Can I keep my US job and live in Italy on the remote worker visa?
Updated · Who qualifies guide · Not legal advice
Yes. Italy's remote worker visa allows you to work for an employer whose registered office is outside Italy, including a US company. Your employer must give you a contract (or binding offer) showing role, start date and pay at or above Italy's salary floor, and sign a declaration that it has no convictions in the last 5 years for the offences in art. 22(5-bis) of the Immigration Act.
| Item | Why | Who signs |
|---|---|---|
| Contract or binding offer | Shows the remote job, start date and annual pay | HR |
| Employer declaration (art. 22(5-bis)) | Required for remote workers | Authorised officer, with a copy of their ID |
| Letter confirming remote work from Italy | Many consulates expect it | Manager or HR |
| Payroll and tax setup | Italian tax and social security rules apply once you live there | Employer + tax advisor |
Questions HR will ask
- Does my working from Italy create a taxable presence (permanent establishment) for the company? This is a question for the company's tax advisor.
- Which social security system covers me? See INPS and the US totalization agreement.
- Does Italian income tax need to be withheld? See Italian tax residency.
Make the letters easy to sign
US HR teams sign standard letters quickly and unusual ones slowly. Send them a ready draft. Our Standard plan includes templates for the employer declaration and the remote work letter.
Quick answers
- Can I keep my US job and move to Italy?
- Yes, on the remote worker visa, if your employer provides the contract and declaration and you meet the income and qualification rules.
- Does my US employer need an Italian entity?
- Not for the visa. Whether it needs to register in Italy for payroll is a tax question for the company.
- What if my employer refuses to sign?
- Remote workers cannot complete the file without the declaration. Freelancers with clients apply as digital nomads instead.
What to do next
Get the employer declaration and remote-work letter templates, plus a full file review, for $599.
Free eligibility check and checklist. Paid plans are one-time, flat fees for a human review of your full Italy visa file.
Sources
- Normattiva: Legislative Decree 286/1998 (Immigration Act), art. 27 incl. para. 1-sexies on digital nomads
- Normattiva: Legislative Decree 286/1998, art. 22 (para. 5-bis offences)
- Embassy of Italy in Chisinau: digital nomad and remote worker visas (IT, PDF)
Checked: . Rules change; confirm current values on the official pages above before you file.