Dreaming of working remotely from Italy—living in a picturesque town, enjoying espresso breaks, and embracing la dolce vita while continuing your career?
Here’s a clear, step-by-step guide to one of the easiest and legal ways to move to Italy, work remotely, and even benefit from a reduced tax rate of just 5% for the first five years.

Step 1: Enroll in a Language Course and Apply for a Student Visa
Start by registering for a 6-month Italian language course at a recognized school. Many schools and universities have open enrollment every month.
With your official enrollment confirmation, you’ll apply for a type D student visa in your home country. Once in Italy, this visa can be converted into a study residence permit (permesso di soggiorno per motivi di studio), typically valid for six months.
Tip: Choose a school listed on Universitaly or officially recognized by the Italian Ministry of Education to avoid issues with your visa application.

Step 2: Open a Partita IVA and Join the Flat Tax Regime
Once you’ve arrived in Italy and received your residence permit, the next step is to register as self-employed by opening a Partita IVA. This allows you to legally declare income from freelance or remote work.
If you meet the eligibility criteria, you can opt into Italy’s flat-rate tax scheme, known as regime forfettario. This means paying only 5% income tax for the first five years, and 15% after that.
Income requirement: To later convert your visa to a work permit, you must show annual earnings of at least €12,000.

Step 3: Convert Your Residence Permit to a Work Permit
Once your income is stable and your Partita IVA is active, you can apply to convert your study permit into a work residence permit (permesso di soggiorno per lavoro autonomo).
This permit is usually valid for one year and can be renewed as long as you continue to meet the income requirements.
After 10 years of continuous legal residence, you may be eligible to apply for Italian citizenship.

Start Your Italian Journey Today
This route is legal, accessible, and already being used by remote workers and freelancers who want to live and work in Italy.
If you need help finding the right language school, applying for your visa, or registering your Partita IVA, the team at Your Italian Life is here to guide you through the process step by step.