legislative Decree 286/1998 (Immigration Act), art. 27 incl. para. 1-sexies on digital nomads
- Embassy of Italy in Zagreb: digital nomads requirements (EN/IT, PDF)
- Embassy of Italy in Chisinau: digital nomad and remote worker visas (IT, PDF)
Checked: . Rules change; confirm current values on the official pages above before you file.