Italy · Business / Startup
Italy Self-employment visa
Income needed: €8,500+ a year ≈ $9,500
Self-employment visa (professionals and entrepreneurs)
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Self-employment visa is a business / startup route for Italy. Applicants need income of €8,500+ a year ≈ $9,500. You can stay 2 yrs, renewable. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Money needed
- €8,500+ a year ≈ $9,500
- Government fees
- €116 ≈ $130 · €30.46 ≈ $34
- Processing
- Up to 120 days
- First stay
- 2 yrs
Cost, time and long term
To apply: 2 government fees listed below; income to show €8,500+/yr ≈ $9,500; decision: up to 120 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government fees€116 ≈ $130 · €30.46 ≈ $34
- EUR 116 (≈ $130)National long-stay visa (type D) fee for work and family reasons, payable in local currency at the consular exchange rate.
- EUR 30.46 (≈ $34)Cost of the electronic residence permit card for a permit longer than 90 days; a contribution of EUR 40, (≈ $45) 50 or 100 depending on permit duration or type and a EUR 16 (≈ $18) tax stamp are also payable.
Shown, not spent€8,500+/yr ≈ $9,500
- EUR 8,500 a year (≈ $9,500)Income earned in the preceding fiscal year above the minimum for exemption from public healthcare participation.
RenewalRenewable
The permit lasts at most two years and each renewal at most three years. Request renewal at least 90 days before the permit expires; the Questura checks that the original conditions still apply.
Permanent residenceAfter 5 years of residence
The EU long-term residence permit needs five years on a valid residence permit, income at least the annual social allowance, and an Italian language test; it is issued within 90 days.
CitizenshipAfter 10 years of residence
Naturalisation needs 10 years of legal residence (4 years for EU citizens) and Italian at level B1 or above.
ProcessingUp to 120 days
The self-employment entry visa must be issued or refused within 120 days of the application; the residence permit is then decided within 90 days.
Where to applyFrom abroad
Apply for the self-employment visa at the Italian consulate after the Questura clearance (nulla osta) is issued.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Applications are made from outside Italy, not after arriving
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- The applicant is a regulated professional or an entrepreneur with a commercial activity significant for the Italian economy.
- Quota route: entrepreneurs with a plan of interest to the Italian economy, regulated-profession freelancers and company directors.
What you must show3
- Income in the previous fiscal year above EUR8,500, (≈ $9,500) the health-exemption level.
- The Chamber of Commerce declaration of reference parameters cannot be lower than three times the minimum social-welfare income, EUR14,000 (≈ $15,600).
- Quota route: own resources of at least EUR500,000 (≈ $559,000) and at least three new jobs for entrepreneurs.
Documents2
- Declaration from the competent authority or professional order, issued within the previous three months.
- Suitable lodging in Italy.
Steps2
- The Questura nulla osta must be issued within the 90 days before the visa application.
- Quota route: 500 places a year in 2026, 2027 and 2028, shared by entrepreneurs, professionals, company directors, well-known artists and innovative start-up founders, within 650 self-employment places a year.
What happens at day 183
How Italy decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 2 years at first, renewable
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in a tax year (184 days in leap years)A person who for most of the year (at least 183 days, 184 in leap years) satisfies at least one residence condition is resident in Italy for income tax.
- Foreign-source income
Flat lump sum EUR 300,000
Optional annual lump sum replacing Italian tax on foreign-source income: EUR300,000 (≈ $335,000) for people transferring residence from 1 January 2026 (Law 199/2025), EUR200,000 (≈ $223,000) for transfers between 11 August 2024 and 31 December 2025, EUR100,000 (≈ $112,000) for earlier transfers; the effect ends after fifteen years.
