Following in the footsteps of a growing number of countries, Italy is also planning to introduce a new visa to attract traveling remote professionals, known as digital nomads.
The move is part of a series of economic measures recently taken by the Italian government to help the economy recover more quickly from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Many non-EU citizens can stay in Italy for up to 90 days without a visa, but those who want to work there legally must apply for a visa and a work permit.
The new scheme aims to make obtaining visas easier for professionals who can perform "highly qualified work activities through the use of technological tools that allow them to work remotely, autonomously, or for a company that is not based in the territory of the Italian state."
The proposed plan adds a new paragraph to Article 27 of the consolidated immigration law.
“We are happy to have approved the proposal, but we are also aware of the next steps. The government has to work on a new bill to implement the law, defining all the procedures and details,” Five Star Movement MP Luca Carabetta, a supporter of the digital nomad visa, told The Local.
He added that they're working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the issue and expressed confidence that they'll lead the process.
According to the MP, the approval allows for "the establishment of a dedicated visa and permit lasting one year, which can be extended for a further year and can be extended to the family unit of the remote worker."
What are the requirements?
It's not yet clear what specific requirements must be met to obtain the Italian digital nomad visa.
However, Carabetta said that general requirements include "the availability of suitable accommodation, a reasonable income, health insurance, and a clean criminal record."
Another requirement announced so far is that the person must comply with tax and fiscal regulations that apply to other workers based in Italy.
The business newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore reports that the category of "highly qualified workers" includes everyone “from university professors to circus employees, seafarers, and professional nurses."
It also reports that these professionals won't be subject to restrictions on the maximum number of work permits issued each year, known as foreign workers’ quota. But "their entry is in any case subject to the issue of a work permit which must be requested by their employer."
€1 billion investment
According to SchengenVisaInfo, the Italian government recently announced plans to invest €1 billion to attract digital nomads to the country's villages.
The initiative aims to transform some 2,000 "ghost towns" into attractive destinations for slow-traveling remote workers, whose numbers are growing rapidly thanks to the increase in remote work as a result of COVID -19.
Until the proposed Digital Nomad Visa is officially introduced, there are other visa options that non-EU remote workers wishing to work from Italy can apply for.
These include the self-employment visa, the EU Blue Card, and intra-company visa. You can learn more about these visa schemes here.
