EU Blue Card in Italy will allow employers to apply online if they want to hire highly qualified workers from abroad. A wider audience, simplified procedures, and more favorable conditions are offered now to employers on the online Service Portal of the Interior Ministry.
The Migration and Integration Department website of Italy announced this update on 19 June 2024. The Ministry of the Interior’s Services Portal now has an updated dedicated ECB form in the Immigration “One Stop Shop” section that can be requested by employers for hiring highly qualified foreign workers under the EU Blue Card program.
Since 2 November 2023, through a new Decree, the Italian government has made many changes designed to address skill gaps in the Italian labor market. These changes enable the hiring of specialized technical personnel from non-EU countries, even without a degree (if they have professional experience).
Qualifications and Requirements for the EU Blue Card in Italy
The “EU Blue Card” is issued to highly qualified foreign workers entering Italy, with a duration of two years for permanent contracts or the length of the employment relationship plus three months for other contracts. In general, the following are the requirements for the EU Blue Card in Italy:
- a job offer from an Italian employer;
- the job must pay you 1.5 times the salary of the set rates in Italy;
- you have an academic degree that is recognized in your country of origin, or you have professional experience in your field of expertise.
The below can be alternative qualification levels for being eligible for the EU Blue Card in Italy:
| Requirement | Description |
| Higher Education Qualification | A tertiary level or post-secondary professional qualification from a recognized authority, certifying at least a three-year higher education course. |
| Regulated Professions | Compliance with the Legislative Decree of 6 November 2007, n. 206, for regulated professions. |
| Professional Experience | A higher professional qualification with at least five years of relevant experience in the specified profession or sector. |
| IT and Communication Sector | For managers and specialists: A higher professional qualification with at least three years of relevant experience in the past seven years. |
What is the EU Blue Card?
The EU Blue Card is offered by the 24 EU countries that allow highly qualified workers from third countries to settle and work there The route offers them faster permanent residency, citizenship, and family reunification options. They can also change a country after working for a specific period there.
In October 2007, the European Commission introduced two proposals:
- the Framework Directive for skilled migrant admission, later known as the EU Blue Card Directive, and the single permit directive to streamline migration processes.
- the EU Blue Card directive was endorsed by the European Council in May 2009, followed by the adoption of the single permit directive in December 2011.
Together, these initiatives established the EU Blue Card Scheme, offering skilled migrants a pathway to residency and employment.
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