What do I need for an Italian self-employment visa (visto per lavoro autonomo)?

Checked on 2026-10-25

Key facts

What the law requires

The Testo unico on immigration (art. 26) lets non-EU citizens enter Italy for self-employment if the activity is not reserved to Italian or EU citizens. If you plan an industrial, professional, craft or commercial activity, or want to form a company or hold a company office, you must also prove adequate resources, meet the legal requirements for that activity (including registration in professional rolls or registers), and hold an attestation from the competent authority, no older than three months, that there are no obstacles to the licence or authorisation you need.

In every case you must also show suitable housing and an annual income from lawful sources above the minimum set by law for exemption from paying towards health costs. Article 26 does not state that amount itself.

How much money: the assegno sociale benchmark

The implementing regulation (DPR 394/1999, art. 39(3)) says that even for activities needing no licence, you must get an attestation from the Chamber of Commerce where you will work, or from the professional order, of the financial resources needed. The benchmark is a sum available in Italy of at least the annual capitalisation of a monthly amount equal to the assegno sociale. INPS states the 2026 assegno sociale as €546.24 a month, paid in 13 monthly instalments, €7,101.12 a year in total.

Step by step, as the regulation sets it out

1. Ask the competent authority (directly or through a representative) for the declaration that nothing prevents the licence or authorisation for your activity (art. 39(1)–(2)).
2. Get the Chamber of Commerce or professional order attestation of financial resources (art. 39(3)).
3. Present both to the questura, which adds a provisional nulla osta within 20 days after checking there are no reasons to refuse entry (art. 39(5)–(6)).
4. Present the documents, none older than three months, to the Italian consulate, which decides on the visa (art. 39(7)). The consulate also gives you a certificate that the requirements are met, for the residence permit application (art. 26(5) of the Testo unico).
5. In Italy, the questura issues the residence permit for self-employment (art. 39(8)).

The regulation gives the consulate 30 days; the law says the visa must be issued or refused within 120 days of the application and documents, and used within 180 days of issue (art. 26(7)).

Quotas: only a few places a year

The consulate issues the visa only within the numerical limits of the yearly quotas (art. 26(5)). The DPCM of 2 October 2025 sets 650 entries for self-employment for each of 2026, 2027 and 2028 (art. 6(1)). Within the quotas, it reserves 500 entries a year for self-employment for (art. 6(4)):

• entrepreneurs with an investment plan of interest to the Italian economy using at least €500,000 of their own resources and creating at least three new jobs;
• freelance professionals in regulated or supervised professions, or unregulated ones represented by associations on official lists;
• company directors and auditors covered by interministerial decree 850 of 11 May 2011;
• renowned or highly qualified artists hired by public or private bodies;
• founders of innovative start-ups under Law 221/2012 who work for the company on a self-employed basis.

Already in Italy on a study permit

A foreigner holding a valid study or vocational training permit can ask to convert it into a self-employment permit. The Sportello unico first checks that self-employment quota places are available (DPR 394/1999, art. 39(9)).

This is general information, not legal advice, and Lumen is not a law firm. Rules change and offices differ: check the official sources above before you act. Found something wrong or out of date? Write to support@lumen.observer.