In Italy, there are several categories of business visas from which service providers can benefit.
As regards the category of service providers, the applicable entry visa depends mainly on your nationality, your country of residence, the length of your stay (less than 90 days or more than 90 days) and the reasons of your stay. It is also important whether or not there is an employment relationship (whether employed or self-employed, with an employer operating in Italy or abroad). For the visa categories concerning employment relationships, please refer to the dedicated sections on the Portal (employed worker; highly-qualified worker; self-employed worker). On the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, you can get any necessary information on the entry visa to be requested.
If you need a visa for Italy, you will be provided with all the information and forms needed to submit your application.
Less than 90 days: Short-term business visitors (STBV)
Categories of visa, permits or any similar type of authorisation regarding entry and temporary stay
- For short-term business visits to Italy, third-country nationals may apply for a Schengen Visa for business purposes. Such visa allows entry and stay in the territory for a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period for business purposes such as: contacts or negotiations; training; checks on the functioning of goods sold or bought in the framework of commercial contracts or industrial cooperation. This kind of visa is only limited to occasional activities/trade and does not serve as an entry visa to obtain a long-term visa or a residence permit.
- For short-term employment, third-country nationals may apply for a Schengen Visa for self-employment or salary-employment. The required documents to be presented are detailed below in the same requirements for a long-term visa or on this website.
Documentation required and conditions to be met for business purposes
To obtain the visa, the third-country nationals must produce documentation proving that:
- they are business visitors (e.g. business registration certificate, licence, etc.);
- the nature of their stay corresponds to the requested visa (e.g. through the person’s stay programme; that is, place and dates of business meetings planned or invitation letter);
- they are in possession of sufficient economic means to stay in Italy;
- they avail of an accommodation, either with a booking proof or hospitality invitation in Italy;
- they are covered by adequate health insurance;
- they are in possession of transportation tickets to come and leave Italy (or the means to acquire them).
- The business visa in question can be issued to accompanying staff, provided the reason for their presence be documented.
In the event the third-country national travels to Italy for business upon invitation from a company operating in Italy – be it for contacts, negotiations, training checks on the functioning of goods sold or bought, professional update, visit to the Italian factories or participation to exhibitions – the visa in question is issued provided an official invitation from the company established in Italy be presented. Such invitation must include the period and motive of the requested stay as well as the activities the third-country national will perform.
Where and how to file an application
- Business visas for short-term visits are issued by the diplomatic representations of the State abroad. The process may be initiated online by filling up the entry visa application form, available here. For more detailed information on specific requirements, please visit this page.
Application fees and indicative processing time
- Third-country nationals are charged €60 to cover the administrative costs of the process.
- Visas are issued within 15 to 60 days.
Stays longer than 90 days
For business stays longer than 90 days, a series of possibilities are available, depending on the purposes of the visit. For the categories concerning employment relationships, please refer to the dedicated sections (employed worker; self-employed worker, investors). The residence permit will finalise this kind of visa.
Independent professionals
The most relevant sub-category of visa for the category of independent professionals would be: Self-Employed Job.
Categories
Contractors or high professional figures employed by public or private entities that have to be included, in general, in an annually determined fixed quota. For more detailed information on the applicable conditions considering the different nationalities of origin, please check on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accessible in this link.
Documents required
- Official parameters issued by the Italian “Camera di Commercio”; available economic resources to support the activity to be undertaken; explicit authorisation by the Italian Authorities. More information on this website.
The maximum period of stay under each type of authorisation
- In general, authorisations for performing independent activities are granted for a maximum of two years, renewable. Residence permits are issued for the period of time and the purpose indicated in the visa.
- For specific agreements with Canada please refer to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and be aware of the bilateral agreement for young workers (November 2022).
Business visitors for establishment purposes
Two sub-categories can be relevant for business visitors for establishment purposes, depending on the individual situation:
Salary-employed job
Categories
- All the requested workers by Italian companies. They can be included in the fixed quotas or represent specialist typologies of job.
Documents required
- Authorisation by Italian authorities “Prefettura” through the release of Special Territorial Office by Labour and Interior Italian Ministry (“Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione – S.U.I.”). More information on this website.
Italy’s start-up visa
Categories of visa, permits or any similar type of authorisation regarding entry and temporary stay
- The start-up visa is an entry and residence permit for self-employed work reserved to those eager to launch an innovative start-up in Italy.
Documentation required and conditions to be met
The necessary documentation includes:
- the application form duly filled;
- a certificate proving the resources available;
- a valid identification and travel document.
In order to be eligible for the one-year start-up visa, the third-country national must avail of a capital of at least fifty thousand euros as well as a project to carry out in Italy. Such a project is evaluated by a technical Committee appointed by the Ministry of Economy.
Application fees and indicative processing time
- The evaluation of the project may take up to 30 days after reception of the application. In case of positive outcome, the worker receives, via email, an authorisation for self-employment aimed at establishing a start-up.
- The successful applicant may retrieve her/his entry visa within three months after the work authorisation is released.
Where and how to file an application
- Upon arrival in the country, the worker must follow the steps provided for to obtain a residence permit for self-employment; i.e. lodging a formal request for a residence permit at the Police Headquarters within eight days.
