Would you like to travel and work in beautiful Italy? Do you want to know how to get a work permit to work in the Italy? If you hoping to living and work in the historic cities of Rome, Florence, Venice and Bologna your timing could not have been better.
You, my friends are in good hands!
Due to the labor shortages, there have been over 608,000 pre-applications already filed with the government. These filings make it possible for applicants to participate in an annual work visa lottery that opened in December 2023.
The quota permitting individuals from countries outside of the European Union has been set at 136,000. Italian governmental officials explain that this figure is higher than the quota set in 2023, but much lower than what employers are demanding.
The good news is that by 2026, Giorgia Meloni has pledged that the quota will be raised to 165,000. Why? Because a large portion of Italian workers are getting older and nearing retirement. For instance, it has been estimated that the working age members of Italian society will drop by 6mm within 15 short years. The Italian agriculture industry paints a dire picture. Such that foreign workers from other countries represent about one-third of the annual labor needs.
Quotas for Italy Work Permits
What were the numbers of pre-applicants for Italian Work Permits? How were the pre-applications broken down by sector?
+ 260,952 seasonal jobs in agriculture and tourism
+ 253,473 non-seasonal jobs in construction and related industries
+86,074 domestic workers in health and social settings
How to get a work permit in the Italy
EU Blue Card Application
Now that you know Italy is experiencing a labor shortage, you may wonder how to become authorized to work in Italy. The European Union Immigration Commission lists the following conditions to be eligible to apply for an EU Blue Card (if you are a citizen of one of member countries of the EU:
- have in your possession a valid work contract or binding job offer for highly qualified employment that lasts for a period of at least 1 year;
- meet the minimum salary threshold in the Member State concerned. Here is some guidance: your wages must be equal to or higher than the relevant salary threshold defined by the Member State (at least 1.5 times the average gross annual salary in the Member State concerned). For Italy, the minimum salary threshold in 2023 is set at: 24 789.93 EUR.
- for regulated professions (meaning doctor, electrician, plumber, lawyer, teacher) : present documents proving that the national legal requirements are met;
- for unregulated professions (most general labor workers): present documents proving that the relevant higher professional qualifications are met (for more information about higher professional qualifications, see the FAQ section);
- present a valid travel document, an application for a visa or a visa (if necessary), and a valid residence permit or a national long-term visa (if appropriate);
- present a proof of health insurance (or a proof that you have already submitted an application for health insurance.
- provide guarantee that you do not pose a threat to public policy in the view of the Member State. S/he may also be required to provide his/her address in that Member country.
Once your application is approved, it lasts for two years! But, only if your contract with your employer is permanent. If you hold a temporary work contract with your employer, then the EU Blue Card will only last up to the date of the end of the employment contract plus (+) an additional three months.
Steps to get a work permit as a citizen of non-EU country
Apply for an Authorization to Work
Your employer must apply for an authorization to work at the One-Stop-Shops for Immigration in the Prefettura of the province of the work location. A work permit authorizing you to work will be granted only if you come within the range of the annual quota set for non-EU workers. Once a work permit has been authorized, the consulate or the embassy of the applicant’s home country will be informed electronically by the One-Stop-Shop will electronically to let them know that a work permit has been issued.
Entry Visa
The embassy or consulate in your country of origin or residence will produce a visa allowing you to gain entry into Italy. But be forewarned. The visa must be picked up within six months so that you can use it to enter the country. . This period of time is calculated starting from the date on which the authorization to work is released. The authorization to work is necessary to obtain the entry visa.
Residence permit
Be careful. You have to move quickly. Why ? Because within about one week (8 days of arrival in Italy), you must apply for a residence permit at the One-Stop-Shop for Immigration in the Prefettura of the province where you will work.
Costs
How much does it cost to get a visa to live in Italy? As a general rule, visas to enter the Italian territory (excluding Uniform Schengen Visas) cost €116. As for residence permits, their cost is €40 for stays between 3 and 12 months; €50 for stays between 12 and 24 months; and €100 for long-term residence permits, highly-qualified workers and intra-corporate transferees. In addition, administrative costs amount to €30 for the sending of the postal kit; €16 for the tax stamp; and €30.46 for issuance costs.
You can click here at the EU Immigration Portal for more details. Thanks for reading!