A detailed policy note published by employment consultancy HR Capital on 18 June 2026 confirms that Italy has quietly simplified several key work-authorisation routes for executives, researchers and ICT specialists. The changes implement articles of the 2026 Budget Law and transpose the revised EU Blue-Card directive.
For employers and professionals who want hands-on assistance with these new requirements, VisaHQ’s Italy team can prepare and submit HQ Work Portal applications, arrange apostilles, and coordinate family-reunification filings, ensuring every step is compliant and on schedule. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/italy/
The headline measure is a single, online “HQ Work Portal” through which companies can secure quota-free work permits in as little as 30 days. Salary thresholds fall to 1 × national average gross wage (about €34 000) for shortage-occupation STEM roles and 1.2 × for other professionals – down from the previous 1.5-times rule that priced many mid-career engineers out of the scheme. Holders automatically receive a three-year, multi-entry permesso di soggiorno that can be renewed indefinitely provided the employment contract continues. For intra-corporate transferees (ICTs) the much-criticised requirement to legalise original university diplomas at the Italian consulate has been scrapped; a notarised copy plus EU apostille now suffices. Regional labour offices have been instructed to treat Blue-Card, ICT and research applications as “deemed approved” if no objection is issued within 30 days of electronic filing – a game-changer for multinationals facing hard assignment deadlines. The decree also clarifies family-reunification timelines: spouses and dependent children may apply in parallel rather than waiting until the principal permit is issued, shaving 60–90 days off arrival dates for accompanying family members. Digital nomad applicants, however, remain outside the new framework – the foreign ministry promises separate guidance by September. HR departments should update assignment checklists to reflect the lower salary floor and the lighter documentation rules, and budget for the modest €70 portal fee that replaces multiple revenue stamps. Companies with July or August start dates are advised to file now to benefit from the tacit-approval clock.
For employers and professionals who want hands-on assistance with these new requirements, VisaHQ’s Italy team can prepare and submit HQ Work Portal applications, arrange apostilles, and coordinate family-reunification filings, ensuring every step is compliant and on schedule. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/italy/
The headline measure is a single, online “HQ Work Portal” through which companies can secure quota-free work permits in as little as 30 days. Salary thresholds fall to 1 × national average gross wage (about €34 000) for shortage-occupation STEM roles and 1.2 × for other professionals – down from the previous 1.5-times rule that priced many mid-career engineers out of the scheme. Holders automatically receive a three-year, multi-entry permesso di soggiorno that can be renewed indefinitely provided the employment contract continues. For intra-corporate transferees (ICTs) the much-criticised requirement to legalise original university diplomas at the Italian consulate has been scrapped; a notarised copy plus EU apostille now suffices. Regional labour offices have been instructed to treat Blue-Card, ICT and research applications as “deemed approved” if no objection is issued within 30 days of electronic filing – a game-changer for multinationals facing hard assignment deadlines. The decree also clarifies family-reunification timelines: spouses and dependent children may apply in parallel rather than waiting until the principal permit is issued, shaving 60–90 days off arrival dates for accompanying family members. Digital nomad applicants, however, remain outside the new framework – the foreign ministry promises separate guidance by September. HR departments should update assignment checklists to reflect the lower salary floor and the lighter documentation rules, and budget for the modest €70 portal fee that replaces multiple revenue stamps. Companies with July or August start dates are advised to file now to benefit from the tacit-approval clock.