- Special regime
Substitute tax for new residents on foreign-source income · Tax relief
All tax rules for Italy Tax records checked
Full official text
Visa for regulated professionals and entrepreneurs with a significant activity. It needs a Questura nulla osta, a declaration of reference parameters from the Chamber of Commerce or professional order, and prior-year income above the health-exemption level. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
What you must show and pay
- Income of over EUR 8,500 a year (≈ $9,500) · Income earned in the preceding fiscal year above the minimum for exemption from public healthcare participation. 1
- A fee of EUR 116 (≈ $130) · National long-stay visa (type D) fee for work and family reasons, payable in local currency at the consular exchange rate. 5
- A fee of EUR 30.46 (≈ $34) · Cost of the electronic residence permit card for a permit longer than 90 days; a contribution of EUR 40, (≈ $45) 50 or 100 depending on permit duration or type and a EUR 16 (≈ $18) tax stamp are also payable. 6
Requirements
- The applicant is a regulated professional or an entrepreneur with a commercial activity significant for the Italian economy. 1
- Quota route: entrepreneurs with a plan of interest to the Italian economy, regulated-profession freelancers and company directors. 2
- Income in the previous fiscal year above EUR8,500, (≈ $9,500) the health-exemption level. 1
- The Chamber of Commerce declaration of reference parameters cannot be lower than three times the minimum social-welfare income, EUR14,000 (≈ $15,600). 1
- Quota route: own resources of at least EUR500,000 (≈ $559,000) and at least three new jobs for entrepreneurs. 2
- Declaration from the competent authority or professional order, issued within the previous three months. 1
- Suitable lodging in Italy. 1
- The Questura nulla osta must be issued within the 90 days before the visa application. 1
- Quota route: 500 places a year in 2026, 2027 and 2028, shared by entrepreneurs, professionals, company directors, well-known artists and innovative start-up founders, within 650 self-employment places a year. 2
Stay
- The self-employment residence permit lasts at most two years and each renewal at most three years.
- First stay: up to 24 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Non-EU/EEA nationals Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Work
Self-employment or entrepreneurial activity.
Family
Your spouse or partner may work in Italy without a separate permit.
Official sources
- Self-employment visas · Consulate General of Italy in New York (MAECI) · checked 2026-10-10
- DPCM of 2 October 2025: entry flows of foreign workers 2026-2028 (Gazzetta Ufficiale n. 240 of 15 October 2025) · Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2025-10-15
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Art. 5 (residence permit) · Normattiva · checked 2026-10-11
- The visa for Italy: long-stay visa types (investors, self-employment, subordinate work, elective residence, research, study, working holiday) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs · checked 2026-10-10
- Cost for a visa and how to pay · Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Italian Embassy in Addis Ababa) · checked 2026-10-11
- How, where and how much: applying for a residence permit · State Police (Polizia di Stato) · checked 2026-10-11
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Art. 28 (right to family unity) · Normattiva · checked 2026-10-11
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Articles 28-30 (family reunification and family-reasons permit) · Normattiva · checked 2026-10-10
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Art. 30: residence permit for family reasons · Normattiva (Italian Government) · checked 2026-10-12
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Art. 9 (EU long-term resident permit) · Normattiva (Presidenza del Consiglio dei ministri) · checked 2026-10-11
- Citizenship by residence, Art. 9 of Law 91/1992 · Ministero dell'Interno · checked 2026-10-11
- Law 91/1992, Art. 9.1 (Italian language level B1 for citizenship) · Normattiva (Presidenza del Consiglio dei ministri) · checked 2026-10-11
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Art. 26 (self-employment) · Normattiva (Presidenza del Consiglio dei ministri) · checked 2026-10-11
Self-employment visa and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-employment visa | Needs income of €8,500+ a year ≈ $9,500 | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Startup Visa | Needs savings of €50k+ ≈ $56k | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Startup Visa Portugal | Needs savings of €6,446+ ≈ $7,200 | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Entrepreneur visa Spain | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| Business investor permit Greece | Needs an investment of €500k+ ≈ $559k | 5 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Self-employment visa?
Income of over EUR 8,500 a year (≈ $9,500). Income earned in the preceding fiscal year above the minimum for exemption from public healthcare participation. A fee of EUR 116 (≈ $130). National long-stay visa (type D) fee for work and family reasons, payable in local currency at the consular exchange rate. A fee of EUR 30.46 (≈ $34). Cost of the electronic residence permit card for a permit longer than 90 days; a contribution of EUR 40, (≈ $45) 50 or 100 depending on permit duration or type and a EUR 16 (≈ $18) tax stamp are also payable.
How long can I stay on the Self-employment visa?
The self-employment residence permit lasts at most two years and each renewal at most three years.
How long does the Self-employment visa take to process?
The self-employment entry visa must be issued or refused within 120 days of the application; the residence permit is then decided within 90 days.
Can I work on the Self-employment visa?
Self-employment or entrepreneurial activity.
Can I bring my family on the Self-employment visa?
Your spouse or partner may work in Italy without a separate permit.
Who can apply for the Self-employment visa?
Non-EU/EEA nationals Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Does the Self-employment visa lead to permanent residence in Italy?
Time on the Self-employment visa counts toward permanent residence in Italy, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. Time on the Self-employment visa counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 10 years of residence.
