About this visa
How to Apply for a Working Holiday Visa to Italy
This visa helps young travelers from Australia, Canada, South Korea and New Zealand come to Italy. While you’re here you can work while you enjoy your extended holiday of up to a year!
See the below list of conditions to find out if you are eligible to apply for this working holiday visa in Italy.
COVID-19 UPDATE:
EU countries are starting to reopen their borders to international travelers. However, before heading off to Europe be sure to double check with the country's Embassy or Consulate in your home country as the EU countries are not legally bound to follow this new EU recommendation.
Participating countries
Italy has made Working Holiday visa agreements with the following 4 participating countries:
If you are a Citizen of Italy and are considering a Working Holiday experience in one of the participating countries above, contact the Embassy of the country in question for more information.
With this visa you can
This visa allows you to:
- Live in Italy up to one year
- Work in Italy up to 6 months
- You can work in Italy for up to 6 months but only for a maximum of 3 months for the same employer
- Travel visa free in other EU countries within the Schengen area
- Re-enter Italy when out travelling to other EU countries
Things to note
- Within 8 working days of arriving in Italy, Working Holiday visa holders must go to the Immigration office (Ufficio Immigrazione) of the city Police HQ (Questura), in order to apply for a Permit to Stay (Permesso di Soggiorno). When applying for a Permit to Stay, the visa holder will be given a receipt (cedolino/ricevuta) proving that the Permit has been requested. The Permit itself may take several weeks or months to be issued.
- Once you have the Permit to Stay or the receipt (cedolino/ricevuta) you can begin to look for work.
The following documentation is normally required by the Questura in Italy to apply for a Permit to Stay:
-
- Application form provided by the Immigration Office at the Questura
- 4 passport-size photos
- Duty stamp (Marca da Bollo) currently of the value of 14.62 euro
- Photocopy of your passport data page and the Working Holiday visa placed in your passport by the Italian Consulate
- Photocopy of health insurance cover (Note that the Australia Italy Reciprocal Health Agreement will cover applicants for the first six months of their stay)
For Australians
Working Holiday visa holders from Australia are covered by the Australia–Italy Reciprocal Health Care Agreement during the first six months of their stay in Italy. Private Health cover is required for the remaining 6 months of stay in Italy.
Conditions
- Be aged between 18 and 30 years inclusive at the time of application for the visa
- Not include any minor dependents in the application
- Have not previously taken part in the Working Holiday scheme
- Hold a valid Passport of one of the participating countries
- Hold a valid return travel ticket or sufficient funds to purchase such a ticket
- Possess sufficient funds to support oneself during the period of stay in Italy (equivalent of at least EUR 3,500 for a stay of one year). The applicant’s proof of financial means is to be demonstrated by showing the funds themselves or by bank surety or insurance guaranteed policy or equivalent instrument of credit or with instruments of prepaid services or with definite proof of the availability of sources of income in Italy
- Bank statements must be dated within 3 months of time of application
- Have good health and a sound background and a travel/medical insurance covering the intended period of stay
Note: The visa conditions outlined above are subject to change without notice.
How to apply
- Normal processing time: 2-3 weeks
- Visa fee: 100 EUR
- Fill out the Entry visa application form ( View )
- Provide a recent passport-size photograph
- Provide a valid passport whose expiry date is three months longer than that of the visa requested
- Apply in person at your closest Italian Consulate / Embassy in the country you reside.
The immigration authority in Italy for processing Working Holiday visa's is Italian Visa Information from Ministry of Foreign Cooperation Italy.
Go to: Italian Visa Information from Ministry of Foreign Cooperation Italy
Additional resources
Here are additional links and resources related to the Working Holiday visa in Italy. All resources are in English unless otherwise stated.
COVID-19 Update: The Guardian – https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/may/18/europe-holidays-which-european-countries-are-easing-coronavirus-travel-restrictions-lockdown-measures
Need more help?
If you are seeking advice about Working Holiday visa's drop a comment below and we will be happy to answer any Working Holiday & Youth Mobility visa question you have! We are travellers too! 🙂
Hey, my name is Lucy.
Im an Australian currently visiting my friend in Ireland, I’m wanting to get a working holiday visa for Italy and was wondering if I can apply for it here in Ireland even though this isn’y my country of residence or if I had to apply for the visa back home in Australia?
