Italy: New EU Blue Card Rules in Force from November 17

CHANGE

DETAILS

IMPACT

Relaxed education pathways and introduction of professional experience pathways

Applicants for professions not requiring government regulation will require:

• • • a university-level degree or post-secondary professional qualification (each of at least three years in length); or
    • five years of professional experience in a relevant field.

Currently, the rules only recognize individuals who have a university-level degree (of at least three years in length).

Applicants for managerial or specialist roles in information and communication technology will need at least three years of relevant professional experience (acquired in the previous seven years).

The current rules do not establish any alternate pathway for managerial or specialist roles in information and communication technology.

Employers will be able to acquire highly skilled talent more easily, including information technology experts. This is particularly pertinent given current demography-related labor shortages in Italy.  

International protection beneficiaries and seasonal workers

International protection beneficiaries and seasonal workers will be able to apply for EU Blue Cards.

Currently, they are not eligible.

This change will significantly increase the pool of available talent for employers, and continues the broader trend of European immigration systems seeking to expand employment pathways (especially pertinent in the context of a demographic-related labor shortage).

Reduced job-offer durations and salary requirements

The job related to the EU Blue Card will need to be at least six months in length, and have a salary not lower than that established by national bargaining agreements.

Currently, job offers must be at least one year in duration, and the minimum salary must not be lower than at least three times the minimum national salary.

This change will grant employers more flexibility in terms of crafting employment terms, which is especially important considering the labor shortages in Italy.

Short-term mobility pathways remain

As is currently the rule, holders of an EU Blue Card from another EU Member State will continue to be able to enter and stay in Italy for 90 days in any 180-day period for tourism or work purposes.

EU Blue Card holders will continue to be able to travel to Italy from another EU Member State for short-term work purposes, ensuring employers continue to have some flexibility to move talent to Italy for short-term work purposes.

Relaxed long-term mobility pathways

EU Blue Card holders who have resided for at least 12 months in another EU Member State will be eligible to enter and work in Italy (for a period longer than 90 days) without a separate visa – though within at least one month of arriving in Italy, the foreign national will need to apply for an Italian EU Blue Card work permit.

Currently, this right of entry only applies after at least 18 months residence in the other EU Member State.

EU Blue Card holders will be able to move to Italy from another EU Member State more easily, providing employers more flexibility to move talent permanently to Italy.

Relaxed self-employment rules

EU Blue card holders will be able to engage in self-employment in parallel with their main employment.

Currently, the rules do not refer to any right of self-employment.

EU Blue Card holders will have more flexibility in establishing multiple income streams.

Relaxed restrictions

For the first 12 months of employment, EU Blue Card holders will not be able to change employers and will not be able to conduct activities that do not fulfil the criteria for admission.

Currently, such restrictions apply for 24 months.

The relaxed restrictions on changing employers and activities provide more flexibility for EU Blue Card holders seeking to remain in Italy.