If you need help in applying for a self-employment work permit in Italy, our immigration lawyers in Italy are at your disposal with complete services in relation to this matter.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Activities suitable for a self-employment work permit in Italy | This document is addressed to self-employed persons and entrepreneurs developing a variety of business activities related to trade, commerce, professional activities, etc. |
Identity documents necessary for the application | Valid passport and 2 recent photos (passport size) |
Minimum yearly financial requirements | EUR 8,500 |
| Health insurance necessary (yes/no) | Yes |
| Foreigners who must apply for the self-employment visa | The self-employment work permit in Italy is addressed to foreigners who are not EU nationals. |
| Obligations to fulfill upon arrival in Italy | In maximum 8 days after the arrival in Italy, the foreigner must apply for a residence permit. |
| Authorization for commercial activities required (yes/no) | Yes |
| Validity of the permit | The self-employment work permit in Italy is valid for a period of 2 years. |
| Can the visa be renewed? | Yes (The procedure must be initiated in maximum 60 days before the expiration date of the current permit.) |
| Institution in charge with the authorization for commercial activities | The Italian Chamber of Commerce |
| Proof of accommodation | Foreigners must make the proof of having a residential address in Italy (through a rental agreement or a sale-purchase contact). |
| How long does it take to obtain the self-employment visa? | 2 months |
| Quota for self-employment visa | There is an yearly quota for this visa type (for 2024, there are 61,950 visas). |
| Application for Nulla Ostra | Applicants must also obtain the Nulla Ostra (a police clearance) from the local police office. For this, it is necessary to submit identity documents, proof of accommodation and the documentation issued by the Chamber of Commerce. |
| Opening a bank account | Persons who develop commercial activities, including sole traders and other categories of self-employed individuals, must open a bank account for their business, at a local commercial bank. |
| Value of the medical insurance coverage | EUR 30,000 |
Approved insurers | The medical insurance must be signed with an insurance company that is registered in Italy or one that complies with the Schengen travel medical policies. |
Visa appeal | Provided that the individual who applied for a self-employment work permit in Italy received a negative answer for the visa application, he or she will have the right to appeal the decision. |
| Institution in charge with the visa appeal | The Regional Administrative Tribunal |
| Deadline to appeal a decision | In a period of maximum 60 days since the visa refusal was announced. |
| Modifying business activities | Persons who are the holders of a self-employment work permit in Italy have the right to modify their work activities. The modifications must be approved by the Italian authorities. |
| Residency obligations | Visa holders are required to live in Italy throught the validy of their documents. |
| Absence from Italy | While the holder of a self-employment work permit in Italy needs to live here, it is also allowed to be absent from the country for a limited period of time, which can’t be longer than 6 months during the entire visa validity. |
| Permanent residency | The self-employment visa does not automatically grant the right to permanent residency, given that it is issued for only 2 years. However, visa holders can use this document as a pathway to permanent residency, which can be obtained after 5 years of living in Italy. |
| Where to initiate the visa application | The visa application must be started in the country where the applicant has his/her current residency. |
| Accelerated visa processing | Not applicable for this type of visa. |
| Applying for a tax code in Italy | It is required to have a valid tax code in Italy, known as Codice Fiscale. |
| Obtaining citizenship | It is possible to obtain Italian citizenship. For most foreigners, this can be done through citizenship by naturalization. |
| Is it necessary to pay a visa processing fee? (yes/no) | Yes |
| Cost of the visa fee (excluding legal assistance) | EUR 116 |
Table of Contents
Who needs to apply for the self-employment work permit in Italy?
The document must be obtained by individuals who arrive from third-party countries (non-EU, non-EEA) and who want to work under certain conditions presented below.
What categories of individuals can apply for the self-employment work permit?
In the list below, our immigration lawyers in Italypresent the categories of foreigners who are eligible for this visa type:
- self-employed individuals defined under the Law 206/2007, Article 26;
- entrepreneurs;
- partners and chairmen of Italian companies;
- managers, highly qualified employees;
- university language tutors, university professors, translators, interpreters;
- sports personnel, athletes;
- artists, entertainment personnel.
What activities can be completed under the Italian self-employment visa?
Under thelocal legislation, there are several activities which can be completed based on a self-employment visa in Italy:
- handcrafting, which is available for those who want to start small businesses in Italy;
- entrepreneurship;
- trade and commerce, through which foreign citizens can establish various types of companies;
- professional activities undertaken by specialists in fields like medicine, accounting and law.
What are the main conditions applicants in Italy should comply with?
In order to be accepted for the self-employment visa in Italy, all applicants have to comply with a set of minimum requirements. These requirements are regulated under the Italian law, and they include the following:
- provide 2 recent photos, respecting the passport size;
- have a valid passport with minimum 2 blank pages;
- the validity of the passport should be minimum 3 months pass the date at which the visa will expire;
- proof of income for the previous financial year, which must be minimum EUR 8,500 (gross amount);
- have a valid health insurance that covers at least the first 30 days of stay in Italy after the arrival in the country.
What forms must I complete for the self-employment work permit in Italy?
Applicants must complete one of the following application forms:
- form Z which is available for those who need to obtain certifications in order to complete a trade or activity;
- form Z2, for those who have obtained a diploma from an Italian university.
We invite you to watch a short video on the work permit for self-employed persons in Italy:
Do I need to apply for a residence permit in Italy?
Yes. Even if you have obtained a self-employment work permit in Italy, it is necessary to initiate a separate procedure for the issuance of the residence permit, which grants the right to stay here for the duration of the work visa.
When do I need to apply for the residence permit?
As a holder of a self-employment work permit in Italy, you must start the residency formalities after your arrival in Italy. More specifically, you have to address the local police authorities in the region where you have your residential address in a period of maximum 8 days since the arrival.
Can I relocate with close family members?
Family reunification can be granted to those who hold a self-employment work permit in Italy in certain circumstances.Our immigration lawyers in Italycan present all the conditions imposed by law.
How long does it take to process the visa application?
The Italian legislation stipulates that this visa type can be issued in a period of maximum 120 days.
How many visas are issued per year?
The immigration flow for employment purposes is strictly regulated by governmental decrees. For the self-employment work permit in Italy, the quota is 500 visas per year, but in some cases, exemptions can be made and the government officials can issue more than just 500 visas.
Who can benefit from the extra-quote rule?
The categories of individuals who can benefit from the extra-quote are established under the Presidential Decree, No. 394, which refers to the following:
- foreign artists who arrive here to perform short-term self-employment activities;
- foreign athletes who arrive in Italy under a declaration of consent of the Italian National Olympic Committee;
- executive/highly specialized employees of foreign companies that have set up a branch office in Italy;
- university lecturers who participate in exchange programs, etc.
In the infographic below, you can observe a few steps on how to be self-employed in Italy as a foreigner:
What is the validity of the Italian freelance visa?
The Italian freelance visa will be issued for a period of 2 years.
Can I renew the self-employment visa?
The document can be renewed upon the request of the visa holder, who must comply with the same conditions that he or she respected when applying the 1st time for this visa.
Can foreigners make an appeal for visa refusals?
Not all applications for a self-employment work permit in Italy are successful. In this case, foreigners have the right to appeal the decision if they don’t agree with it. The appeals must be made in a period of maximum 60 days from the date when they have received the notification. For more information on the procedure, we invite you to address our immigration lawyers in Italy.
We kindly invite you to contact our immigration lawyers in Italy if you need help in preparing and filing the paperwork for obtaining a self-employment work permit.