Italy - Europe's Mediterranean hub

Italy situated in South Central Europe has a population of more than 60 million people. The country is known for its cuisine and is a major tourist attraction. It has the fourth largest economy in the Eurozone. It has a GDP of 32,000 USD.

Immigrating to Italy

If you have to stay in Italy for longer than three months, then you will need the National visa or the D-visa.

If you wish to work in Italy, you will need a work permit to enter Italy. You must first get a job in Italy before you relocate. Once you get your work visa; you will have to apply for a residence permit within eight days of entering the country.

Italy offers various work visa types; these include visas for:

• Salaried employment
• Seasonal work (related to agriculture or tourism)
• Long-term seasonal work (allows you to stay and work on seasonal activities for two years)
• Sports activities
• Artistic work
• Working holiday
• Scientific research

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Work visa options

Before you apply for any category of work visa, you must ensure that you are permitted to apply for one. This is because the Italian government accepts work permit applications only for a few months every two or three years based on the demands of the local job market and the state of immigration. Apart from this, there is a quota for how many work permits can be issued which is called Decreto Flussi

You can apply for a work visa provided the following conditions are met:

• The Decreto Flussi is open
• The yearly quota has still not been filled
• Your Italian employer is ready to apply for your work permit

The permission to work and live in Italy involves a three-part process:

1. You must first find an Italian employer who is ready to hire you and apply for your work permit
2. Once your employer gets your work permit and after you receive it, you can apply for a work visa at the Italian embassy or consulate in your country
3. In the final stage you can enter Italy with the work permit and get a residence permit to stay and work in Italy legally

Skill shortage occupations

According to data released by Skills Panorama on the shortage occupations in Italy, the following occupations are likely to face a skills shortage till 2030.

• Health-related occupations
• ICT professionals
• Marketing, creative and design professionals
• STEM occupations
• Teaching professionals

Studying in Italy

The universities in Italy offer four categories of courses:

• University diploma
• Bachelor of Arts/ Science
• Research doctorate
• Diploma of Specialization

Non-EU nationals require a student visa to study here. There are two types of student visas in Italy based on the duration of the study program:

• Visa type C: Short-stay visa or travel visa valid for one or more entries and for a period not exceeding 90 days
• Visa type D: Long-stay visa valid for more than 90 days

Students from non-EU countries can work here during their course if they have a work permit. This requires a job offer from an Italian employer.