Non-EU citizens who enter Italy to carry out domestic work must have an appropriate residence permit allowing such work activity.
Specifically, the visa for domestic work allows employers to employ non-EU domestic helpers, caregivers, and baby-sitters. The Italian immigration law defines the application procedure and basic requirements for domestic work visas.
Entry of domestic workers
How can I hire a caregiver without residence in Italy?
First, it is necessary to keep in mind that Italy has adopted the entry quota migration system. Under the quota system, the Italian government publishes an entry flow decree every three years. This decree determines the maximum quotas of foreigners who can enter Italy to perform specific work activities.
Hiring a non-EU domestic worker is possible mainly through the in-quota system. However, there is also an out-of-quota procedure for so-called “special cases.”
Who falls under the flow decree?
The Prime Minister’s Decree of Sept. 27, 2023, published in Official Gazette No. 231 of Oct. 3, 2023, regulated entry flow programming for the three-year period 2023-2025.
Within the entry quotas, 9,500 units are for non-seasonal work in family and socio-health care. These quotas are then allocated per province, according to territorial needs.
Therefore, to enter Italy for domestic work purposes, a quota must still be available in the relevant province at that time of the year. That is the province of residence of the applicant family, or the province where the work is to take place.
When does the caregiver flow decree come out?
On an experimental basis for 2025, Decree-Law 145/24 provided for additional 10,000 foreign workers. These workers are for the family and social-health care sector exclusively regarding the older people or persons with disabilities. These entries are in addition to the 9,500 quotas already prefixed by the flow decree.
In this regard, the term “older people” means a person who is 80 years of age or older.
How can I hire a domestic worker directly from abroad?
Legislative Decree 286/98 then provides, in Article 27, paragraph 1, letter E, a simplified out-of-quota procedure for so-called “special cases.” This procedure applies only to Italian or European citizens who have regularly been in full-time domestic work relationships abroad for at least one year with a non-EU domestic worker and, upon returning to Italy, wish to continue the work relationship with their domestic worker.
For this category of workers, employers can submit the telematic nulla osta application at any time of the year.
Nulla Osta for domestic work
How to apply for a non-EU caregiver?
The procedure for entry of the foreign worker first involves obtaining the appropriate Nulla Osta from the host entity.
The employer must apply for the Nulla Osta through the portal of the Ministry of Interior. Prerequisite for completing and submitting applications electronically is the possession of SPID. Individuals may submit a maximum of three nulla osta requests each. This limit does not apply to licensed professionals and employer associations.
In addition, starting from 2025 employers must elect a digital address through which they will confirm the application.
When is it possible to apply for the 2025 flows decree?
The 2025 flows decree provided for an application pre-fill period and a submission phase (“click-day“). The click day was on February 7, 2025, from 9 a.m.
The available quotas are allocated according to the order of submission. Although the opportunity to submit applications is until December 31, 2025, the remaining quotas may be very limited after the click days.
What documents are necessary to apply for the domestic flow decree?
First, to submit the application through the Portal of the Ministry of Interior, one must possess the following documents:
- “asseverazione” document – not needed in case of employers with illnesses or disabilities that limit their self-sufficiency. Through this document, professionals (including labor consultants, accountants, or lawyers) or employer organizations certify compliance with the contractual prerequisites required by current regulations for the purpose of hiring foreign workers.
- certificate of unavailability of workers on Italian territory, available in eight days from the publication of the announcement.
Are exempt from producing the documentation listed above applications submitted by:
- trade associations.
- employers who have signed special agreements with the authorities (“protocollo d’intesa”).
What is the procedure for caregivers of older people and persons with disabilities?
In this case, the employer will not be able to submit the application independently but will necessarily have to contact a duly registered employment agency or a licensed employer’s association. In fact, only these intermediaries can collect and send, on behalf of employers, applications for the 10,000 workers authorized to enter Italy as part of the trial provided for by DL 145/2024.