Thank you!
I am applying for a working holiday visa for Italy from Canada. Once the visa is approved, how long do I have before I have to travel to Italy to activate it? For example, Italians have 1 year to enter Canada when applying for the Working Holiday for Canada. So I’m wondering if it’s the same.
Hello! I am from Canada and need to fly back to Canada in order to obtain my working holiday visa. I would like to book a return flight but do not know how long it will take to get my visa from the time of my appointment. My Nulla Osta has already been processed and received. How long will everything take?
Hi
I’m Sophie. I live in the UK but I have both UK and Australian citizenship (and I have an Australian passport) – am I able to apply for a Working Holiday Visa for Europe?
Thank you,
Sophie
I’m from pakistan but my family from Malaysia I want to visas with my family in Italy
My daughter is a Canadian citizen and is getting everything in order to apply for a working holiday visa in Italy. It is a bit confusing. It looks as though she has to have her health insurance and flights booked before she can apply. I assume she needs cancellation insurance in case she doesn’t get a visa? Is there a step-by-step guide available?
Hi, my partner and I would like to have an extended visit to Italy – for up to 12 months. We are 53 and 60. Are there any Visa’s available to us to stay that long (potentially with the ability to do some work if allowed).
Thanks
Alison
Hi
my name is Silvia and am Italian I will be hosting a girl coming from Australia on a Aupair agreement. She will apply for a working holiday visa. wish to know if staying with us as an Aupair is considered a job – meaning she can not stay with us longer than 3 months – or she could find a job outside family. Also in case she is not finding a job, can she just stay 6 months with us and then go back to Australia?
Many thanks
Hi! I am planning on going to Italy in April 2022 until October 2022. I was wondering how far in advance I need to apply for the working holiday visa and if I needed a job lined up already or if I needed to find one prior.
I was also wondering how to begin the application in Australia and where to take it once I arrive in Italy.
Is just proving residence enough or is proof of job also needed.
Thank you!
Hi im tasha I want to apply for a italian working holiday visa im currently living in Australia. My question is can you apply for a holiday working visa if you don’t have a job in Italy? My second question also is can you travel outside of Italy once you have been given the visa and you have been staying in Italy for example 3monts can you travel outside if Italy to none European country e.g American or Africa for 1month and than do the rest of your stay in Italy until your 1year holiday expires
My husband and I live in Australia. I hold an EU passport and am wanting to apply for jobs in an international school in Italy next year. My Husband is not an EU passport holder and he will be 36 years old. Is there any way for him to obtain some sort of working visa or at least an extended visa that allows him to stay with me while I work?
Thanks!
Hi! You’re amazing! Can you please confirm if I get the Italian permit to stay visa (for 1 year- coming as an Australian citizen), I could say travel the other schengen countries for 4 months and then stay in Italy for the remaining 8 months of the year? Or are the other schengen counties only allowing 3 months as normal? I appreciate any help!!!
Hi, I am an Australian citizen currently living and working in New Zealand.
I plan on getting my working holiday visa for Italy next year (just before I turn 31) to travel and live for a while with my Partner who is an Italian citizen.
Is it possible for me to apply from New Zealand or do I have to be residing in Australia to be eligible?
Hi Nicole,
Thank you for your question.
Unfortunately, you will need to travel from an Australian consulate closest to where you reside (in this case, perhaps where you last lived in Australia/where your parents live).
Due to COVID-19, the Italian Consulate in Australia might be able to help you via email, instead of you showing up in person to apply for the visa.
So if I were you, I would send an email to an Italian consulate closest to where you last resided in Australia and ask them if you can apply online via them, since you now live in New Zealand and are not able to travel to Australia in the near future.
Hopes this helps. Feel free to send me another question 🙂
Cheers,
Maria
Hi, Monique from Australia here, your article and all other info iv found online state that with the working holiday visa only allows you to work for 6 months with a maximum of 3 with any one employer. What if I have work lined up as an au pair already for my stay in Italy, but they wish to have someone stay and work with there family for 9-12months, is there an visas meets terms such as these?
Thankyou, Mon
Hi Monique,
Thank you for your question!
