How to Get the Digital Nomad Visa for Italy (Through the LA Consulate)

In 2025, my partner went through the process (and succeeded) in obtaining the Digital Nomad Visa for Italy, through the LA (Los Angeles) Consulate in the United States. Here are the steps he took to get approved, as well as some helpful tips.

First, I am not a lawyer. I am not an immigration expert. This is simply my personal experience with the DNV Italy process through the Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles.

Every Italian consulate works a little differently. Document lists can change. Appointment systems can change. Always check your specific consulate website before you apply.

This post focuses on a single situation. My partner is a 1099 independent contractor for a US software company. That is the exact professional category Italy wants.

I cannot speak for W2 employees, remote workers with foreign employers, business owners, or people who own their own homes.

Key Takeaways

• See what documents the LA consulate requires to apply.
• Understand the travel and tax rules and banking limits before applying.
• This visa works best for skilled contractors planning to live primarily in Italy year-round.

Important Things to Know Before You Apply

Before you even think about booking an appointment, you need to understand a few important things. These are things I wish I had known before we applied.

#1 Visa Start Date

You must pick a date for your visa to start, and it must be within 6 months of your appointment.

If you need a lease (not staying with a friend or owning a home), you must obtain the lease for the start date of your visa. Our appointment was 3 full months before the start of our visa.

#2 You May Never Receive Your Permesso Di Soggiorno

This is a significant factor that can deter applicants. Once you get the Visa approved, you will need to apply for the Permesso Di Soggiorno (permission to stay) within 8 days of arrival.

This process can take anywhere from 1 to 18 months or longer. This means that during this time, travel is complicated outside of Italy. If your dream is to get a visa to Italy and then travel all over Europe for a year, the Italian DNV is not for you.

You can travel outside Italy without your permesso di soggiorno card only if you are traveling to your home country, possess the original postal renewal receipt (ricevuta), your passport, and travel directly without transiting through other Schengen countries. You cannot travel to other Schengen countries with just the receipt.

Keep in mind that you also need to be home when the police visit occurs. Yes, there have been cases where people have received their permesso without seeing the policeman at their home. But there are also cases where people never get their permesso for missing the police. To be safe, stay in the country while waiting.

# 3 Taxes in Italy

Italy has special tax schemes for new residents. There is the impatriate tax regime, and there are flat tax options. You need to speak with a tax professional who understands Italian tax law.

Italy taxes worldwide income once you become a resident. As a resident on the DNV, you will need to get a Partita IVA, which is similar to an LLC in the States.

These are the two tax scenarios:

Option #1: Regime Forfettario (simplified flat tax)

You qualify if your annual gross revenue ≤ €85,000.

• Flat 15% tax
• Reduced to 5% for the first 5 years if eligible (new activity + no similar prior activity)
• No VAT charged
• Very simplified bookkeeping
• INPS contributions still apply (~26% Gestione Separata, unless a different category)

Option 2: Regime Ordinario (ordinary progressive tax)

Mandatory if revenue > €85k and you don’t qualify for forfettario.

Italy currently uses 3 IRPEF brackets:

• 23% → up to €28,000
• 35% → €28,001 – €50,000
• 43% → over €50,000

Plus you will pay: VAT, Regional tax (~1–3%), Municipal tax (~0–1%), INPS contributions (~26% of net profit)

The effective total burden for freelancers often lands around 35–50% combined, depending on deductions.

# 4 Italian Social Security

You may need to enroll in the Italian social security system. Depending on your contract and situation, this can be mandatory. There are totalization agreements between the US and Italy, but your exact setup matters.

I have my dual citizenship, and my partner is on the DNV, and we applied for a waiver to not pay the social security, but to date, we have not received a response on whether it will be waived or not.

Your commercialista (accountant) will help you through this process.

#5 Italian Bank Account

You cannot easily open an Italian bank account before you have residency. Most banks will ask for your permesso di soggiorno (more on that to come later). As a dual citzen even I am having trouble opening a bank account.

You may need an Italian bank account to pay certain housing bills, your taxes, and even get a gym membership, as most gyms do not accept credit cards or companies like Wise and Revolut for payments.

Residency may also not be approved until a year after you enter Italy, so this is something to really take into consideration when applying.

#6 You Will Need an Italian Phone Number

You need a phone number BEFORE you hand in your permesso paperwork within 8 days of arrival in Italy.

You can get a prepaid SIM once you arrive at the airport (make sure it’s an Italian number).

However, I went to Iliad (in person, as trying to get an account online from the US does not work), and there was a kiosk for me to set up a new number. It was easy to use and in English, and only 10 euros a month.

