Already Have a Blue Card in Germany or Another EU Country? Moving to Italy

One of the strengths of the EU Blue Card is mobility. If you already hold one in Germany, the Netherlands or another member state, moving to Italy is easier than starting from scratch. Article 27-quater sets out how.

Short stays for work  

A Blue Card holder from another member state can enter and stay in Italy for business activities for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This covers meetings, projects and temporary assignments related to your job. Check the exact scope of “business activity” for your case before you plan a longer project.

Moving to Italy for good  

After twelve months of legal residence as a Blue Card holder in the first member state, you can move to Italy to work without needing a visa. If you are moving from a second member state, the minimum prior residence drops to six months.

Your Italian employer must file the work authorisation application within one month of your entry. The Italian Blue Card conditions apply: qualification, contract of at least six months, and a salary at least equal to the CCNL level and the ISTAT average.

Why people move  

• A lower salary threshold. Italy’s threshold, reported at about €36,300 a year, is well below Germany’s €50,700 standard threshold for 2026. A move to a role or city with lower pay scales can still keep you on a Blue Card.
• Family or partner in Italy.
• Climate, lifestyle, cost of living outside the biggest cities.
• A company project in Italy.

What to consider before leaving the first country  

• Settlement rights. Germany grants a settlement permit after 27 months of Blue Card employment with A1 German, or 21 months with B1, according to the Berlin immigration service. If you are close, it may be worth finishing that period first.
• Pension. Contributions paid in EU countries are coordinated, so periods are not lost.
• Family. Family members who are with you can follow under the Italian rules on reunification; Blue Card holders can apply whatever the permit length.

The Italian employer  

You still need an employer in Italy. If the company you work for is in Germany and has no Italian entity, an Employer of Record can employ you in Italy. If it is a new Italian company, it can file directly.

Step by step  

1. Confirm you have held the first Blue Card for at least twelve months (six if from a second state).
2. Agree the Italian contract and salary.
3. Enter Italy with your current Blue Card.
4. The employer files the work authorisation within one month.
5. Stay contract, residence permit, tax code, health service, as for any newcomer.

What happens to the old Blue Card  

Once you have the Italian Blue Card, the old one is no longer the basis of your stay. Tell the authorities in the first country according to their rules, and deregister your address there.

Comparing the three countries  

See Italy, Germany or the Netherlands and our comparison page .

Tell us where you hold your Blue Card and when you would like to move.

Two questions before you go  

Do I need a new visa to move? Not after the minimum residence in the first state, under the mobility rules. You enter with your current Blue Card.

Is the 90-day rule a permit to relocate? No. It is for business stays. Relocation needs the long-term mobility procedure.

Does my German employer have to be involved? Only if you keep working for it. If so, an EOR can employ you in Italy on its behalf.

What salary will I need? The Italian conditions apply: at least the CCNL level and the ISTAT average gross annual salary, reported at about €36,300.

Can my family move with me? Yes, under the Italian reunification rules. Blue Card holders can apply whatever the length of the permit.

What if I have held my first Blue Card for less than a year? Then you would need the ordinary procedure, starting with a nulla osta and a visa, unless you wait until the twelve months are complete.

Does my German language level matter in Italy? No. Italy has no language requirement for the Blue Card. It only matters if you want to keep the option of the German settlement permit.