The EU Blue Card in plain terms
The EU Blue Card is a combined residence and work permit for non-EU nationals holding 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 outside the Decreto Flussi quota system. Entry from abroad requires three separate procedures before three different Italian authorities.
Who it's for
Non-EU nationals holding a university degree (or 5 years of equivalent professional experience) and a job offer from an Italian employer that meets the salary threshold. The role must match the qualification — a biomedical engineer cannot be hired as a receptionist.
Why it's better than the Decreto Flussi
The Flussi system operates on annual quotas that are exhausted within minutes. The EU Blue Card has no quotas — no click-day, no lottery, no waiting for next year. If you meet the requirements, the process starts immediately.
Three stages for entry from abroad
Stage 1: Nulla Osta at the Sportello Unico (employer-led). Stage 2: Entry visa at the Italian consulate in your country. Stage 3: Residence permit (Permesso di Soggiorno) at the Questura within 8 days of arrival. Each involves a different authority and carries separate fees.
At a glance — the numbers that matter
Do you qualify? Four conditions
Non-EU nationality
The EU Blue Card is available to nationals of non-EU countries. EU citizens enjoy freedom of movement and do not require the Blue Card.
RequiredUniversity degree or 5 years of professional experience
A 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 require recognition (dichiarazione di valore or formal recognition procedure).
Required · Foreign degrees require recognitionQualifying job offer from an Italian employer
A signed employment contract or binding offer for a position matching your qualification. The contract must be for at least 6 months. The role must be in a sector consistent with your degree or experience.
Required · Contract min. 6 monthsSalary meeting the threshold
Annual gross 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 respect the applicable CCNL minimum for the role and sector — whichever is higher applies.
Required · Threshold updated periodicallyLabour market test: Italy applies a labour market test to Blue Card applications. The employer must demonstrate that no suitable EU candidate was available. We assist with the documentation required to satisfy this requirement in practice.
Related permits for specific profiles
Italy provides a range of specialised work permits governed by Art. 27 et seq. of D.Lgs 286/98 (Testo Unico Immigrazione). Like the Blue Card, all are outside the Decreto Flussi quotas — except professional sport, which has a separate annual quota set by the CONI. Each has its own procedure, sharing the three-stage structure (Nulla Osta → visa → permit) but with category-specific variations.
2025 Reform — D.L. 146/2025 (conv. L. 179/2025): From 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 employer declarations (Art. 27, para. 1.1). Authorities now verify all employer or host entity declarations before processing the application. This adds a preliminary stage to every procedure — accurate and complete documentation from the outset is more critical than ever.
Descendants of Italian Emigrants (Art. 27, para. 1-octies D.Lgs 286/98 — new 2025)
Introduced by D.L. 36/2025 (conv. 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 main 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 hiring procedures under Art. 22 apply. This pathway is particularly relevant for applicants who cannot claim citizenship jure sanguinis (e.g. due to the 2025 two-generation limit) but can demonstrate Italian descent.
Nulla Osta at the SUI (Art. 22 procedure)
The Italian employer files the Nulla Osta application via the immigration portal, documenting the worker's descent from an Italian citizen and citizenship of an eligible country. The standard Art. 22 labour market test applies.
Entry visa at the Italian consulate
The worker submits the Nulla Osta and required documents at the Italian consulate in their country of residence.
Employment contract + Residence permit
Within 8 days of entry, sign the sojourn contract at the SUI and submit the postal kit for the residence permit.
ICT & Art. 27 Specialised Work Permits
Covers three distinct pathways: managers and highly specialised staff in intra-group transfers (lett. a), workers seconded from foreign companies (lett. i), and former employees of Italian companies abroad (lett. i-bis). All outside quotas. Full procedure, documents, costs and FAQ on the dedicated page.
Researchers and Academics (Art. 27-ter D.Lgs 286/98)
For researchers, university professors and academics carrying out paid research or teaching at Italian universities or recognised research institutes. Includes post-doctoral fellows and research grant holders. Outside quotas. No maximum duration (professors may be hired on permanent contracts).
Hosting agreement with Italian institution
The Italian university or research institute signs a hosting agreement with the researcher. This replaces the standard Nulla Osta for this category.
Entry visa at the Italian consulate
The applicant submits the hosting agreement and required documents at the Italian consulate for the research/work visa.
Residence permit at the SUI
Within 8 days of entry, the researcher reports to the SUI (not the post office) for the research residence permit. Family members may reunite via a simplified family reunification pathway.
