Italy: Update on new EU blue card application rules

Rome: The Italian Government announced changes to the EU Blue Card scheme. These changes bring about new opportunities for applicants when applying for this permit in Italy.

The changes include an update to the requirements a worker must meet to apply for the EU Blue Card. Previously, all applicants we required to have a university degree from a course of at least three years duration. This excluded highly skilled workers from being eligible to apply for this process in Italy. The updates now allow workers who do not have a university degree, but can prove the following requirements, to apply for the EU Blue Card:

Higher professional qualification attested by at least five years of professional experience relevant to the profession or field specified in the employment contract or employment offer. Please note, if the above documents have been issued outside of the EU, they will need to be legalized/apostilled.

Higher professional qualification attested by at least three years of relevant professional experience, acquired within the last seven years preceding the submission of the application for the EU Blue Card. This requirement is specifically for managers and specialists in the field of information and communication technology.

Additionally, this update has clarified the amended employment and employer requirements.

Employers must provide proof that they could not find any local workers for the applicable position.

The employment offer must be for six months minimum with an annual gross salary that is not lower than the annual gross salary or the national collective labour agreements. This is currently around €27,000.

Changes of employer during the first 12 months require prior authorization from the Territorial Labor Inspectorate.

During the first 12 months of employment, activities other than those highly qualified are prohibited.

Holders of EU Blue Cards that have been issued by another Member State can enter and stay in Italy, for professional activities, for up to 90 days within a period of 180 days. After the worker has completed 12 months of legal residence in another member state, they can enter Italy without a visa to carry out highly qualified work for more than 90 days. This is subject to approval.