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Digital Nomad Visas: What Is Italy’s Income Requirement and How Does It Compare?

Caccamo, Sicily, Italy, Photographer: DaLiu / Shutterstock

A lot of people assume Italy is the “easy yes” for lifestyle — then get stuck on the visa income rules. Before you plan your move, make sure you know what Italy really requires and what cities would be a good fit.

Italy is absolutely a dream option for a lot of remote workers. But if you’re comparing Italy vs Spain vs Portugal, the smartest move is to compare the visa requirements first — especially income, documentation, and whether you actually fit the visa category.

This quick guide covers:

  • Italy’s digital nomad visa income requirement
  • how Italy calculates it
  • how it compares to Spain and Portugal
  • what else matters besides income
  • which Italian cities are better fits depending on your work style

⚠️ Note: The income figures and visa rules below reflect information at the time of writing this article and are subject to change. We recommend confirming current requirements on Spain’s official government immigration portal before applying.

In this article:

Italy’s Digital Nomad Visa Income Requirement

What Is Italy’s Digital Nomad Visa (and Who Is It For)?

What Counts as Income for Italy’s Digital Nomad Visa?

What Other Requirements Matter Besides Income?

Can a US Citizen Apply for Italy’s Digital Nomad Visa?

Can US Citizens Move to Italy?

Italy vs Spain vs Portugal: How Does Italy’s Income Requirement Compare?

Which Italian Cities Are Better Fits Depending On Your Work Style

Italy’s Digital Nomad Visa Income Requirement

Italy’s consular guidance (including the Italian Consulate in Los Angeles) requires proof of legal income of at least three times the minimum necessary to pay healthcare taxes in Italy and states that, at the time of the page wording, the minimum legal income is €24,789-€28,000 per year (or equivalent in USD). It also lists examples of proof such as paystubs, tax return, W-2, or recent bank statements.

That’s the key thing to know up front: Italy’s requirement is usually presented as an annual amount, not just a monthly headline number.

Note: €24,789-€28,000 per year is the figure most consistently cited for 2025-2026, but your safest move before applying is to check the official page of the Italian consulate with jurisdiction over your state, as they publish the current threshold for their jurisdiction directly.

Positano, Italy, Photographer: DaLiu / Shutterstock

What Is Italy’s Digital Nomad Visa (and Who Is It For)?

Italy’s official consular pages describe this as the Digital Nomad / Remote Worker Visa for non-EU citizens who want to work remotely while living in Italy. The consulate also makes an important distinction:

  • Digital nomads = freelancers / independent specialists

  • Remote workers = employees working fully remotely for a company

Italy also limits this route to highly specialized workers, and the consular guidance references article 27-quater and qualifying professions/experience requirements (including post-secondary degrees or at least 3 years of training/experience).

That “highly specialized” part is one of the biggest differences between Italy and some other nomad visa discussions online.

💡 Discover Italy: Explore Europe nomad destinations on  Nomad Atlas →

What Counts as Income for Italy’s Digital Nomad Visa?

This is where a lot of people get caught off guard.

Income:

  • must be legal income

  • can be shown with documents like paystubs, tax return, W-2, or three recent bank statements

  • and must derive from the work you’ll be performing in Italy (not passive income)


Passive income like:

  • Social Security

  • rent

  • stocks

…will not be considered for this visa route, (at least at the time of writing this article).

So if someone is trying to qualify based mostly on investments or rental income, Italy’s digital nomad/remote worker visa may not be the right fit.

✅ READ: Torn between Spain, Portugal and Italy? Read this destination guide on how to choose.

Rome, Italy, Photographer: artem evdokimov / Shutterstock

What Other Requirements Matter Besides Income?

The income number is only one piece. Italy’s consular guidance is documentation-heavy, and a lot of applicants lose momentum because they focus only on the threshold.

1) Proof of qualifying profession (highly specialized work)

Italy’s consular pages require proof that your profession qualifies under the “highly specialized” standard.

2) Proof of housing in Italy

The Los Angeles consulate page requires a lease, rental contract, or deed in the applicant’s name, and says the lease/rental must cover the visa duration (with specific contract standards if renting).

3) Health insurance

The consular guidance is very specific about insurance, it requires a letter/certificate showing coverage for medical expenses, hospitalization, and repatriation, and warns that inadequate coverage is a common reason for rejection.

4) Prior work experience

Italy’s LA consular page also lists proof of six or more months of prior work experience in the field.

5) Post-arrival residency permit step

After entering Italy on a national visa, you must apply for a Permesso di Soggiorno (residency permit) with the local Questura within the first eight working days.

✅ READ: Portugal sounds amazing… until the income proof catches you off guard. Read this first.

How Hard Is It to Get Italy’s Digital Nomad Visa?

Italy’s digital nomad/remote worker visa is doable, but it’s not a casual application.

The process is very documentation-driven, and applicants are usually slowed down by missing or weak paperwork—not just the income requirement. In addition to meeting the income threshold, you may need to show proof of your qualifying professional status, housing in Italy, health insurance coverage, and prior work experience in your field. The application guidance also notes that additional documents may be requested and that submitting documents does not automatically guarantee visa issuance.