Artists, Performers and Circus Workers (Art. 27, lett. l–o D.Lgs 286/98)
Covers circus and travelling show workers (lett. l), artistic and technical personnel for opera, theatre, concerts and ballet (lett. m), dancers, artists and musicians in entertainment venues (lett. n), and artists for film, radio, TV or cultural/folk events (lett. o). Outside quotas. Initial permit max 12 months (renewable). Short engagements under 90 days use a short-stay Schengen visa (type C) and work authorisation may be issued even after entry (Art. 27, para. 2).
Nulla Osta from the Directorate-General for Employment — Entertainment
For categories lett. l–o, the Nulla Osta is issued by the Segreteria del Collocamento dello Spettacolo in Rome (or Palermo for Sicily) — not the ordinary SUI. The DG Employment then notifies the SUI of the province where the employer is registered.
Entry visa at the Italian consulate
Standard visa application at the Italian consulate with the Nulla Osta issued by the DG Entertainment.
Sojourn contract at SUI + Residence permit at Questura
Within 8 days of entry, sign the sojourn contract at the SUI, then submit the postal kit for the residence permit at the Questura.
Professional Athletes (Art. 27, lett. p D.Lgs 286/98)
For non-EU nationals engaged in professional sports activities with Italian sports clubs, regulated by Law 91/1981. Subject to annual quotas set by the 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 authorisation + SUI Nulla Osta
The sports club applies for authorisation through the relevant national federation (FIGC, FIP, FIR etc.), operating within the CONI annual quota. The SUI then issues the Nulla Osta.
Entry visa + residence permit
Standard visa at the Italian consulate, then sojourn contract at the SUI and residence permit at the Questura within 8 days of entry.
Journalists and Correspondents (Art. 27, lett. q D.Lgs 286/98)
For foreign journalists officially accredited in Italy and regularly employed by foreign newspapers or periodicals, or by foreign radio or TV broadcasters. Outside quotas. Accreditation is managed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Order of Journalists (Ordine dei Giornalisti).
Nulla Osta at the SUI
The employer submits the Nulla Osta application with accreditation documentation. The procedure is simplified compared to standard work permits.
Entry visa + residence permit
Visa at the Italian consulate, then sojourn contract at the SUI and residence permit at the Questura within 8 days of entry.
Translators and Interpreters (Art. 27, lett. d D.Lgs 286/98)
For translators and interpreters working as employees at Italian institutions, international organisations or private entities. Outside quotas. Those working as freelancers may instead apply for the self-employment visa.
Nulla Osta at the SUI
The employer submits the Nulla Osta. For freelance interpreters, the self-employment visa is the alternative pathway — coordinated through the Questura.
Entry visa + residence permit
Visa at the Italian consulate, then sojourn contract at the SUI and residence permit at the Questura within 8 days of entry.
Professional Nurses (Art. 27, lett. r-bis D.Lgs 286/98)
For non-EU professional nurses with a nursing qualification recognised by the Italian Ministry of Health. Outside quotas — no annual limit. Introduced by L. 189/2002 (Bossi-Fini) to address Italy's chronic nursing shortage. The Nulla Osta may be requested by public and private healthcare facilities, cooperatives managing healthcare structures or wards, and 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 registered with the relevant professional body (OPI — Ordine delle Professioni Infermieristiche) before applying for the Nulla Osta.
Nulla Osta at the SUI
The healthcare facility (or cooperative / staffing agency) submits the Nulla Osta application via the immigration portal, attaching the Ministry of Health recognition and proof of OPI registration.
Entry visa + residence permit
Visa at the Italian consulate, then sojourn contract at the SUI and residence permit at the Questura within 8 days of entry. Unlike other Art. 27 categories, nurses follow the standard renewal procedure for subsequent permits.
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) — allowing doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals and healthcare support workers (OSS) with foreign qualifications to work in Italy through a simplified recognition procedure. Applies to both public and private healthcare and social care facilities (authorised or accredited). The worker may be hired under an employment or self-employment contract, both renewable and of any duration. Art. 27 and 27-quater (Blue Card) apply to staff hired under this derogation — meaning entry outside quotas.
Regional recognition of foreign qualification
The healthcare facility requests the competent Region's temporary authorisation of the foreign professional's qualification. This replaces full Ministry of Health recognition and is significantly faster, following the simplified procedure of Art. 13 D.L. 18/2020.
Nulla Osta at the 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 + residence permit
Visa at the Italian consulate, then sojourn contract at the SUI and residence permit at the 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 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 the Blue Card, ICT, self-employment and other pathways depends on the contract structure, sector and employer. Book an orientation call — we identify the right pathway before you invest time in paperwork.