Unfortunately, at this point you can only work for 3 months with one family in Italy.
If the family wish to have you working for them more than 3 months, they will have to contact the Foreign Affairs Department
and see if there is any visa for your extended stay with them. Perhaps, they may need to sponsor your stay.
You can find more information about au-pair visas here – https://www.aupairworld.com/en/au-pair-programs/italy/visa
Hopes this helps.
Cheers,
Maria
Hi there,
I am a New Zealander looking to apply for a working holiday visa in Italy. I’m currently in Europe traveling was wondering if I can apply for the Visa from here, and if so which countries?
If I can only apply from New Zealand, do you know if any other European countries allow to apply for Working Holiday Visa from outside of your home country?
Thanks in advance
Hi Micheal!
I just want to say this site is so helpful, thanks!
I just have a few questions. I am currently living in the USA on a two year working Visa which is coming to an end in March. I want to apply for a holiday working Visa for Italy as I am going there in March (I have already booked my flight).
I am planning on applying for a working Holiday Visa once I arrive in Italy because I won’t be going home to Australia before I arrive there but I am not sure about all the rules.
1)Can I go apply for the visa here in the US and then go to the Questura within 8 days to finish the visa?
2) If I cant get the working holiday Visa could the Study visa work?
3)If I can get the study visa would it work for 8 months?
4)if a Study visa would be an option how does it work? Would I have to go to school the whole time of the visa or can you travel as well?
Thanks!!
Hi Michael! Thanks so much for this article.
My question is, on the application it asks for the details of an employer in Italy, but what if i don’t have an employer and not necessarily any intentions of working? Do I leave this blank? Will it affect my chance of having the application approved?
Thank you!!
Hi!
I am from Australia (currently living there) and am looking to get a working holiday visa in Italy starting in June. I have quite a few questions which hopefully you can help with!
Once I obtain the visa in Australia (within 3 months of departure date) and land in Italy, I have 8 days to go to the Questura (Police headquarters) for a “Permesso di Soggiorno” (Permit of residence) or a receipt.
I was going to do this in Milan where we want to base ourselves after a few months of travel around Europe. I was planning on landing in Milan for 3 days, then travel around Italy and other European countries for roughly 3 months, then return to Milan. My questions are:
1. Is 3 days in Milan to get a receipt for the “Permesso di Soggiorno” enough time or could there be complications?
2. Does the actual “Permesso di Soggiorno” need to be posted to an address in Milan where we will be residing or can it just be emailed?
3. Does this working holiday visa in Italy mean that I can travel to any Schengen country without using the 90 day tourist visa? Or each time I leave Italy it will come out of the 90 day tourist visa?
4. If I change my mind after a few months in Milan and want to move to Rome, do I need to apply for a new “Permesso di Soggiorno” in Rome?
4. Once my 12 months is up on the working holiday visa, can I still travel for an extra 90 days on the tourist visa before heading home to Australia?
Thanks so much!
Hi I’m Evalyn and I am from Canada.
I’m living in Italy with a Work Holiday Visa and I have been working for almost six months in a part time job and according to the rules of the visa, I am allowed to work up to six months in a full time job. I was wondering if I could somehow extend my work period to make it to the end of the period of the visa. Any possibility?
Thank you
Hi, I am Dong-Yeol from South Korea I have currently took a working holiday scheme in Australia and wanting to do a working holiday in Italy will it be a problem if I have already did a working holiday scheme in Australia?
Hi. I’m from Australia and I arrived in Europe 2 months ago and have spent that time travelling around using my Schengen visa. I also have an italian working holiday visa and have just arrived in Italy. I am not staying for longer than 3 months and don’t intend on working, so is it correct that I don’t need to apply for the permesso di soggiorno? I also intend to go to England for 2 weeks during my stay, will those 2 weeks count towards my 90 days in Italy or will it be deducted from my schengen visa?
Thanks!
Hello,
I’m Irina from Canada. I’m planning to apply for Working Holiday visa in Italy and my question is:
– do you have to secure a job in Italy?
– are you obliged to work for 6month out of 1 year stay ?
– what kind of job you can apply to ?
Thanks
Hi, my name is Nadia and I live in Ontario, Canada.
