Italy immigration starts with one question: how long are you staying? Visits of up to 90 days in any 180 fall under the Schengen rules shared by 29 countries, and many nationalities need no visa at all. Anything longer needs an Italian national visa, followed by an application for a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) within eight days of arrival.
Our guide to the types of Italy visa sets out every route, from short stays to work, study, family, investor and elective residence visas, with 2026 fees. Most non-EU workers still need a place under the Decreto Flussi quotas, which now run on a three-year plan for 2026 to 2028; our Italy work visa guide explains the permit process, and the Italy student visa and Italy startup visa guides cover the other main routes.
Our Italy immigration coverage also follows what comes after arrival: permanent residency and Italian citizenship, where Law 74/2025 has sharply narrowed citizenship by descent. We also track the changes that affect every visitor, including the €90 short-stay visa fee and the EU Entry/Exit System that replaced passport stamps in April 2026.
Our guide to the types of Italy visa sets out every route, from short stays to work, study, family, investor, digital nomad and elective residence visas, with 2026 fees. Most non-EU workers still need a place under the Decreto Flussi, the quota system that now runs on a three-year plan for 2026 to 2028; our Italy work visa guide explains the permit process.
Our Italy immigration coverage also tracks the changes that affect every visitor: the short-stay visa fee of €90 for adults, the EU Entry/Exit System that replaced passport stamps in April 2026, and ETIAS, the travel authorisation that still has no start date.
An Italian language test is part of the path to staying in Italy for good: non-EU residents need A2 Italian for the EU long-term residence permit, and most people applying for citizenship must prove B1. This guide explains which Italian language test applies to you,
Italian citizenship can be acquired in three main ways: by living in Italy long enough to naturalise, by marrying an Italian citizen, or by descent from an Italian ancestor. The first two are applications that the Interior Ministry decides. Descent is different: it is the
Italian Citizenship in 2026: Residence, Marriage and Descent Continue Reading »
An Italy work visa is a long-stay national (Type D) visa that lets a non-EU citizen enter Italy to take up a job or start self-employed work. It is an entry visa only. Within 8 working days of arrival you must take the next step
Italy Work Visa: Types, Quotas, EU Blue Card and How to Apply (2026) Continue Reading »
Italy permanent residency is the EU long-term residence permit (permesso di soggiorno UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo), which non-EU nationals can apply for after five years of legal residence in Italy. It is the middle step of a three-stage path: a residence permit when
Italy Permanent Residency: From Residence Permit to Citizenship (2026) Continue Reading »
The Italy startup visa, officially called the Italia Startup Visa (ISV), lets non-EU citizens move to Italy to launch an innovative startup. A committee under Italy’s Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT) reviews each application, usually within 30 days, and applicants must show
Italy Startup Visa: Requirements, €50,000 Funds and How to Apply (2026) Continue Reading »
