VISA FEE: CFA F 60,000
The employment visa allows a foreign national to carry out in Italy a work activity under an employment relationship with an Italian employer or a foreign employer legally operating in the national territory.
As a general rule, entry for subordinate work is subject to the annual quotas established by the Decreto Flussi, adopted by Prime Ministerial Decree (D.P.C.M.), which applicants are strongly encouraged to review carefully.
The issuance of employment visas requires—except in specific cases—the prior obtainment of the work authorization (nulla osta) issued by the Single Immigration Desk (Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione – SUI). This authorization is an indispensable prerequisite for the subsequent visa application. The nulla osta is issued after verifying the availability of quota, the employer’s financial capacity, the adequacy of the job offer, and the absence of grounds for refusal concerning the worker. It is transmitted electronically by the SUI to the competent diplomatic‑consular Representation and must be used within six (6) months from issuance for hires falling under the Decreto Flussi quotas, or within four (4) months for special cases under Article 27 of Legislative Decree 286/1998 (entries outside quotas or subject to special procedures). After this period, the nulla osta expires and must be requested again by the employer.
Once the visa has been issued and the worker has entered Italy, they must report to the SUI to sign the residence contract, which formalizes the employer’s commitment and enables the application for the residence permit for subordinate work at the competent Questura.
PLEASE NOTE: For employment visas in the domestic and home‑care sector (housekeepers, caregivers, home assistants), the Decreto Flussi introduces a prohibition on hiring workers who are relatives (grandparents, parents, siblings, grandchildren) or in‑laws (parents‑in‑law, sons/daughters‑in‑law, brothers/sisters‑in‑law) up to the second degree of the assisted person or the employer.
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:
- Work authorization (nulla osta) issued by the competent SUI;
- Curriculum vitae, accompanied by any additional documentation relating to academic and/or professional qualifications, as well as reference letters from previous employers;
- Updated company registration extract (visura camerale) and financial documents (balance sheets, tax returns, or other evidence of economic solidity and actual business activity such as website, photos of premises, licenses, authorizations); for domestic employers: documents proving the household’s financial capacity (e.g., previous year’s income tax return);
- Copy of the employment contract or job offer submitted to the SUI, including a detailed description of duties, working hours, workplace, and salary level, to verify compliance with national collective labour agreements (CCNL);
- Information on the applicant’s family and housing situation in the country of origin, to assess migration risk;
- Proof of accommodation in Italy, if not already provided by the employer;
- For domestic and home‑care sector visas: birth certificates of the applicant (and spouse, if applicable), their parents, and the employer and their parents.
Special Cases
Healthcare Professions
Issuance of the visa requires not only the nulla osta but also the prior recognition of the professional qualification by the Ministry of Health. If the activity to be carried out in a healthcare facility does not involve performing regulated healthcare tasks, the visa application must include a declaration from the facility’s legal representative confirming that no professional recognition is required.
Foreign Athletes
The employment visa for foreign athletes is issued on the basis of a nominal authorization from CONI, required for both professional and amateur activities. For minor athletes, in addition to parental travel authorization, an authorization from the Territorial Labour Directorate is required to verify compatibility with child‑protection rules.
Foreign Journalists (Correspondents)
Journalists assigned as official correspondents in Italy do not require a SUI nulla osta. However, the employment visa may be issued only after obtaining the authorization of the Press Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI). The applicant must register in the “Journalists’ Area” of the MAECI website (https://www.esteri.it/it/sala_stampa/areagiornalisti/accreditamento/), complete the online form, and upload a letter from the Editor‑in‑Chief confirming the appointment, specifying role and duration. A unique identification number is then issued and must be communicated to the diplomatic mission of the journalist’s home country in Italy, which will submit a Note Verbale requesting accreditation. For further information, you may consult the “Practical Guide for the Foreign Press”, available in the same section of the MAECI website (https://www.esteri.it/it/sala_stampa/areagiornalisti/guida_per_stampa_estera/). Family members may receive a mission visa, subject to the same authorization and accreditation procedures.
Members of media crews (TV, Radio, Film, Press) travelling to Italy for short professional stays must apply for a business visa, provided the legal requirements for that category are met.
Seafarers
Foreign seafarers assigned to Italian‑flagged vessels do not require a SUI nulla osta and, if classified as “seafarers,” are exempt from the employment visa under Article 318 of the Navigation Code. However, personnel working in complementary services or hospitality on Italian cruise ships must obtain a maritime employment visa, issued on the basis of:
- Formal request from the shipping company;
- Individual employment contract;
- Service contract for onboard activities;
- Vessel registration certificate in the International Register.
If the seafarer is only joining or leaving the vessel without performing work in Italy, a transit visa is sufficient.
Workers Assigned to Vatican Entities
Foreign nationals called to work for bodies or departments of the Vatican City State do not fall under Italian employment categories. In such cases, the appropriate visa is the elective residence visa, issued on the basis of a certificate from the Vatican entity, authenticated by the Secretariat of State, confirming the assignment, availability of accommodation, and inclusion of the worker (and accompanying family members) in the Vatican healthcare system.