I’m going to Italy in January to be an Au Pair for six months. Is the working holiday visa the only visa I need? And am I able to obtain this through the consulate in my town or do I have to go to Toronto and make an appointment to get it from that consulate office?
Hello!
My boyfriend, who is Canadian, wants to visit me in Italy, he’ll be there for 60 days and he’s going back to Canada, but then he wants to visit ma again after one month. How long can he stay (not having a visa)? I believe it says 90 days, but does it change if there’s a break in between? Or is it one in the lifetime?
Hi want to work
HI There,
I have been granted a working holiday visa for Italy and I am from Canada. The visa is for 12 months but I am not staying the whole time. Do you know if at the Italian border when I enter I need to have proff of insurance that covers the full 12 months or just for as long as my plane ticket indicates? Or do I need to have proof of my insurance at all?
Thanks
Hi Sage, thanks for asking. Proof of insurance is a requirement for the duration of your stay. If you intend to stay only 9 months then get 9 months insurance for that period and clarify this to Italian immigration if asked, like referring to the departure date on your return flight. Plans change and you can extend your insurance as needed or fill the gap if immigration require it. Have fun in Italy! 🙂
Hi Michael (:
My name is Amanda and I’m from Australia. Currently I’m traveling around Europe for just under 3 months on a 90 day free visa (not sure of technical name). Besides the UK, all countries I will be visiting are part of the Schengen Area.I would like to extend my stay in Europe for at least 2 months and apply for a working holiday visa in Italy to do so.
My questions are:
1) Can I apply from outside my country of residence being Australia? And if yes, do I need to apply within Italy or can it be done in another country?
2) If I can apply from a country outside my residence do I need to stay in that country while the visa is processed? How long does this usually take?
3) Will an Italian WHV allow me to travel to other countries in the Schengen Area even though I’ve used up my other 90 days?
4) Where would be the best place to call to obtain this and additional information? (:
As n aside, I also have an income from my job back home which I’m currently doing online.
Thank you (:
Hi Amanda, thanks for asking! Italian immigration would prefer if you completed your Working Holiday/Youth Mobility visa application here in Australia but may process it “in-country” or via an Embassy or Consulate in another country – notice the word “may” – they could also ask you to return to Australia and apply there so there is some risk attached, especially if you are not fluent in Italian. If you were living permanently outside of Australia then they would make an exception and process it within your current country of residence.
I would first speak to the Italian Embassy or Consulate here in Australia and get their advice for applying either in Italy or the UK, mention you haven’t decided and may wish to stay longer once you’ve arrived in Italy. Visa applications can typically be processed on the spot but each country has their own processes (some taking months!), with the Italian Working Holiday visa there is a component completed on arrival to Italy. With an Italian Working Holiday/Youth Mobility visa you would be free to travel to all other Schengen Area member countries as you will be holding a long-term residence visa which puts your Schengen tourist visa on hold while it is valid.
(You’re entering Europe as an Australian Citizen on the Schengen tourist visa.)
Hi, l am Australian in Italy on a work holiday visa, can you extend the 12 months? Or apply for a holiday visa for 90 days?
Hi Michael, thanks for asking. Unfortunately the majority of countries offering Working Holiday/Youth Mobility visa’s do not allow extensions, the MOU between Australia and Italy (linked below) does not mention the possibility for extensions of this visa. I recommend you visit your nearest immigration office in Italy and ask them what visa opportunities are available as they can issue you a temporary visa extension or advise you on how to transition to a traditional long-term resident visa (e.g. work, study, language course, etc.), alternatively look at neighbouring countries offering Working Holiday/Youth Mobility visa’s to Australians; you’re only a border away. I hope this helps 🙂
https://italy.embassy.gov.au/rome/new.html
Hi, i’m Alasdair from Australia.
I have a few questions and am a little confused.
My Italian working holiday visa, its valid for 6 months.
Originally i had only planned to work 2 of these, i was told in sydney from the italian embassy i could go to any Questura in Italy and apply for the Permesso Di Soggiorno. We were going to work in Calabria but the employer wasn’t ready for us, after booking flights we changed it and flew in to Sicily to travel with plans to go to Spain then back to Calabria when the work was ready for us, within 4 days i went to the immigration in Trapani and tried to apply for the Permesso Di Soggiorno, they said i had to apply in the Provence i planned to work in, but said going through immigration coming into Sicily was enough and i should just go to the Calabrian immigration office and apply for the Permesso after Spain.
