The Blue Card in parole semplici
The EU Blue Card (EU Blue Card) is a residence and work permit for non-EU nationals with a university degree and a qualifying job offer in Italy, governed by Art. 27-quater D.Lgs 286/98 as amended by D.Lgs 152/2023 (implementing EU Directive 2021/1883). It is employer-sponsored, merit-based and not subject to Decreto Flussi quotas. Entering from abroad requires three separate procedures with three different Italian authorities.
A chi si rivolge
Non-EU nationals who have a university degree (or 5 years of equivalent professional experience) and a job offer from an Italian employer meeting the salary threshold. The role must correspond to the qualification — a biomedical engineer cannot be hired as a receptionist.
Perché è migliore del Decreto Flussi
The Flussi system operates on annual quotas that are exhausted within minutes. The Blue Card has no quota — there is no click-day, no lottery, no waiting for next year. If you meet the requirements, the process starts immediately.
Tre fasi per l'ingresso dall'estero
Phase 1: Nulla Osta at the Sportello Unico (employer-led). Phase 2: Entry visa at the Italian consulate in your country. Phase 3: Permesso di Soggiorno at the Questura within 8 days of arrival. Each involves a different authority and different fees.
In sintesi — the numbers that matter
Do you qualify? Four requirements
Non-EU nationality
The Blue Card is available to citizens of non-EU countries. EU citizens have free movement rights and do not need a Blue Card.
MandatoryUniversity degree or 5 years of professional experience
A completed university degree of at least 3 years, or documented professional experience of at least 5 years at a comparable level. Degrees obtained outside Italy may need to be recognised (dichiarazione di valore or recognition procedure).
Mandatory · Foreign degrees need recognitionOfferta di lavoro qualificante from an Italian employer
A signed employment contract or binding job offer for a position that corresponds to your qualification. The contract must be for at least 6 months. The role must be in a field matching your degree or experience.
Mandatory · Min. 6-month contractSalary meeting the threshold
Gross annual salary of at least €35,500 (general sectors) or €28,400 (shortage sectors: IT, healthcare, engineering and others published quarterly by the Ministry of Labour). The salary must also meet the applicable CCNL (national collective agreement) minimum for your role and sector — whichever is higher applies.
Mandatory · Threshold updated periodicallyLabour market test: Italy applies a labour market test for Blue Card applications. The employer must demonstrate that no suitable EU candidate was available. We assist with the documentation required to satisfy this requirement.
Related permits for specific profiles
Italy has a series of specialised work permits governed by Art. 27 and following of D.Lgs 286/98 (Testo Unico Immigrazione). Like the Blue Card, these are all outside Decreto Flussi quotas — except professional sport, which has a separate annual quota set by CONI. Each has its own procedure, which shares the three-phase structure (Nulla Osta → visa → permesso) but with some category-specific variations.
2025 reform — D.L. 146/2025 (converted L. 179/2025): Since December 2025, all Nulla Osta applications under Art. 27, 27-bis, 27-ter, 27-quater, 27-quinquies and 27-sexies are subject to mandatory verification of the employer’s declarations (Art. 27, comma 1.1). Authorities now check all statements made by the employer or hosting entity before processing the application. This adds a preliminary step to every procedure — accurate and complete documentation from the start is more critical than ever.
Descendants of Italian Emigrants (Art. 27, comma 1-octies D.Lgs 286/98 — new 2025)
Introduced by D.L. 36/2025 (converted L. 74/2025). Allows entry outside Decreto Flussi quotas for non-EU nationals who are descendants of Italian citizens and hold citizenship of a country identified as a major destination of Italian emigration (e.g. Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Uruguay, Australia). The specific list of eligible countries is determined by decree of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Standard employment procedures under Art. 22 apply. This route is particularly relevant for applicants who cannot claim jure sanguinis citizenship (e.g. due to the 2025 two-generation limit) but can demonstrate Italian ancestry.
Nulla Osta at SUI (Art. 22 procedure)
Italian employer submits Nulla Osta application through the portale immigrazione, documenting the worker’s descent from an Italian citizen and citizenship of an eligible country. Standard Art. 22 labour market test applies.
Entry visa at Italian consulate
Worker presents Nulla Osta and required documents at the Italian consulate in their country of residence.
Contratto di soggiorno + Permesso di soggiorno
Within 8 days of entry, sign the contratto di soggiorno at the SUI and submit the kit postale for the permesso di soggiorno.
ICT & Art. 27 Specialised Work Permits
Covers three distinct routes: managers & highly specialised staff in intra-group transfers (lett. a), contract workers deployed by foreign companies (lett. i), and ex-employees of Italian companies abroad (lett. i-bis). All fuori quota. Full procedure, documents, costs and FAQ in the dedicated page.
Researchers & Academics (Art. 27-ter D.Lgs 286/98)
For researchers, university professors and academics conducting paid research or teaching at Italian universities or recognised research institutes. Includes post-doctoral fellows and research grant holders. Fuori quota. No upper limit on duration (professors may be hired indefinitely).
Hosting agreement with Italian institution
The Italian university or research institute signs a hosting agreement (accordo di accoglienza) with the researcher. This replaces the standard Nulla Osta for this category.
Entry visa at Italian consulate
Applicant presents the hosting agreement and required documents at the Italian consulate for the research/work visa.
Permesso di soggiorno at SUI
Within 8 days of entry, the researcher appears at the SUI (not the post office) for the permesso di soggiorno for research. Family members may join under a simplified reunification pathway.