What Is the DNV Italy?

You have read through the “warnings”, so let’s now talk about what the DNV Italy entails.

It allows highly qualified remote workers and independent contractors to live in Italy while working for a foreign company.

The visa falls under Article 27 of Italian immigration law. It targets highly skilled professionals. In our case, software development is clearly qualified.

We applied through the LA Italian consulate DNV process because we were living in Las Vegas at the time. Your consulate depends on your legal residence in the US.

You can only apply through the consulate that is connected to your residency in the United States; you cannot apply for a visa while in Italy.

Documents Required for the LA Italian Consulate DNV

**Always double-check the official page at the Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles before applying.**

Here is the list of what you need to hand in at your appointment for the LA Italian consulate DNV (In 2025).

Visa Application Documents

You need:

• National visa application form, fully completed. Wait to sign it in person at the consulate.
• Recent passport-size photos (we brought 4 and they only took 1 photo)
• Valid passport with at least two blank pages
• Color copy of passport ID page
• Proof of legal residence in the LA consulate jurisdiction (driver’s license/utility bill)

Proof of Professional Qualification

For the DNV Italy, they only want highly skilled professionals. We provided:

• University degree related to the field through CIMEA
• Resume

Proof of Work Relationship

This is crucial for how to get the Digital Nomad Visa for Italy. They need proof that you work for a foreign company, not an Italian company.

We provided:

• Contract with the US company (they took this)
• Letter from the company confirming remote work (they did not take this)
• Description of job duties (this was in the work contract)
• Proof that the company is not Italian (they did not take this)

Since he is a 1099 contractor, we also provided:

• Tax returns (brought 2 years, they only took 1 year)
• Recent invoices (brought 2 years, they only took 1 year)
• Bank statements showing payment (brought 2 years, they took 1 year)

Income Requirements

Italy requires a minimum annual income. The amount is tied to Italian law and can change. At the time of this writing, the minimum legal income is no less than 24,789 euros ($29,000 USD) per year.

Check the LA consulate page for the exact amount.

The tax returns, bank statements, and contract covered this aspect for proof.

Accommodation in Italy

You must have a registered lease in your name BEFORE you go to your appointment. There are different rules for staying at a friend’s house, or if you own your own home. Reference the website for the rules.

We had a one-year lease, which I obtained by reaching out to people on a Facebook group dedicated to renting by owner.

In addition, you need a codice fiscale to obtain a lease. We attempted to get one while in Italy for the summer, in person, and were flat-out told no, even though they are legally obligated to give us one.

In the end, we paid to get one, as everything was becoming a headache, we just wanted one thing to go smoothly.

We provided:

• Codice Fiscale print out
• Signed lease in Italy for the duration of the visa (one year).
• A copy of a “Contratto di Locazione ad Uso Abitativo”, which is proof that the landlord has registered it with the Agenzia delle Entrate, the Italian Tax Authority. (The landlord will get this)

I am sure you are asking yourself, “But what if the consulate doesn’t approve my Visa or they take longer than the mandatory 90 days to get back to me?”

You will need to get a lease and put a deposit down. There is no getting around this. It is a loss you just may have to take if you cannot enter on the day your lease starts.

Health Insurance

You need private health insurance valid in Italy. It must cover medical expenses and hospitalization. And it must be valid for one year.

We used private insurance through Generali for one year, and it cost about $400 for the year.

We provided:

• Insurance policy certificate
• Coverage details
• Proof of payment

Other Items

The nonrefundable visa application fee must be paid in exact amount by cashier’s check or money order made out to the Consulate General of Italy.

The fee adjusts every three months – Jan. 1^st, April 1^st, July 1^st, Oct. 1^st – based on the Italian government’s official euro-dollar exchange rate. The fee is posted on thier webpage.

One Declaration for Mailing Passports, filled out and a self-addressed (from yourself and to yourself) pre-paid USPS Priority or Priority Express envelope so that your passport can be mailed back to you. Make sure to ask the postal clerk for a tracking number.

How to Get an Appointment Online

Getting an appointment was one of the hardest parts.

The Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles uses the Prenotami online booking system. You must create an account and select the national visa category.

Below is what worked for me for LA. Everyone has a different experience, but using this process, I was able to see multiple appointments and get the exact day I wanted.