So am i going to have issues regarding ”within 8 days” of arriving in italy then leaving and coming back but not having the Permesso application filled out?
can i apply now in calabria after spain?
what effect does this have on my time in shengen areas?
Do i need the permesso even though id only be working for 2 months and travelling for 3 on the working visa?
what does the working holiday visa grant me with other european/shengen countries and is the visa in my passport enough?
sorry for the lengthy questions i have tried to contact the Italian consulate in Sydney and cant get a response just need some clarification.
Thank you.
Hi, I’m from Australia and I’ve lived in Italy for the past 3 months on the normal 90 day tourist visa.. which expires in a couple of days so I will be going to India while I try to apply for the working tourist visa. I was just wondering if it still possible to apply when I’m not going to be in Italy and where I would apply at, the Italian consulate or the Australian one? Can you apply online?
Hello, I’m from Australia and currently travelling around Italy on a working holiday visa (not actually using it to work), for less than 90 days. I’m also wanting to travel through other Schengen countries. Is this additional to the time allowed on my Italian visa (ie the full 90 days of Schengen travel), included in it, or… how do the two work, and what sort of paper trail do I need?
Hi James, thanks for asking. Do you have a single page insert in your Passport already with an expiry date? If you so you’re good to go as you entered Europe on your Working Holiday/Youth Mobility visa and your Schengen tourist visa time has not started. Otherwise you will need to complete your Permesso di Soggiorno (Permit of residence) from Immigration office of the Questura (Police headquarters), with that you are then good to go traveling and if you decide to return to Italy can submit a request for a Work Permit to the Labour Office through your prospective Italian employer.
Hi there,
I am currently in Canada seeking a working holiday visa. However, the italian consulates in Canada are very far away from me… is there any way I can process a visa application without having to go in to the consulate?
Hi Taylor, you’re best to contact the Consulate by phone as they may be able to process your application via other means (e.g. by mail, local Police Station, other Consulate or third party visa processing service) or delay any biometric collection (if required) until closer to your departure.
Hi,
I’m brazilian and I’m an Italian citizen too. I would love to work in Canada for 1 year, what should I do? What’s the next step? Do I have to get a job before I move there or I can go there jobless and try to find a job there? Can I move to any place in Canada?
Hi,
I’d be grateful for clarification or advice you can provide –
I’m Emily from Australia. I’ve just arrived in Italy on a Working Holiday visa. I’m intending to stay in Italy for 92 days while undertaking an (unpaid) internship. I’m then travelling on to other Schengen zone countries.
Do I still need to apply for a residence permit? I suspect that I will need to, but from what I can understand, it sounds like the application process is quite lengthy and it’s likely that I’ll have left Italy by the time the residence permit is issued.
I’m also a bit confused about where the ‘Questura’ in Rome is located. The link on the government website appears to be broken and my Italian is not very good! Could I apply for a residence permit through a post office instead?
Grazie!
Hi Emily, thanks for asking, you’re in a grey area but I hope we can help! Since you intend to stay more than 3 months in Italy (2 days over the limit) on your current Working Holiday visa you are legally required to apply for a residence permit within the first 8 days of arriving in Italy. If you were to reduce your stay to less than 90 days you do not require a residence permit, for this reason I would urge you to reduce your planned stay in Italy to stay under that limit if you do not wish to apply for a residence permit as enforcement actions may be taken against you by Polizia Di Stato (State Police) either during your stay in Italy or when leaving Italy if you exceed that limit.
“A residence permit is not required for business, tourism, short visits or study, provided that the stay does not exceed 3 months.”
http://www.poliziadistato.it/articolo/10617-Foreign_nationals/
If there is a chance that you will be returning to Italy after traveling around Europe in say 6 months then I would absolutely approach Italian immigration within that 8 day arrival window and explain your circumstances so that at least there is a paper trail to support you if you want to live in Italy for the remainining duration of your Working Holiday visa. I hope this helps! 🙂
Hi there, I’m Gabby and I’m from Canada! I’m looking to start applying for a Working Holiday Visa for Italy, but am a little confused: one of the websites I looked at stated you needed to provide proof of a ’round trip’ upon application, but if my intention is to stay for a year, most airlines won’t book so far ahead. Do applicants really need this, and how are they booking flights over a year in advance?