Artists, Performers & Circus Workers (Art. 27, lett. l–o D.Lgs 286/98)
Covers circus and travelling show workers (lett. l), artistic and technical staff for opera, theatre, concerts and ballet (lett. m), dancers, artists and musicians at entertainment venues (lett. n), and artists for film, radio, TV or cultural/folklore events (lett. o). Fuori quota. Initial permit max 12 months (renewable). Short-term engagements under 90 days use a short-stay Schengen visa (type C), and the work authorisation may be issued even after entry (Art. 27, comma 2).
Nulla Osta from Direzione Generale Impiego — Spettacolo
For categories lett. l–o, the Nulla Osta is issued by the Segreteria del Collocamento dello Spettacolo in Rome (or Palermo for Sicily) — not by the regular SUI. The DG Impiego then notifies the SUI of the province where the employer has its registered office.
Entry visa at Italian consulate
Standard visa application at the Italian consulate with the Nulla Osta issued by DG Spettacolo.
Contratto di soggiorno at SUI + Permesso at Questura
Within 8 days of entry, sign the contratto di soggiorno at the SUI, then submit the kit postale for the permesso di soggiorno at the Questura.
Professional Athletes (Art. 27, lett. p D.Lgs 286/98)
For non-EU nationals engaged in professional sporting activity with Italian sports clubs, governed by Law 91/1981. Subject to annual quotas set by CONI and the Ministry (not the general Decreto Flussi, but a separate sports quota allocated to each federation). The procedure involves the sports federation alongside the standard SUI pathway.
Federation clearance + SUI Nulla Osta
The sports club requests clearance through the relevant national federation (FIGC, FIP, FIR etc.), which operates within the annual CONI quota. The SUI then issues the Nulla Osta.
Entry visa + permesso di soggiorno
Standard visa at Italian consulate followed by contratto di soggiorno at SUI and permesso at Questura within 8 days of entry.
Journalists & Correspondents (Art. 27, lett. q D.Lgs 286/98)
For foreign journalists officially accredited in Italy and regularly employed by foreign daily or periodical newspapers, or by foreign radio or TV broadcasters. Fuori quota. Accreditation is managed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ordine dei Giornalisti.
Nulla Osta at SUI
Employer submits Nulla Osta application with accreditation documentation. The procedure is simplified compared to standard work permits.
Entry visa + permesso di soggiorno
Visa at Italian consulate, then contratto di soggiorno at SUI and permesso at Questura within 8 days of entry.
Translators & Interpreters (Art. 27, lett. d D.Lgs 286/98)
For translators and interpreters working under an employment contract with Italian institutions, international organisations or private entities. Fuori quota. Those working as independent contractors may instead apply under the self-employment visa route (lavoro autonomo).
Nulla Osta at SUI
Employer submits Nulla Osta. For freelance interpreters, a self-employment visa (lavoro autonomo) is the alternative route — coordinated through the Questura.
Entry visa + permesso di soggiorno
Visa at Italian consulate, then contratto di soggiorno at SUI and permesso at Questura within 8 days of entry.
Professional Nurses (Art. 27, lett. r-bis D.Lgs 286/98)
For non-EU professional nurses (infermieri professionali) with a nursing qualification recognised by the Italian Ministry of Health. Fuori quota — no annual cap applies. Introduced by L. 189/2002 (Bossi-Fini) to address Italy’s chronic shortage of nursing staff. The Nulla Osta can be requested by public and private healthcare facilities, cooperatives managing healthcare structures or departments, and temporary staffing agencies (with a copy of the contract with the healthcare facility).
Qualification recognition
The nurse’s foreign qualification must be recognised by the Ministry of Health and the nurse must be enrolled in the relevant professional register (OPI — Ordine delle Professioni Infermieristiche) before the Nulla Osta application.
Nulla Osta at SUI
The healthcare facility (or cooperative / staffing agency) submits the Nulla Osta application via the portale immigrazione, attaching the Ministry of Health recognition and proof of OPI enrolment.
Entry visa + permesso di soggiorno
Visa at Italian consulate, then contratto di soggiorno at SUI and permesso at Questura within 8 days of entry. Unlike other Art. 27 categories, nurses follow the standard employment permit procedure for subsequent renewals.
Healthcare Workers — Temporary Derogation (Art. 15 D.L. 34/2023, extended to 31 Dec 2027)
A temporary regime — extended to 31 December 2027 by L. 187/2024 (Decreto Flussi conversion law) — that allows doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals and operatori socio-sanitari (OSS) with foreign qualifications to work in Italy under a simplified recognition procedure. Applies to both public and private (authorised or accredited) healthcare and social-care facilities. The worker may be hired with an employment contract or a freelance (libero-professionale) contract, both renewable and of any duration. Art. 27 and Art. 27-quater (Blue Card) apply to personnel hired under this derogation — meaning entry is fuori quota.
Regional recognition of foreign qualification
The healthcare facility applies to the competent Region for temporary authorisation of the foreign professional’s qualification. This replaces the full Ministry of Health recognition and is significantly faster, following the simplified procedure of Art. 13 D.L. 18/2020.
Nulla Osta at SUI (Art. 27 or 27-quater)
With the regional authorisation, the employer submits the Nulla Osta application. If the role qualifies for the Blue Card (salary ≥ threshold, degree-level qualification), Art. 27-quater applies. Otherwise, entry follows Art. 27 as a special case.
Entry visa + permesso di soggiorno
Visa at Italian consulate, then contratto di soggiorno at SUI and permesso at Questura within 8 days of entry.
Expiry note: This derogation is temporary and expires on 31 December 2027 unless further extended. After expiry, healthcare workers will need full Ministry of Health qualification recognition to enter under Art. 27, lett. r-bis (nurses) or the standard Blue Card pathway (doctors and specialists).
Not sure which permit applies to you? The distinction between Blue Card, ICT, self-employment and other routes depends on your contract structure, sector and employer. Book an orientation call — we identify the correct pathway before you invest time in documents.