Steps to Take To Make an Appointment:

• Use Chrome, not Firefox or Edge (those did not work for me)
• At 2:55 LA PST time, log in to the portal to make sure you are in and ready to go.
• Exactly at 3 pm, click the national visa button. Not at 2:59 pm, not 3:01 pm, RIGHT at 3 pm.
• You need to move FAST through the drop-downs.
• Have a friend sit with you to read off your passport number, your exp date, etc if you can’t remember them off hand.

I wanted November 10th, so 90 days before that, I logged in and was able to see the calendar. At that point, I could tell that appointments were only opening up 60 days in advance of the day I wanted.

I set a reminder to check 59 days before my wishful date. On that day, I was able to see appointments open up on Nov 9th, which meant I needed to wait one more day and try again. Which I did, and was successful.

How the Appointment Went

The appointment took place in person at the LA consulate.

We arrived 10 minutes before the consulate opened. With 5 minutes to go, we took the elevator up to the 14th floor. There is a bathroom on the 11th floor, as well as on the 14th floor if needed.

We then waited in line with about 4 other people. The security guard was very matter-of-fact, so make sure your legal name matches the name on the appointment, or he will not let you in.

You cannot bring anyone in with you; you must go in alone. The officer spoke English, but he did not speak very much.

The officer asked for the entire packet, and went through it himself, and handed back anything he did not want.

Initially, he said, “Sorry, you are denied,” and when asked why, he said, “You don’t have any money in a savings account”. Luckily, my partner had brought a copy of that with him and handed it to the officer. It seemed to satisfy him.

You will then be fingerprinted (if they don’t need any more documents).

They kept the passport. We received a receipt and were told to wait for a decision.

What Happened After the Appointment

After the appointment, we waited. There was no daily update system.

They may contact you for additional documents. This is normal, just send them via email and don’t expect a response that they received them.

We tried to call after 30 days, asking for an “update on a visa,” and the person said, “We don’t give any information over the phone,” and hung up. So, unless you want to lose your mind dealing with that type of response, I would avoid calling.

How Long Did It Take to Get a Response?

From appointment to visa approval, it took 43 days. Processing times can vary. Summer may be slower.

One day, my partner’s passport arrived in the mail. There was no email sent, no notification; it just arrived.

Entering Italy and the Permesso di Soggiorno

The visa only ALLOWS you to enter Italy. It is not the final residency document!!!

Within eight days of arrival, you must apply for the permesso di soggiorno. This is your residence permit!!!

Permesso di Soggiorno Steps

• Go to a local post office (choose a large one and look for a “sportello” desk)
• If using a kiosk, take a ticket for “packet”, pachetto.
• Request the permesso kit. It is a white envelope with a yellow border.
• Go to a local tobacco shop and request a “Marco da bollo” stamp. It was 16 Euros (buy 4 of them to make 16). You will attach this to the packet when you hand it in to the post office.
• Fill out the forms (use AI to help you fill them out correctly, I am not joking). In some communes, there are offices called “Patronata’s.” They can also help, but in Rome I didn’t find one that spoke English.
• Submit copies of the same documents you provided for your visa.
• Make a copy of the Visa stamp and include it in the packet.
• Pay the required fees

You will receive a receipt with an appointment date at the local Questura. This is the police immigration office.

We went to the post office on Feb 3rd, and the appointment (For Rome) is not until June 25th, so there is a huge delay in larger cities.

At the Questura appointment, bring updated bank statements, contracts, income proof, and a copy of your original yellow kit packet.

They will take fingerprints (again). Then you wait again for the card to be issued, which can take 6-12 months to receive.

There is a website to check your status (you will get a login when you hand in your yellow packet at the post office). The site will also tell you if you are missing any documents, so you can bring them to your appointment.

Make sure you carry your passport and this paper receipt at all times. If you are stopped by police, they will ask you to show them the receipt as “proof” that you are trying to get residency.

We bought this passport holder, which fits in the front pocket of men’s pants.

***At the time of writing, we have not been to the Questura yet, but I will update the post in the coming months.

Final Thoughts on How to Get the Digital Nomad Visa for Italy

The DNV Italy is real. It works. We did it through the LA Italian consulate DNV process in 2025 as a 1099 software contractor.

This path is not simple. It requires patience, organization, and attention to detail. Each consulate has its own rhythm and expectations.

Read your consulate’s website line by line. Create a checklist. Keep digital and paper copies of everything.

If you are a highly skilled contractor in tech, this visa can open the door to living legally in Italy.

Just be aware of the tax implications, and the fact that if you only plan to stay a year, you may never actually receive your permesso (registration). Piano Piano as they say!

Are you interested in learning about how I obtained Italian citizenship? Read my experience here, and also 8 things I wish I knew before I went through the process.

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