Hi Gabby, thanks for asking. You’re right, that requirement for a round trip is weird, in my own cases immigration of a given country have required proof of financial means (e.g. bank statement, letter of financial support from parents, etc.) to allow you to purchase a return flight to your home country if required, they’ve never enforced a return ticket at time of application. This was the case when traveling to Denmark for the first time from Australia where the Embassy here in Sydney, Australia issued a signed document addressed to the airline and European immigration to allow travel into Europe without a return ticket.
I would confirm this with immigration in that country via your nearest Embassy or Consulate and ask them to clarify this requirement and/or provide a letter of support to give to your airline at time of departure so they can waive a return flight requirement and allow your safe travel to Italy from Canada. Let us know how you go! 🙂
Can an American get a holiday work visa?
Hi Kailee, unfortunately due to the reciprical nature of the Working Holiday/Youth Mobility program that both countries allow youth from each country to live in the others country Americans currently have limited opportunities.
I am not aware of a reciprical agreement being made that supports Citizens of Italy and the United States of America but would suggest you contact the State Department (https://www.state.gov/) and urge them to encourage Working Holiday visa opportunities with Italy. 🙂
Hey there.. if I’m in Italy already can I do the visa process from here? Or do I need to leave the country?
Thank you
Hi Noa, since you’re already in the country approach Italian immigration directly, your circumstances are unique and will be taken into consideration. If you knew that you needed to apply from your home country and ignored it then that’s a different situation. Be courteous, patient and they’ll get you sorted. Let us know you go! 🙂
hello,
I´m korean and 33.. do I have any chance to go to Italy?
Hi So, thanks for asking! Unfortunately the most recent information on the current Working Holiday Visa agreement between South Korea and Italy suggests this is still limited to youth aged 18-30, this is starting to change for other Visa Country’s (e.g. Australia, Canada) as they bump that limit up to 35 years old but this will not be applicable for Italy or your situation.
Please consider looking at a traditional Italian work visa, mission visa and/or the Elective Residence visa.
http://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/home/en#BMConclusione
Hi my name is Sarah,
I am from Australia and currently living in Australia, I have my interview with the Brisbane consulate this Wednesday the 6/02/2019 to apply for my working Holiday visa.
I have a few questions,
Do I need to have a job lined up already with a company over in Italy to apply for the visa?
I have already bought my flights which leave in April and want to know if this will be enough time to get the Visa?
Hi Sarah, thanks for asking. I bet you’re excited, for your appointment take along all required documentation including proof of financials or an ability to support yourself during your stay.
You do not need to have a job lined up in Italy, work conditions are there if you want to use it to suppliment your living expenses for up to 6 months during your stay, and up to 3 months for each employer; it is not a requirement.
You have plenty of time! The Consulate will likely process your Working Holiday visa application on the spot and make ammendments to your Passport.
Do remember that within 8 days of arriving in Italy you need to visit the Immigration office of the Questura (Police headquarters) for a “Permesso di Soggiorno” (Permit of residence) and if you do choose to work that when you are offered a job that you need to request a Work Permit, your employee can help you with that! Enjoy your adventure! 🙂
Hi there, I’m Edyn and i’m from NZ.
Just a few questions regarding my working holiday visa. I have filled out all the documents required for it and am waiting to send it off but am waiting for my passport to get renewed – theres been a delay and so I wont have it for a least another 2 weeks probably. My host family is wanting me on the 9th of feb and I haven’t been able to even send off my visa yet so not sure if it’ll get accepted in time.
Do you know if i can go into Italy on just the tourist visa (so for up to 90 days) and while i’m over there apply for the visa, or is that not allowed in Italy??
Thanks so much
Edyn
Hi Edyn, I hope you got this all sorted. Under the above circumstances you would have no problem entering Italy on a tourist visa and then presenting yourself at immigration in Italy and applying there, they won’t be happy but they’ll help you, if that fails contact the Consultate/Embassy in New Zealand and they can intervene.