Italy Digital Nomad Visa

You must meet all three requirements: (1) Income — minimum €28,000/year (€2,333/month) from remote work, not passive sources. (2) Qualifications — a university degree, recognised professional licence, or at least 5 years of specialist experience (3 years for IT roles). (3) Remote work history — at least 6 months of working remotely for a non-Italian employer or client. If you don't meet all three, the visa is unlikely to be approved regardless of your documents.

Go to prenotami.esteri.it and register for an account. Once verified, log in and select Ireland → Dublin as the consulate, then choose the visa type. Appointment slots are released periodically and fill up within minutes — check back frequently, especially mid-week and early morning. Setting up your account before you're ready to book means you can act immediately when a slot appears.

Book at least 3 months in advance before committing to flights or accommodation — slots fill up fast. Email visti.ambdublino@esteri.it for queries. Processing can take anywhere from 1 week to 120 days, so plan accordingly.

Apply online at garda.ie — it's free and takes around 3 weeks to arrive by post. Start this early: once you have the certificate, it needs an apostille from the Irish DFA (allow another 5–7 working days by post, €40), and then a certified Italian translation. End-to-end this step can take 6–8 weeks. Some Italian consulates have reportedly not required the Garda cert for this visa — the official regulations are ambiguous on this point — but the Dublin consulate does ask for it, so include it. Confirm certificate validity requirements with the consulate, as some require it to have been issued within the last 3–6 months.

Documents typically requiring apostille: Garda Police Certificate, degree/qualification certificates, and birth certificate (if required for dependants). Walk-in service is available at the DFA offices at 42–47 Mount Street Lower, Dublin 2 — same-day turnaround is sometimes possible. Postal service takes 5–7 working days plus transit time. Cost is €40 per document. Always apostille before sending for Italian translation, so the translator can certify the full document including the apostille stamp. Employer letters and bank statements generally do not need apostilling — but confirm with the consulate for your specific set of documents.

Translations must be done by a sworn ("giurato") translator — a regular bilingual translator won't do. The translator must certify that the translation is faithful to the original. Documents that typically need translation include: Garda certificate, degree/qualifications, employment contract or freelance contracts, and any supporting financial documents. The Dublin Embassy can usually recommend approved translators — it's worth asking when you email to confirm your appointment. Budget €50–€100 per document and allow 3–5 working days per translation. Do the apostille before translating so the translator can also certify the apostille stamp.

Remote workers need an existing contract or binding offer. Freelancers may need engagement letters or retainers with clients showing at least 6 months of experience. The work must be performable entirely from Italy.

For remote employees: the letter should be on company headed paper, signed by an authorised signatory, and explicitly state that (1) you are employed in a remote capacity, (2) the work can be performed from Italy, and (3) the company has not been convicted in the past 5 years of crimes related to illegal immigration or labour exploitation — this last point is a specific legal requirement under the Italian regulations. For freelancers: a self-declaration (dichiarazione sostitutiva) outlining your clients, the nature of your work, and its remote character. Ask the Dublin consulate whether they require an Italian translation of this letter.

Bring your most recent Form 11 (self-assessed income tax return) downloaded from ROS, plus your Notice of Assessment. If you're a sole trader, your CRO registration certificate also helps establish legitimacy. Consulates are wary of applicants whose business looks brand new — ideally your returns show at least a year of consistent remote income. If you're PAYE, payslips covering the past 6 months will substitute for the tax return. These documents may need certified Italian translation (confirm with the consulate).

The minimum is €28,000/year (€2,333/month). Consulates are getting stricter — aim to show earnings well above the minimum. Income must come from remote work, not passive sources like rent or stocks.

Most consulates require a signed lease in your name registered with the Agenzia delle Entrate, covering the full visa duration. Hotel bookings and letters of hospitality from family or friends are generally not accepted, though this varies by consulate — confirm directly with visti.ambdublino@esteri.it.

Must cover at least €30,000 in medical expenses. Private cover costs roughly €350–€700/year. Some consulates accept an affidavit saying you'll arrange cover on arrival, but not all — confirm with the Dublin consulate first.

Your passport must be valid for at least 15 months beyond your intended travel date into Italy.

Bring at least 4 photos — the consulate requires 2, but extras are useful for the residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) application once you arrive in Italy. Standard Schengen specs apply: 35×45 mm, plain white background, face centred, taken within the last 6 months. Most photo booths in Boots or any passport photo service will meet the spec — just confirm they're Schengen-compliant when ordering.

When selecting the reason for your stay: if you're employed remotely by a company, select Salaried Employment. If you're freelance or self-employed, select Self-employment – Freelance. If unsure, email the consulate before applying.

Bring official stamped or digitally certified statements covering the last 3–6 months — printed internet banking pages are often not accepted. Contact your bank to request official statements if needed. The statements should clearly show regular income deposits consistent with your claimed earnings. There's no fixed savings requirement, but some sources suggest having at least €6,000–€8,000 on hand as a buffer is sensible. Bank statements are typically not translated but confirm with the Dublin consulate as requirements can vary.

The standard fee is €116 for a national (D) visa, paid at the consulate on the day of your appointment. The fee is non-refundable — even if your application is refused. Confirm the exact amount and accepted payment methods (cash, card, or bank draft) when booking your appointment, as this can vary. Budget separately for translation costs (~€50–€100 per document), apostille fees (€40 per document at the DFA), and health insurance (~€350–€700/year). Total out-of-pocket for the application process typically runs €600–€1,200 depending on the number of documents requiring translation and apostilling.