It is finally official: Italy has joined Portugal, Spain, Estonia, Croatia and
the Czech Republic and will offer a visa to Digital Nomads. After weeks of speculation, decree n. 4/2022 (Decreto Sostegni Ter) was finally approved and converted into law on March 28, 2022. The aim is to attract citizens of non-EU countries “who carry out highly qualified work activities through the use of technological tools that allow them to work remotely, autonomously, or for a company that is outside of Italy”. In other words, this visa appears to be meant for:
- Freelancers and digital nomads
- Remote workers employed by a non-EU company.
Although there are a number of conditions that still need to be clarified, MP Luca Corbetta has declared that the requirements to apply for the visa are “suitable accommodation, adequate income, health insurance and clear criminal records”. However, the specific details about these requirements and their implementation are yet to be defined.
Nevertheless, compared to other types of long-stay visas, the new Digital Nomad visa appears to be more flexible and accessible. In particular, with regards to self-employment, the new visa extends a number of opportunities which had been previously offered by Decreto Flussi, which allowed for the temporary entry of a capped number of foreigners from specific countries to work seasonally and non-seasonally. however, unlike Decreto Flussi, the new law has established that there will be no limit to the number of people Italy may issue its Digital Nomad visa to. Furthermore, the holders might be able to apply for an extension, and it might also be possible to extend the visa to immediate family members. Though the amount has not been specified yet, there may be a minimum income requirement.
Some argue that a substantial difference between the old Decreto Flussi and the new law is that with the new visa, workers will no longer need to apply for the so-called “Nulla Osta”, an authorization from the Local Immigration Office which is needed to be able to work in Italy. In other words, digital workers will only need to follow the provisions that regulate taxation. These have not been established yet, but some maintain that the government might allow workers to pay a 5% flat tax (the so called “Regime forfettario”) or it will provide them with significant tax reductions, such as the tax reduction introduced for new residents.
It is worth mentioning that the government has thirty days starting from when the decree was converted into law to clarify and determine further details about the requirements, such as income and other factors which determine eligibility, as well as the duration and the application process per se.
If you are interested in moving to Italy as a digital nomad, but you do not know where to start especially when looking for accommodation, our real estate agents will find the perfect place for you to begin your new adventure. Email us at info@italianrealestatelawyers.com or use our contact form to request a free consultation, we will be happy to help you!
