Digital Nomad Visa (Visto Nomade Digitale)

Core Documents (All Applicants)

1. Passport: Valid for at least 15 months beyond your intended travel date to the Schengen Area, with at least two blank pages. You must submit the original plus photocopies of the biographical page and expiration date.

2. Proof of Physical Residence: Documentation showing you live in the jurisdiction of the Italian consulate where you are applying. Acceptable documents include a driver's license, state ID, or utility bill.

3. Visa Application Form:

   • If staying more than 90 days: One completed National Visa form (Modulo per visto nazionale)
   • If staying 90 days or less: One completed Schengen visa form
   • The form must be completely filled out, clearly legible, and signed by you.

4. Photograph: One recent photograph meeting ICAO standards — 40mm tall, 35mm wide, full face, front view, color, on a white background.

5. Health Insurance Certificate: A letter or certificate from your travel medical insurance provider showing:

   • Coverage for medical expenses and hospitalization
   • Coverage for medical repatriation
   • Minimum coverage of €30,000 (or approximately $50,000 USD)
   • The insurance card alone is not sufficient; you must provide a formal certificate or letter from the insurer.

6. Proof of Highly Skilled Status: Documentation supporting one of the four pathways:

   • Degree: Original or certified copy of your diploma, plus CIMEA recognition or a Declaration of Value from an Italian embassy/consulate
   • Licensed Profession: Attestation from the relevant Italian Authority
   • Five Years' Experience: Certificates of employment, references, or professional credentials demonstrating five years at a tertiary-education level
   • ICT Fast-Track: Employment contracts or references demonstrating three years of ICT experience in the past seven years

7. Accommodation Proof:

   • Lease or Rental Contract: An original copy of a Contratto di Locazione ad Uso Abitativo (residential lease agreement) registered with the Agenzia delle Entrate (Italian Tax Authority). You must provide proof that the landlord has registered the lease.
   • The lease must be in your name and must cover the entire duration of your intended stay on the visa.
   • Hotel stays, offers of hospitality from third parties, and unregistered agreements are not acceptable.

8. Proof of Income:

   • Recent pay stubs (if employed)
   • Tax returns from the past 1–2 years
   • W-2 forms or equivalent
   • Three most recent bank statements showing regular deposits from your employer or clients
   • Invoices (for self-employed applicants)
   • A combination of the above, covering the past 6–12 months

9. Proof of Work Experience:

   • For Digital Nomads: Tax returns, client invoices, contracts with clients, membership in professional or trade associations, or portfolio of work
   • For Remote Workers: Tax returns, pay stubs, employment contracts, or a letter from your employer

10. Visa Application Fee: A nonrefundable fee (approximately €116 as of 2026, though this adjusts quarterly). Payment must be made by cashier's check or money order made out to the Consulate General of Italy. The exact amount is posted on your consulate's website and updates on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 based on the euro-to-dollar exchange rate.

11. Declaration for Mailing Passports:

    • One completed Declaration for Mailing Passports form
    • A self-addressed, pre-paid USPS Priority or Priority Express envelope (if applying in the United States)

Additional Documents for Remote Workers Only

1. Employment Contract: An original or certified copy showing:

   • Your salary equals or exceeds the collective labor agreement minimum and the ISTAT median annual salary
   • Your job duties and remote work arrangement
   • The contract term

2. Employer Letter: A signed letter on company letterhead from an executive, legal representative, or authorized agent stating:

   • The employer has not been convicted in the past five years of crimes related to illegal immigration, exploitation of minors, labor law violations, or other specified crimes
   • The letter must include the signer's name, title, and signature
   • A photocopy of the signer's photo ID must accompany the letter
   • (A template is available on Italian consulate websites)

Document Translation and Legalization

All documents issued by authorities or bodies outside the EU must be submitted as:

• A certified copy (or true copy of the original), legalized by the competent Italian embassy or consulate, OR
• An apostilled copy (certified by the competent authority in your country under the Hague Apostille Convention)
• Plus a certified Italian translation of the document

Documents issued by EU authorities may not require legalization, but check with your consulate. Always verify the specific requirements with the Italian consulate where you plan to apply, as procedures vary by location.