The Italian Digital Nomad Visa was enabled by Article 1 of Law 25/2022, but it sat dormant for two years waiting on an implementing decree. The decree was published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale on 29 February 2024 and came into force a month later — Italian consulates were officially open for applications from 4 April 2024.
What the programme covers
- Highly-skilled remote workers earning ≥ ~€28,000 / year (precise figure: 3× the minimum income threshold set by the Italian Ministry of Interior)
- Initial visa validity: 12 months, renewable
- Path to permanent residency: yes, after 5 years of continuous residence
- Family members allowed (spouse + minor children)
Why this mattered
Italy had been notably absent from the European DNV map throughout 2022–2023 despite the enabling law being on the books. Applicants in that window had to use the Lavoro Autonomo (self-employed) route, which was more paperwork-heavy and didn't carry the "digital nomad" framing. The April 2024 commencement closed that gap.
What changed for source-country applicants
For US, UK and South African passports, the application path is consulate-based (the Italian consulate that has jurisdiction over the applicant's home address). Expect 4–6 weeks for the consular appointment slot in major cities and ~30–60 days for the visa itself. Apostille on background-check and birth-certificate documents is required for all three source countries.