Is there a tax break for Self-employment visa holders in Italy?
Substitute tax for new residents on foreign-source income (Art. 24-bis TUIR, flat tax): Optional annual lump sum replacing Italian tax on foreign-source income: EUR300,000 (≈ $335,000) for people transferring residence from 1 January 2026 (Law 199/2025), EUR200,000 (≈ $223,000) for transfers between 11 August 2024 and 31 December 2025, EUR100,000 (≈ $112,000) for earlier transfers; the effect ends after fifteen years. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Substitute tax for new residents on foreign-source income (Art. 24-bis TUIR, flat tax)
Tax relief
Details
- Who: Not resident in Italy for at least nine of the ten tax periods before the option starts
- Limit: €300k/yr ≈ $335k
Optional annual lump sum replacing Italian tax on foreign-source income: EUR300,000 (≈ $335,000) for people transferring residence from 1 January 2026 (Law 199/2025), EUR200,000 (≈ $223,000) for transfers between 11 August 2024 and 31 December 2025, EUR100,000 (≈ $112,000) for earlier transfers; the effect ends after fifteen years.
Taxed on
Foreign-source income of eligible individuals who transfer residence to Italy; Italian-source income is taxed under ordinary rules.
Who it applies to
- Not resident in Italy for at least nine of the ten tax periods before the option starts.
- The option is made in the tax return for the transfer year or the next one; an advance ruling request (interpello) is possible.
- Family members who meet the same residence test can be added at EUR50,000 (≈ $55,900) each a year from 1 January 2026 (EUR25,000 (≈ $27,900) for earlier cohorts).
- The option can exclude chosen foreign states, whose income is then taxed under ordinary rules with a foreign tax credit.
Exclusions
- Italian-source income stays under ordinary taxation.
- Gains on substantial participations (Art. 67(1)(c) TUIR) realised in the first five option periods are outside the lump sum.
- Revocation or loss of the option (for example for non-payment) bars a new option.
Limits
- EUR 300,000 a year (≈ $335,000) · Main taxpayer: residence transferred from 1 January 2026 (Law 199/2025 art. 1 paras. 25-26 raised EUR200,000 (≈ $223,000) to EUR300,000 (≈ $335,000))
- EUR 50,000 a year (≈ $55,900) · Per family member, residence transferred from 1 January 2026
- EUR 200,000 a year (≈ $223,000) · Main taxpayer: residence transferred 11 August 2024 to 31 December 2025
- EUR 25,000 a year (≈ $27,900) · Per family member, transfers before 1 January 2026
- EUR 100,000 a year (≈ $112,000) · Main taxpayer: transfers before 11 August 2024
Tax residence
The cohort is set by the date residence is transferred to Italy. The lump sum is paid in one instalment by the balance-payment deadline, and the option lapses after fifteen tax periods.
Visas
No visa is needed for the election; it is a tax option.
Other taxes
Italian VAT, social contributions and local taxes are separate.
Checked against official sources on Change log
More in Italy
Business / startup visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 13 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Self-employment visas · Consulate General of Italy in New York (MAECI) · checked 2026-10-10
- DPCM of 2 October 2025: entry flows of foreign workers 2026-2028 (Gazzetta Ufficiale n. 240 of 15 October 2025) · Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana · checked 2026-10-11
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Art. 5 (residence permit) · Normattiva · checked 2026-10-11
- The visa for Italy: long-stay visa types (investors, self-employment, subordinate work, elective residence, research, study, working holiday) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs · checked 2026-10-10
- Cost for a visa and how to pay · Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Italian Embassy in Addis Ababa) · checked 2026-10-11
- How, where and how much: applying for a residence permit · State Police (Polizia di Stato) · checked 2026-10-11
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Art. 28 (right to family unity) · Normattiva · checked 2026-10-11
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Articles 28-30 (family reunification and family-reasons permit) · Normattiva · checked 2026-10-10
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Art. 30: residence permit for family reasons · Normattiva (Italian Government) · checked 2026-10-12
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Art. 9 (EU long-term resident permit) · Normattiva (Presidenza del Consiglio dei ministri) · checked 2026-10-11
- Citizenship by residence, Art. 9 of Law 91/1992 · Ministero dell'Interno · checked 2026-10-11
- Law 91/1992, Art. 9.1 (Italian language level B1 for citizenship) · Normattiva (Presidenza del Consiglio dei ministri) · checked 2026-10-11
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Art. 26 (self-employment) · Normattiva (Presidenza del Consiglio dei ministri) · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.