Who qualifies

Under art. 27-quater, par. 1 of the Immigration Act (D.Lgs. 286/1998, as amended by D.Lgs. 152/2023), one of these is enough:

A degree

A higher education qualification of at least three years, or a post-secondary qualification of at least three years (level 6 of the national framework).

A regulated profession

The recognition required for regulated professions (D.Lgs. 206/2007), for example in health care.

Five years of experience

A higher professional qualification backed by at least five years of relevant experience at a level comparable to a degree.

ICT: three years

ICT managers and specialists (ISCO-08 groups 133 and 25) with at least three years of relevant experience in the last seven years.

Contract and salary

6 monthsThe employment contract or binding job offer must last at least six months (par. 5, a).

SalaryAt least the level of the applicable national collective agreement, and at least the average gross annual salary published by ISTAT (par. 5, c). Reported value: about €36,300 a year [secondary source, arlettipartners.com, read 27 Oct 2026; official figure and start date to confirm].

30 daysThe immigration desk must issue the nulla osta, or notify a refusal, within 30 days of the application (par. 6).

2 yearsFor a permanent contract the permit lasts two years; otherwise the length of the contract plus three months (par. 11).

After you arrive

First 12 months. You do the job the card was issued for. Changing employer needs prior approval of the local labour office, considered granted if it does not answer within 15 days (par. 13).
Losing your job. You can look for and take up another job while unemployed (par. 13-bis).
Side activity. Self-employment is allowed alongside the qualified job (par. 13-ter).
Equal treatment with Italian nationals, apart from labour market access in the first 12 months (par. 15).
Family. Reunification is available whatever the length of your permit; family members get a permit of the same length (par. 16). See family reunification.
Coming from another EU country. A Blue Card from another Member State lets you work in Italy for up to 90 days in any 180; after 12 months there (6 if moving from a second Member State) you can move to Italy without a visa, with a work authorisation filed within one month of entry (par. 17).

Source: art. 27-quater D.Lgs. 286/1998, consolidated text; joint circular Ministry of Labour - Ministry of the Interior no. 2829 of 28 March 2024 (lavoro.gov.it). Read 4 Nov 2026.

How we run it

CheckDegree or experience, salary against the threshold and the CCNL, role code.

ContractWe draft the Italian contract or binding offer, with your employer abroad setting the role and pay.

Nulla ostaWe file it as employer. Its validity for the visa application is limited (six months, per the Embassy in Beijing checklist), so the consular appointment is planned in advance.

Visa and arrivalConsulate, stay contract, residence permit, then payroll from your first day.

The EU Blue Card in Italy