The maximum period of stay under each type of authorisation
- The maximum period of stay depends on the purpose of the stay, the legal frame of the job, the nationality and the age of the worker. In general, authorisations for performing independent activities are granted for a maximum of two years, renewable. Residence permits are issued for the period and the purpose indicated in the visa.
- For specific agreements with Canada please refer to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and be aware of the bilateral agreement for young workers (November 2022).
Contractual service suppliers (CSSs)
The categories of CSS are regulated by the Immigration Act with regard to “special case entries”.
Categories of visa, permits or any similar type of authorisation regarding entry and temporary stay
- In order to enter Italy for the purpose of working in contracting services, it is necessary to obtain an entry authorisation (issued by the Single Immigration Desk), an entry visa (issued by the Italian Diplomatic or Consular Representation) and a residence permit (issued by the Prefecture).
- The applicable entry visa depends mainly on the nationality, country of residence, the length of stay (less than 90 days or more than 90 days) and the reasons of stay. It is also important whether or not there is an employment relationship (whether employed or self-employed, with an employer operating in Italy or abroad).
Work permit requirements
- The procedure begins with the employer's request for entry clearance for the worker, submitted to the competent Single Immigration Desk. The application must be sent using the appropriate telematic forms provided on the web portal.
- For the visa categories concerning employment relationships, please refer to the dedicated sections on the Portal (employed worker; highly-qualified worker; self-employed worker). On the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, you can get any necessary information on the entry visa to be requested.
Documentation required and conditions to be met
If the workers are regularly remunerated by employers residing or having their registered office in a Member State of the European Union, it is necessary to attach to the residence permit application:
- a communication from the client, stating the contract under which the service provision takes place;
- a declaration from the employer containing the names of the detached workers and certifying the regularity of their situation regarding residency and work conditions in the Member State of the European Union where the employer is based.
The entry and stay of non-European Union cross-border workers are governed by the specific provisions provided for in international agreements.
Where and how to file an application
- The notification is submitted to the Single Immigration Desk on the web portal of the prefecture-territorial office of the Government.
- The Single Immigration Desk acquires the opinions of the Police Office and the Provincial Territorial Labour Directorate, and gives the employer the notification that the authorisation has been issued.
- The third-country citizen must go to the Italian Diplomatic or Consular Representation within 180 days to apply for the entry visa. Once the visa is obtained and the third-country worker enters Italy, he/she must go within 8 days, accompanied by the employer, to the Single Immigration Desk to sign the residence contract and apply for the work residence permit.
Application fees and indicative processing time
- Fees are paid by the employer at the time the application is submitted, at the rate of EUR 16 for the stamp to be affixed to the application.
- With regard to the processing time to issue the entry authorisation (preparatory to the application for a residence permit), it should be noted that the timeframe varies on the basis of the workload of the offices responsible for issuing it, and also in relation to the completeness or otherwise of the application (additional documents or information may be requested).
- The law does not establish any time limit for the conclusion of the process, and in any case in 2023 it was allowed to begin work immediately after the third-country worker entered the national territory, therefore even before official registration at the Single Desk for Immigration.
The maximum period of stay under each type of authorisation
- The entry visa and residence permit are issued for the time strictly necessary to carry out the work or provide the service. The employer must first send a communication to the provincial bodies of the workers' trade unions that are comparatively more representative in the sector concerned.
Conditions for any available extensions or renewal
- The entry authorisation is issued for the time specified in the application and may be extended if the requirements are met.
Rules regarding accompanying dependents
- The worker's family members may enter, accompanying or with subsequent family reunification, provided that the residence permit issued to the third-country national has a duration of at least 12 months.
Available review and/or appeal procedures
- An appeal against any decision rejecting the application may be made by hierarchical appeal to the Prefect, by judicial appeal to the court, or by extraordinary appeal to the Head of State.
Relevant laws of general application pertaining to the entry and temporary stay of natural persons
- The foreign company must guarantee its employees posted on the Italian territory the same minimum wage as the national collective agreement for the category applied to Italian or EU workers, as well as the payment of social security and welfare contributions.
Investors
You are considered an investor if you:
- plan an investment of at least €2 million in Bonds of the State for at least two years;
- plan an investment of at least € 500 thousand in the capital of a company established in Italy for at least two years; or € 250 thousand if such a company is an innovative start-up;
- plan a philanthropic donation of at least €1 million to support a project of public interest.
Documentation required and conditions to be met
In order to obtain the visa and residence permit for investors, the applicant must provide the following documentation:
- a valid travel document;
- documentation proving the availability of the sum in case of donation as well as the legality of its provenance.
The maximum period of stay under each type of authorisation
- The third-country national is given a two-year residence permit, renewable for three years.
Conditions for any available extensions or renewal
- Should the application be accepted, the third-country national is given a two-year residence permit, renewable for three years.
- Note that the residence permit may be revoked in the instance the investment or donation has not been done within three months after arrival.
Rules regarding accompanying dependents
- Family reunification is allowed provided the person residing in the Italian territory holds a residence permit of at least one-year time and meets the legal requirements as to income and accommodation.
Application fees and indicative processing time
- Third-country nationals are charged €116 to cover the administrative costs of the process.
- Visas are issued within 30 days.
Please see under ‘Conditions’ for all information on International Service Providers.
Please see under ‘Conditions’ for all information on International Service Providers.
Please see under ‘Conditions’ for all information on International Service Providers.