If you're not an EU citizen and want to move to Italy for a medium-to-long stay without an Italian employment contract, these are the three visas worth knowing about. The main difference between them isn't how much you earn, but where that income comes from and what you're allowed to do once you're in Italy.
Designed for those who work — as an employee or freelancer — for employers or clients based outside Italy. It's the only one of the three that lets you keep actively working once you arrive.
- Minimum annual income required (threshold tied to three times the minimum health-exemption level)
- Health insurance valid in Italy
- Proof of remote work activity already ongoing for some time
Designed for those who can support themselves with passive income — pension, rental income, investments — without working in Italy. It's the opposite of the Digital Nomad on this point: working isn't allowed here, not even remotely.
- Stable, demonstrable passive income, at a higher amount than the Digital Nomad Visa
- Housing available in Italy already at the time of application
- No work activity permitted, not even online
The path for those willing to invest a significant sum in Italy — in an innovative startup, an existing company, philanthropy, or government bonds. It's generally the fastest to get a response, but requires the highest capital of the three.
- Minimum investment varies by chosen category (innovative startup, company, philanthropic donation, government bonds)
- The capital must be invested and maintained, not just shown at the time of application
- A dedicated nulla osta (clearance) procedure comes before the actual visa application
How to tell which one fits you
The simplest starting point is asking yourself where your income comes from today, and whether you intend to keep working once you move. If you work remotely for a foreign company or clients, the Digital Nomad is the natural route. If you live off a pension or investment income and don't need to work, Elective Residency is designed exactly for that. If you have capital to invest and want a more direct path, the Investor Visa avoids many of the income constraints of the other two — at the cost of a larger financial commitment.
A common mistake
Many people choose a visa based on which one they think is "easiest," without considering what happens afterward. The Digital Nomad Visa, for example, isn't suited to someone who actually wants to start a business in Italy — other paths exist for that. Likewise, Elective Residency isn't designed for someone planning to top up their income with occasional gig work once they arrive: doing so risks violating the conditions of the visa itself.