The Italian government has approved a decree which transposes EU Directive 2021/1883 into Italian law, introducing new rules for the entry and residence of highly qualified foreign nationals under the EU Blue Card scheme. The new EU Blue Card rules will go into effect in Italy on November 17, 2023.
Under the new rules:
- Applications for unregulated professions now require a two-year university degree, or post-secondary professional qualifications of at least two years, or five years of relevant professional experience (or three years of relevant professional experience for information technology managers and specialists). Previously, a three-year university degree was always required.
- Beneficiaries of international protection and seasonal workers are now entitled to apply for an EU Blue Card.
- A job offer of at least six months is required, with an annual salary not lower than that established by national collective agreements. Previously, a job offer for at least one year was required, with a minimum salary at least three times the minimum wage.
- During the first 12 months of legal employment (rather than 24 months as previously), the EU Blue Card holder is restricted in terms of changing employer and carrying out works not fulfilling the criteria for admission.
- An EU Blue Card holder can now conduct self-employed work alongside their highly-skilled employment. This was not previously permitted.
- A holder of an EU Blue Card issued by another EU member state can enter Italy and stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period to work. Previously only business activities were allowed.
- A holder of an EU Blue Card issued by another EU member state can enter Italy without a visa and stay for work for more than 90 days if they have been legally resident in the issuing state for at least 12 months (previously 18 months).
The decree will enter into force after it has been published in the Official Gazette.
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