Post Study Work Visa in Italy for International Students

Indian students studying in Italy can apply for a post-study work visa in Italy only after the second stage master's or a PhD program. Indian students can apply for a post-study work permit in Italy after completing their master's or PhD. They are allowed to stay in Italy for a year till they get a full-time job opportunity. In case they do get a job opportunity in Italy, international students can then apply for a post-study work visa. International students must have a job in hand before applying for a work visa in Italy. The employer offering a job will have to apply for a work permit on the applicant’s behalf in Italy. 

What is Decreto Flussi in Italy?

The Decreto Flussi is an Italian government law which sets how many non-European citizens can enter Italy for work. Specifically, the decreto flussi establishes the number of non-European citizens who can enter Italy for:

• lavoro stagionale (seasonal work)
• lavoro subordinato non stagionale (non-seasonal employed work)
• lavoro autonomo (self-employed work)

With the unemployment rate touching 6.8% in 2024 in Italy, the Italian government sets quotas for accepting a limited number of work visas. In 2024, the Italian government announced around:

Type of Workforce in Italy	Vacancies for Indian Applicants
Lavoratori subordinati	25,000 vacancies
Lavoro autonomo	500 vacancies
Lavoro stagionale	89,500 vacancies - in the tourism and agricultural sectors

Work visa applications are opened in certain months in a year or two. So applicants cannot just log on to the official website and apply for work visas in Italy anytime they wish to. The applications usually open in March, applicants can check the dates before applying for these jobs in Italy after graduation. 

Read more about Popular Jobs in Italy for Indian Students

Eligibility to Apply for Italy Post-Study Work Visa

There is a set of rules or eligibility criteria for international students to stay back in Italy to apply for a post-study work visa. These are different from those holding any European country's passport. The details of the eligibility criteria are as follows:

• Those holding a master's degree or PhD are eligible to stay back in Italy after they study for 12 months.
• The post-study work permit can be applied for after the applicant gets a full-time job or even an internship opportunity. Officially 'permesso di Lavoro' - a work permit/employment permit would be needed.
• While the duration of stay in Italy of master's or PhD degree holders, international students must be able to get a full-time job to convert the post-study work visa to a work visa in Italy.

How to Apply for a Post Study Work Visa in Italy?

Indian or international students applying for a post-study work permit in Italy must apply through the Italian Long Stay Visa Application as and when the window opens. Based on the duration of stay applicants will have to choose between Schengen Visa (which is for a shorter stay) or National Visa (intended for a longer stay). The steps for applying for a post-study work visa in Italy are as follows: 

• Personal details - name, sex, marital status, contact details. 
• National identity number - the Adhaar Card number or Voter ID number for Indian applicants or any other identity card number issued by GOI. 
• The passport is current and valid and the identification number is printed on it, with its validity and expiration details. 
• Residence in a country other than that mentioned in the application. 
• Profession or education-related details - past/current employers or educational institution details (whichever is applicable). 
• Purpose of applying for a post-study work visa in Italy, duration of stay and those applying for a National Visa should select the city they would stay in. 
• Details of a Schengen Visa if obtained previously for stay or vacation purposes. 
• Complete the application with a fee of €90 and submit the signatures. 

Converting a Student Visa to Work Permit in Italy 

Students who already have a residence permit while studying and working in Italy, have an option to convert their student visa to a post-study work permit. For international students or non-EU nationals, obtaining a post-study work visa in Italy involves three major steps. These steps are as follows.  

1. The employer that wishes to employ the applicant (non-EU national) has to apply for a work permit for their employee called Nulla Osta al Lavoro at their respective province of functioning. 
2. After the employer receives the work permit from the Italian Immigration Office, then can the employee begin his/her post-study work visa application process. 
3. If the applicant successfully obtains permission for a post-study work visa in Italy, only then can they apply for a residence permit. 

There is no exception to the rule that the student who already holds a residence permit while studying and working part-time in Italy would surely get a permanent residence permit to work full-time in Italy. 

Check out: International Student Guide for Italy 

Eligibility Criteria for International Students 

The student must also meet all the following requirements to apply for a post-study work visa in Italy: 

Resources & Accommodation: 

• Sufficient financial resources based on the activity to be carried out - especially for those who are self-employed. 
• Licence and/or membership to local associations if holding any, then must be reported. 
• A housing or residence permit is mandatory. 
• Annual income higher than €8,500 to support the cost of living in Italy. 

Holding any of the following qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree - 180 university credits 
• Special bachelor’s degree  
• Specialisation degree like Diploma di Specializzazione - of a minimum of two years 
• Doctorate - of a minimum of at least three years 
• First-level University Master’s degree - one year long and 60 credits completion 
• Second-level University Master’s degree - second-year completion with 60 credits 
• Certificate of perfection - one year long, completing 60 credit points 

Documents Required to Convert a Student Visa to Work Permit in Italy 

The following documents are required while applying for a post-study work permit in Italy from India: 

• Copy of the signed work contract from the official letterhead of the company 
• Original plus a copy of your Nulla Osta - which is official permission from the Italian government for foreigners to live and work for three months in Italy. 
• Completed Italian Long-Stay Visa Application form. 
• Passport with at least two blank pages, valid for at least three months after the duration of your visa. 
• Passport pictures. 
• Proof of accommodation in Italy. 
• Health insurance covers all major expenses up to €30,000. 
• Proof of paid visa fee. 
• Diplomas/other certificates. 

Read: Part-Time Work Options in Italy for International Students 

Transferring Student Permit to Employee Permit

The only option to obtain this permit conversion is to meet the education requirement given in the eligibility criteria in the above section and have an offer for employment or a trainee position in a related sector to the degree obtained in Italy. Additionally, the following requirements must be met: 

• Employment terms are written in the letter of employment by the employer. 
• Employer’s most recent tax return, business balance sheet, company record, filed VAT tax return and contact details. 
• Letter from the authorized departments of the employing company sharing the invoices issued during the current year. 
• Housing compliance 
• Housing availability  

Getting a PR in Italy 

Those applicants who are non-EU nationals and already hold a temporary residence permit in Italy plus have stayed for up to five years too are only then eligible to apply for a permanent residence permit in Italy. Those applicants who come for shorter stays may be for protection based on humanitarian grounds or international students who come for a year or two cannot apply for a PR in Italy. Applicants can apply for a PR in Italy if they fall into any of these categories: 

• They are working full-time with an Italian employer and are required to stay in Italy. 
• Foreign entrepreneurs start their businesses in Italy and invest their money. 
• Those investing in the Italian government in terms of business are also eligible to apply for a PR in Italy. 
• Sole traders in Italy coming with a visa to be self-employed can also apply for permanent residence in Italy. 

Documents Required 

• Proof of holding a temporary residence permit and living for at least five years. 
• Registered certificate issued by the local police upon entering Italy. 
• Proof of having a legal address in Italy (through a rental contract or a recent utility bill). 
• Proof of means of self-sustenance (bank statements, tax returns, payslips issued by the employer), if applicable. 
• Criminal record if any and the application form issued by the Italian authorities. 

To conclude, applicants or students applying for an Italian post-study work visa should know when to apply. They must apply only when they have a guaranteed job in Italy. Secondly, applicants must adhere to the time limits since application windows open for restricted time limits and not many applications are accepted.  

Also, the applicants must check the number of applications that the Italian Immigration Office would accept from international applicants for a full-time job opportunity and work permit.