The Italy Self Employment Visa is a type of visa you will need if you decide to stay for long in Italy. It is for those that wish to work as freelancers, or want to start up their own businesses in Italy.
This Italy Self Employment Visa is only but an entrance visa, because you will still need additional authorization to stay and work in the country, apart from just entering there.
Prior to your visa application, you should have your authorization and proper certification depending on the type of work you want to carry out in Italy. You are to get this authorization from the Italian authorities while still in your home country. In order words, you will need the assistance of someone who is already in Italy to help you achieve this.
Types of Self Employment Visa You can get in Italy
The Italian Government gives out Employment Visas every year, for specific professions. Now let us look at them.
- The Italy Start-up Visa: for foreigners who wish to begin an innovation company in Italy, and also those investors who wish to join already existing company at an executive level.
- The Italy Freelancer Visa: for individuals that wish to handle self-employed, freelancing roles and do not have any standing company willing to take them.
- The Italy Visa for Entrepreneurs: is for Entrepreneurs who want to execute investments (of not less than €500,000) that will be beneficial to the economy in Italy.
Who is Eligible to Apply for Italy Self Employment Visa?
As a Non-EU national who wish to go to Italy and work as a self-employed, you will have to apply for this self-employment visa. The needed requirements for this visa apply to nationals of non-EU countries who are also exempted from the Schengen Visa.
Now, this means that even if you are in Italy already without a Visa (because your non-EU country is exempted), you will have to return to your country and apply for the long stay visa from your country. For a foreign national with a Schengen visa, the same applies to you. You are not eligible for a work permit except you receive the long stay visa from Italy.
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Nationals of EU countries, including Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland, are free to enter and work in Italy with just their IDs or Passports. But after a period of 90 days, they will need to provide their Italian residence permit.
How to Obtain a Self-Employment Visa for Italy
Before and after applying for this employment visa, there are some set of requirements you are expected to fill in order to Obtain an Italy Self Employment Visa. As a matter of fact, the process of getting self-employed in Italy is lengthy, and applying for a self-employment visa is just a third step in the process. A brief summary of the steps involved is as follows;
- You have to first apply for a Nulla Osta (that is, an authorization to perform a self-employment job) from the local immigration office (Sportello Unico Immigrazione, SUI).
- Then next you get the necessary authorization and documentation need for the self-employment work ready.
- Now you apply for the Italy Self Employment Visa at the Embassy/Consulate in your country.
- Then you can now enter Italy and apply for a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno), in order to be allowed to freely live and work in Italy.
It is also important to note that; you can only apply for Italy self-employment visa (or any other work visa in Italy) for limited duration every year. Also, you will be subjected to yearly quotas as well.
The Self Employed Visa Application Process
You must apply for this visa by yourself at a representation (embassy/consulate) in your country, or at an outsourced visa application center by Italian authorities.
- You have to book an appointment.
- Gather all the required documents for the process.
- Download the Italy long stay application form and complete it accordingly.
- You have to make sure to submit the application in person.
- Then pay the required fee for the visa.
Required Documents
- The completed Italy long stay application form
- Two passport photographs
- A valid International Passport with at least two blank pages. It must be a passport that is valid for at least 3 months longer than the visa to be issued to you.
- Original and photocopies of the Nulla Osta
- You have to provide a proof of sufficient available bank funds.
- Proof of available accommodation in place for you (may be a purchase or rental agreement).
- Proof of your total income from the previous year, and it has to be higher than the minimum level required by the Italian law for exemption from health care contribution (€8,400).
- A Certificate issued by the Chamber of Commerce in the area you want to work, recognizing that you have the necessary resources for the self-employed activity you will be running. The resources in question cannot be anything less than the annual amount of the standard minimum income (€4,962.36).
- Documents of your civic status.
Now, if you plan to take up a corporate executive role in an already existing company (either as a partner or CEO), then you will also need the following;
- A proof that the company has been registered in the Chamber of Commerce Business Registry.
- The registration number of the company.
- Description of your position in the company.
- A copy of an official declaration of responsibility, which clearly states in it that you are not working as a subordinate. This has to be issued by the labor office of local County (Direzione Territoriale del Lavoro).
- And then, a proof that you will be earning a salary higher than the minimum level required for exemption from health care contribution (€8,400).
Kindly note that for Italy Self employment visa application; this is not really an exhaustive list. Depending on your country, you may be required to provide specific documents based on your current situation. Always make sure to keep in contact with adequate visa application centers for more information.
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