If you’re a non-EU national who wants to move to Italy and work as a self-employed individual, you will need an Italy Self-Employment Visa. But that’s just for entering Italy.
What is an Italy Self-Employment Visa?
The Itay Self-Employment visa is a type of Italian long-stay visa (national or D-visa). This is the type of visa you must apply for if you intend to work as a freelancer or open a start-up business in Italy.
However, the self-employment visa for Italy is simply an entrance visa. This means it allows you to enter the country, but you still need additional authorization to stay and work there.
You must have the authorization to work and the proper certification depending on what type of work you will perform prior to applying for the visa. You must get these authorizations in Italy while you are still in your home country. This means that you have to hire someone in Italy to assist you in getting these authorizations.
Who Should Apply for an Italy visa for Self Employment?
Any non-EU national who wants to go to Italy and work as a self-employed individual needs to apply for an Italy Self-Employment Visa.
The requirements for an Italian Self-Employment visa apply to non-EU countries who are exempt from the Schengen visa as well. This means that even if you are in Italy without a visa (because your non-EU country is exempt), you must leave Italy and apply for the long-stay visa from your home country.
The same applies to any foreign national who is in Italy with a Schengen visa. You cannot apply for a residence permit if you have not received your Italian long-stay visa.
EU nationals as well as citizens of Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland are free to enter the country and work with simply their IDs or passports. But for stays exceeding 90 days, they need to obtain an Italian residence permit as well.
How to Obtain an Italy Self Employment Visa?
There is a set of requirements you have to complete before and after you apply for the Italian self-employment visa.
In fact, applying for an Italian self-employment visa is the third step in the lengthy process that is becoming self-employed in Italy. In a nutshell, the process for obtaining a self-employment visa for Italy is as follows:
Apply for a Nulla Osta (authorization to perform self-employed work) from the local Immigration Desk (Sportello Unico Immigrazione – SUI).
Get the necessary authorization and documentation needed to perform the specific self-employed activity in Italy.
Apply for the Self-Employment Visa at the Italian Representation in your country (embassy/consulate).
Enter Italy and apply for an Italian residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) to be allowed to live and work in Italy legally.
