Which route fits your case
Every route starts with the same thing: an employer in Italy that files the work authorisation. What changes is who qualifies, whether a quota applies, and how fast the family can follow.
| Route | Who it fits | Quota | Key condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU Blue Card | Graduates and experienced specialists in qualified roles | No | Contract of at least 6 months; salary at least the ISTAT average gross salary and the CCNL level |
| Quota work permit | Roles that do not meet Blue Card conditions | Yes (Decreto Flussi) | A place in the quota for the worker's nationality group |
| Intra-company transfer | Managers and specialists moving within a group | [confirm] | Italian and foreign employer in the same group |
Sources: D.Lgs. 286/1998 art. 27-quater (text); DPCM 2/10/2025 as reported by investireoggi.it secondary source.
The sequence, whatever the route
- Eligibility checkQualification, salary, nationality and role compared with the route.
- Nulla ostaWe file the work authorisation at the Sportello Unico per l'Immigrazione as your Italian employer.
- VisaYou apply at the Italian embassy or consulate for your place of residence.
- ArrivalStay contract, residence permit, tax code, health service registration.
- FamilyReunification once the conditions are met. See family reunification.
[Review: typical timelines per route from our own cases.]