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Italy work visa (Flows Decree)

Work visa under the Flows Decree (lavoro subordinato)

In short

Ordinary employment in Italy is admitted within the annual quotas of the Flows Decree. Your Italian employer applies to the prefecture's Single Immigration Desk for a nulla osta; once it is issued, you apply for the work visa at the Italian mission responsible for your place of residence with the employment contract and professional documents.

checked 25 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
91 to 365 days on the visa; then a residence permit in Italy
Fee
€116National (D) visa fee under Italy's consular fee table; the mission states the currency and method of payment, and an external service provider, where used, charges its own fee.
Processing time
The visa can only be requested after the nulla osta is issued; statutory processing time for type D visas is 90 days.
Work
Employment with the sponsoring employer.
Family
Family reunification after obtaining the permit, through a SUI nulla osta.
Path to permanent residence
EU long-term residence permit after five years with income and A2 Italian.
Where to apply
Employer applies to the SUI in Italy; you then apply at the Italian mission responsible for your place of residence.

Documents for the visa

The checklist asks for the SUI nulla osta, a copy of the employment contract signed by the employer, your professional diploma with its declaration of value and training certificates, proof of current or last employment and social insurance record, and an outbound flight booking.

Required documents

Identity

  • National (type D) application form, completed, dated and signed at item 37 and on the last page
  • One ICAO photo 35 × 40 mm and a passport valid at least three months beyond the visa, with copies of current and previous passports
  • Copy of your national ID card; non-nationals: residence permit in the country where you apply; civil status certificate where the checklist asks for it

Travel

  • Outbound flight booking

Work

  • Nulla osta issued by the prefecture's Single Immigration Desk (SUI)
  • Copy of the employment contract signed by the Italian employer
  • Proof of current or last employment and social insurance record

Study

  • Professional diploma with declaration of value and training certificates

Quota and nulla osta

The government sets annual entry quotas in the Flows Decree (Decreto Flussi). Within these quotas the employer submits the request to the Single Immigration Desk of the prefecture, which checks the conditions and issues the nulla osta. Only then can the worker lodge the visa application at the Italian mission responsible for their residence.

The DPCM of 2 October 2025, published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale on 15 October 2025, sets the overall ceiling for people living abroad, covering seasonal and non-seasonal employment and self-employment, at 164,850 entries for 2026, 165,850 for 2027 and 166,850 for 2028; the quotas are then distributed by sector and prefecture.

  1. Your Italian employer applies for the nulla osta within the Flows Decree quota and sends it to you.
  2. Download the official "Employment – Flows Decree" checklist from the Italian mission responsible for your place of residence and complete the national (type D) application form.
  3. Book an appointment with the mission or its external service provider and lodge the file in person with originals, apostilled and translated documents where required.
  4. Pay the visa fee as the mission indicates; the statutory processing time for a type D visa is 90 days.
  5. Within 8 working days of entering Italy, apply for the residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) through the post office kit or the Questura.
  6. Attend the Questura appointment for fingerprints and, for permits of a year or more, sign the integration agreement.

After arrival

Within 8 days of entry you go with the employer to the Single Immigration Desk to sign the residence contract, then apply for the work permit; for permits of a year or more you also sign the integration agreement.

Renewal and long-term residence

The permit is renewed while the employment continues. After five years of lawful residence, with income at least equal to the annual social allowance and A2 Italian, you can apply for the EU long-term residence permit.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for an Italian work visa without a nulla osta?

No. The visa application can only be submitted once the prefecture has issued it.

What is the Flows Decree?

The government decree that sets annual quotas for the entry of non-EU workers.

Do I need proof of my current employment?

Yes, the checklist asks for proof of current or last employment and your social insurance record.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Italy

Visits and short stays

Business and self-employment

  • Business visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period

Study and training

Work

  • EU Blue Card Validity: Two years for an open-ended contract; for fixed-term contracts, the contract length plus three months.
  • Digital nomad visa Maximum stay: 91 to 365 days on the visa; then a residence permit in Italy

Family

Residence

  • Retirement visa Maximum stay: 91 to 365 days on the visa; then a residence permit in Italy
  • Permanent residence Validity: 10 years for adults, 5 years for minors; the status is permanent.

Protection

  • Asylum and international protection Validity: Asylum-seeker permit: until the decision; refugee and subsidiary protection: five years, renewable; special protection: two years, renewable.

Italy visa guide