Work visa Italy
EU Blue Card (Carta Blu UE) for highly qualified workers
Run by Ministry of the Interior (Sportello Unico per l'Immigrazione) and Italian consulates
Graduates with at least 3 years of higher education, or skilled workers with 5 years of relevant experience, who have a job offer in Italy. It sits outside the Decreto Flussi quotas.
- Job offer
- Required. A job contract proposal or binding job offer of at least 6 months. The employer applies online for the nulla osta.
- Language
- Not stated on the official page
- Education
- A higher education qualification from a course of at least 3 years, or the requirements for a regulated profession, or a higher professional qualification shown by at least 5 years of relevant experience.
- Work experience
- At least 5 years of relevant experience if you have no degree. For ICT managers and specialists, 3 years of relevant experience in the 7 years before the application.
- Government fee
- Visa fee EUR 116 for a national (type D) visa, as listed by the Embassy of Italy in Nairobi. Other fees are not stated on the pages read.
- Processing time
- The page says the nulla osta decision is taken within 30 days of the application. The permit lasts 2 years for a permanent contract, or the contract length plus 3 months.
- Money you must show
- Salary at least the national collective agreement level and not below the average annual gross salary measured by ISTAT, given on the page as about EUR 36,300.
- When and to whom you pay
- The visa fee is paid at the visa application centre in local currency when you apply for the visa after the nulla osta is issued.
Checked on 18 October 2026. What the page says
Read on integrazionemigranti.gov.it on 2026-10-18: "di una qualifica professionale superiore attestata da almeno cinque anni di esperienza professionale"; "(circa 36.300 euro)"; Embassy of Italy in Nairobi fee page: "All applicants 116". Another official page. Another official page.