Self-Employment Visa (Lavoro Autonomo)

Eligibility Quiz

What's Happening

Today

Italy's self-employment visa remains highly quota-constrained (650 slots annually under Decreto Flussi) with strict Chamber of Commerce approval requirements, but applicants now have alternative non-quota pathways via the Scaleup Act (for innovative startups) or the newly operational Digital Nomad Visa (for remote workers earning €28,000+).

Mar 18, 2026

Italian consulates began accepting Digital Nomad Visa applications, offering a non-quota alternative for remote workers earning €28,000+ annually with no requirement to establish a business in Italy.

remoteworkeurope.eu ↗

Mar 2, 2026

Italy published final implementing guidelines for its Digital Nomad Visa, setting minimum income at €28,000/year, confirming no annual quota cap, and opening consulate applications from 18 March 2026 for remote workers.

visahq.com ↗

Feb 16, 2026

Italy opened the 2026 'click day' for non-seasonal work permits under Decreto Flussi, with 75,000 positions available; self-employment applications follow the same quota system with limited slots filling quickly.

visahq.com ↗

Dec 12, 2025

Italy converted the 2026-2028 Flow Decree into law (Law 179/2025), locking in 497,550 work-visa slots and introducing digital pre-filling systems and faster processing procedures for quota applications.

visahq.com ↗

Oct 15, 2025

Italy published the 2026-2028 Decreto Flussi (Flow Decree) allocating 497,550 work permits over three years, with 650 self-employment visas per year (down from earlier estimates of 1,500 total) and expanded sectors for non-seasonal work.

infomigrants.net ↗

Dec 16, 2024

Italy's Scaleup Act (Law 193/2024) enacted, updating the Startup Act with stricter R&D thresholds (15% of turnover), extended registration periods (up to 9 years for scale-ups), and new tax incentives for innovative startups and SMEs.

startupbusiness.it ↗