Additionally, in this case the employment request can come even by the spouse or a relative or relative-in-law within the second degree of affinity of the assisted person. This is possible even if not cohabiting, provided that the assisted person resides in Italy. If the beneficiary is a disabled person with “intensive support” needs, the employment request can also come by a relative within the third degree. On the other hand, one cannot employ the spouse and relative or kin within the third degree of consanguinity.
The form for sending the application for clearance is the same as that provided for applications for family or social welfare assistance in the flows decree (so-called “A-BIS” form) and the click day is the same.
What is the procedure for special cases?
For the special cases referred to in Article 27 of the TUI, on the other hand, it is possible to submit the application out of quota, at any time of the year, by filling out the appropriate H form.
In this case, the foreign labor contract needs legalization for use in Italy. The date on which this legalization was carried out should be indicated in the nulla osta application. Applicants must then present the legalized contract in original to the immigration office, upon signing the contract of stay.
Visa and residence permit
After the nulla osta release, the foreigner can visit the relevant Italian diplomatic representation to obtain the entry visa.
Within eight days of entering Italy, then, the worker must sign the contract of stay and apply for a residence permit.
Following a 2025 procedural update, the signing of the contract of stay will happen via PEC (digital domicile). The worker can also sign with a handwritten signature. The forms are available for downloaded on a special section of the ALI portal always within eight days of the worker’s entry.
What is the duration of the residence permit for domestic work?
The duration of residence permits for domestic work depends on the type of work contract. It cannot exceed in any case:
- one year for fixed-term contracts
- two years for permanent contracts.
During the first twelve months of employment, workers may only engage in the work activity authorized by the authorization. Any change of employer is subject to prior authorization by the labor inspectorate.
After twelve months, in case of a new job offer, applicants must obtain a new authorization. This will fall within the quotas of the subsequent flow decrees.
How long is the nulla osta?
The nulla osta has a maximum duration of two years, depending on the type of labor contract offered.
In the special cases referred to in Article 27 of the TUI, the nulla osta can be extended for an additional two years and under the same conditions as the first, until the maximum limit of four years is reached. In case of termination of the employment relationship, the non-EU citizen who falls under this case may establish a new employment relationship, provided that the hiring qualification coincides with the one for which the first clearance was issued.
How much does it cost to file for employment through the flow decree?
When sending the electronical clearance, the employer will have to pay a revenue stamp of €16. In addition, the worker will have to pay the following amounts:
– €116 for the application for an entry visa for subordinate work
– €80.46 for applying for a residence permit valid for more than one year and up to two years
– two €16 revenue stamps for signing the residence contract
These amounts may be subject to periodic updates by the authorities
What is the minimum income to hire a domestic worker?
The minimum wage for domestic helpers is the one of the sector’s collective bargaining agreement. In any case, it should not be lower than the minimum provided for social allowance (€503.27 monthly).
With reference to the economic capacity of the employer, on the other hand, as indicated in the Interministerial Circular of October 27, 2023, the taxable income of the employer with a household composed only of his or her person cannot be less than €20,000.00 annually. This limit rises to €27,000.00 if the employer’s family has several cohabiting members.
The income of the spouse and relatives within the second degree of kinship, even if not cohabiting, and any certified exempt income (e.g., disability allowance) may contribute to the formation of the employer’s income requirement.
In case the employer is a legal person, such as an organized association, foundation and welfare and charitable institution (convents, commands, foster homes, orphanages, or old people’s homes), the income shall not be less than €30,000.00 annually.
What are the penalties for illegal domestic work?
Authorities have established a range of administrative and civil penalties for the illegal employment of domestic workers.
In addition to administrative penalties for failure to report or late reporting to INPS and for failure to pay or late payment of contributions, in the case of a worker without a residence permit there is imprisonment from three months to one year and a fine of €5,000.00 for each worker employed.