What typically causes delays:

  • unclear or incomplete income documentation

  • weak proof of qualifying work/profession

  • housing documents that don’t meet the required format

  • insurance documentation gaps

  • applying through the wrong consular jurisdiction

The easiest way to avoid friction is to treat this like a formal residency application from day one: organize everything clearly, use the exact checklist for your jurisdiction, and don’t rely on generic blog summaries.

Can a US Citizen Apply for Italy’s Digital Nomad Visa?

Yes — U.S. citizens can apply through the appropriate Italian consulate that serves their jurisdiction.

The consular pages also make clear that jurisdiction matters (they ask for proof of physical residence in the consulate’s jurisdiction, such as a driver’s license, state ID, or utility bill).

And if your plan is to stay longer than 90 days, this is a long-stay visa process — not a tourist-stay workaround.

Matera, Italy, Photographer: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock

Can US Citizens Move to Italy?

Yes — U.S. citizens can move to Italy, but not by simply staying past a tourist visit.

For short visits, U.S. citizens can generally travel in the Schengen Area (including Italy) for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. If you want to live in Italy longer-term, you’ll need the correct visa/residency route (such as Italy’s digital nomad/remote worker visa, if you qualify).

For the digital nomad/remote worker route, U.S. applicants apply through the Italian consulate that covers their residence/jurisdiction, and consulates require proof that you actually live in that jurisdiction (for example, state ID/driver’s license or similar proof of residence). The process is document-heavy and includes income proof, insurance, and housing documentation.

In Short:

  • Yes, U.S. citizens can move to Italy.

  • No, they can’t treat it like an open-ended tourist stay.

  • If you’re planning a real move, start with the visa requirements first (income, profession, documents), then choose your city.

Italy vs Spain vs Portugal: How Does Italy’s Income Requirement Compare?

This is the comparison most beginners actually need — because the “best” visa on paper depends on both the number and the documentation burden.

Italy vs Spain digital nomad visa income requirement:

Italy’s consular guidance commonly presents the threshold as an annual legal income amount (with a formula behind it), and one official consular page lists €24,789-€28,000/year as the minimum reference amount (subject to updates). Italy also requires strong supporting documentation and applies a “highly specialized worker” framework, so it’s not just about hitting the number.

Spain’s rule is different: Spain’s official UGE guidance ties the threshold to SMI (minimum wage) and requires 200% of SMI for the main applicant. That means Spain’s threshold changes whenever SMI changes.

For 2026:

  • Spain’s SMI is €1,221/month in 14 payments (official BOE)

  • Many visa calculators and guidance pages convert that to a 12-month equivalent for DNV planning

  • Using that approach, Spain’s solo threshold is about €2,849/month gross (often rounded)

Italy vs Portugal digital nomad visa income requirement:

Portugal’s VFS checklist for the remote work temporary stay visa says applicants must show:

  • average monthly income over the last 3 months

  • at least 4x the Portuguese monthly minimum wage

Portugal’s government has proposed the 2026 minimum wage be €920/month, so 4x is about €3,680/month (at the time of writing this article).

It’s also worth noting that applicants must also provide a bank statement showing a balance of at least 12 times Portugal’s minimum salary — €11,040 in 2026.

Bottom line: Portugal is also formula-based, but the formula often results in a higher monthly target than Spain.

Which is easier to qualify for financially?

There’s no universal winner because it depends on your profile:

  • Italy: lower-looking annual threshold on some consulate pages, but stricter “highly specialized” framing + strong documentation expectations.

  • Spain: SMI-based threshold, employee/freelancer-friendly, but still document-heavy.

  • Portugal: higher monthly threshold (4x minimum wage), but straightforward checklist structure.


The real question isn’t just “Which number is lower?” It’s:

  • Which country do you actually qualify for on paper?

  • Which one matches your work setup (employee vs freelancer)?

  • Which one fits the cities/lifestyle you want?

Which Italian Cities Are Better Fits Depending on Your Work Style?

Italy can be a great digital nomad base, but the “best” city depends less on what looks amazing online and more on how you actually work.

Here’s a simple way to choose based on your work style:

If you’re call-heavy and need a structured work routine:

Best fit: Milan

Milan is usually the strongest pick if your workday is packed with meetings, deadlines, and a more corporate-style schedule. It tends to work well for remote employees and consultants who want:

  • a more business-oriented environment

  • a faster pace

  • a predictable weekday routine

If you know you need structure to stay productive, Milan is often the easiest Italy starting point.

If you want a balance of work + city energy:

Best fit: Rome

Rome can be a good fit if you want:

  • a bigger city feel

  • lots of neighborhoods and variety

  • more options for how you spend your non-work hours

It’s a better choice for people who like a little energy around them and don’t mind a busier day-to-day experience. The key is choosing the right neighborhood so your routine feels manageable.

If you’re lifestyle-first and want a slower rhythm:

Best fit: Florence

Florence is often a strong fit for digital nomads who care most about:

  • walkability

  • a slower daily pace

  • a more lifestyle-driven experience

It can work really well if your schedule is flexible or mostly async and you don’t need a major-city work setup. If you’re trying to make your first base feel calm and enjoyable, Florence is a smart option.

If you’re focused and want fewer distractions:

Best fit: Bologna or Turin

These are great options to consider if you want Italy but don’t want the most obvious “big name” cities. They can be a strong fit for:

  • deep work

  • quieter routines

  • people who want a more local day-to-day feel

They’re especially worth considering once you know your budget and work setup, even if you start your research with Milan/Rome/Florence.

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