Self Employment Visa

VISA FEE: CFA F 60,000 

The self‑employment visa is the entry document that allows third‑country nationals to carry out in Italy an economic activity organised in an independent form, that is, without any employment relationship. This includes entrepreneurial activities (individual or corporate), regulated or unregulated liberal professions, artisanal or commercial activities, as well as certain specific categories identified under Article 27 of the Consolidated Immigration Act (e.g., renowned artists, athletes, highly qualified professionals) when operating as self‑employed workers. It may be issued for short stays (e.g., start‑up procedures, contractual arrangements, preliminary formalities) or for long‑term stays, fixed‑term or open‑ended, aimed at establishing a stable economic presence in Italy.

As a general rule, entry for self‑employment is subject to the annual quotas established by the Decreto Flussi, adopted by Prime Ministerial Decree (D.P.C.M.), which applicants are strongly advised to consult.

ENTRIES “WITHIN THE QUOTAS”

Self‑employment entries within the quotas are permitted exclusively for the specific categories expressly listed in the current Decreto Flussi:

1. Entrepreneurs carrying out activities of interest to the Italian economy, demonstrated through a business plan clearly showing the availability of personal financial resources—of lawful origin—of no less than €500,000 for the investment project, and the prospect of creating at least three (3) new jobs.
2. Liberal professionals exercising regulated or supervised professions (lawyers, doctors, engineers, etc.). The relevant professional body verifies qualifications and issues the required certification, possibly after recognition of foreign qualifications under sectoral legislation; or unregulated professions, provided they are represented by national associations registered in public administration lists and authorised to issue certificates of professional quality and qualification.
3. Holders of administrative or control positions in non‑cooperative Italian companies (joint‑stock companies, limited liability companies, and limited partnerships with share capital), strictly listed in Interministerial Decree 850/2011: President, Board Member, Chief Executive Officer, and Statutory Auditor. In this case, the financial resource certification is replaced by the company’s registration certificate in the Companies Register and a formal declaration by the company’s legal representative to the Territorial Labour Directorate confirming that no employment relationship will be established with the applicant.
4. Renowned or Highly Qualified Artists, who must provide: a copy of the self‑employment contract guaranteeing remuneration higher than that provided by national collective agreements for comparable employed workers; a formal declaration by the legal representative of the hosting entity to the Territorial Labour Directorate confirming that no employment relationship will be established; a police clearance (nulla osta) issued by the competent Questura; proof of accommodation (hotel booking or declaration by the contracting party providing suitable housing). Short‑term self‑employment/entertainment visas are issued outside the quotas, upon presentation of the contract alone.
5. Foreign nationals intending to establish an innovative start‑up in Italy (as defined in Article 25(2) of Law 221/2012), who must submit: the nulla osta issued by the “Italia Start‑up Visa” Technical Committee, created within the Ministry of Economic Development (https://italiastartupvisa.mise.gov.it/); documentation proving the availability of financial resources—of lawful origin—dedicated to the start‑up, of no less than €50,000; proof of suitable accommodation (hotel booking, rental contract, or declaration by a third party providing suitable housing); proof of having earned in the previous year in the country of origin a lawful income exceeding the minimum threshold required for exemption from healthcare co‑payment.

Foreign athletes called to Italy to perform self‑employment activities may obtain a visa only upon presentation of a nominal authorisation from CONI, accompanied by the nulla osta from the competent Questura, explicitly stating that the activity falls under self‑employment. These entries are outside the quotas.

Forms of “self‑employment” that in fact resemble subordinate employment (e.g., coordinated and continuous collaborations—CO.CO.CO.) are not included within the quota categories, particularly when they involve predetermined periodic remuneration, a fixed workplace, organisational constraints, or long‑term continuity.

Required Documentation

To obtain the visa, the applicant must submit, in addition to the duly completed and signed application form, a valid travel document and passport photos:

• Declaration of no impediments issued by the competent Italian administrative authority, when authorisations, licences, activity notifications, or registrations in specific registers are required;
• Certification of the financial resources necessary for the activity, issued by the competent Chamber of Commerce (CCIAA) or relevant professional body;
• Provisional nulla osta issued by the Questura competent for the place where the activity will be carried out, valid for no more than three months from issuance;
• Proof of suitable accommodation (property deed, rental contract, hotel booking, or declaration by the contracting party providing suitable housing);
• Proof of an annual income—of lawful origin—exceeding the minimum threshold required for exemption from healthcare co‑payment. This income cannot be demonstrated through bank guarantees or insurance policies.

ENTRIES “OUTSIDE THE QUOTAS”

Self‑employment entries outside the quotas are permitted for the following categories, strictly listed in Article 27(1)(a–d) of Legislative Decree 286/1998:

1. Managers or highly specialised staff of foreign or Italian companies with headquarters, branches, or representative offices in Italy, employed in the same sector for at least six months prior to transfer;
2. University language assistants engaged in academic activities within exchange or linguistic teaching programmes;
3. University professors assigned to academic positions at Italian universities;
4. Professional translators and interpreters.

Required Documentation

To obtain the visa, the applicant must submit, in addition to the duly completed and signed application form, a valid travel document and passport photos:

• Certification from the Territorial Labour Directorate confirming that the professional services contract does not constitute an employment relationship;
• Copy of the professional services contract;
• Provisional nulla osta issued by the competent Questura, valid for no more than three months from issuance;
• Proof of suitable accommodation (property deed, rental contract, hotel booking, or declaration by the contracting party providing suitable housing);
• Proof of an annual income—of lawful origin—exceeding the minimum threshold required for exemption from healthcare co‑payment. This income cannot be demonstrated through bank guarantees or insurance policies.