(And why your lease might matter more than you think)
If you’re dreaming about relocating to Italy as a digital nomad, chances are you’ve already started researching the Digital Nomad Visa. You’ve probably seen the usual checklists: remote job, income threshold, health insurance, clean background. But there’s one detail almost no one talks about — and it could be the make or break of your application.
You need a registered, long-term lease agreement in Italy — before you apply.
That’s not a recommendation. It’s a requirement. And it’s where most well-intentioned applicants hit a wall.
A lease before you apply
Here’s what’s often buried in fine print: Italian consulates won’t even review your visa application unless you already have an Italian residential lease contract in place. Not a hotel booking. Not an Airbnb confirmation. A legally valid, registered lease that proves you’ll be living somewhere during your stay.
This lease needs to:
- Be long-term (usually 12 months minimum)
- Include your name and full address
- Be registered with the Italian Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate),
Be compatible with the requirements of your visa category.
Trying to DIY this step remotely? We love self-starters, but good luck. Between language barriers, regional quirks, and landlords who don’t want to deal with paperwork or think they are being scammed, it’s no surprise most people struggle to even find listings that qualify — let alone secure them without being on the ground.
That’s where we come in.
We don’t file your visa — We make it possible to file it
What we offer isn’t visa assistance. It’s pre-visa groundwork — helping remote workers, freelancers, and entrepreneurs like you secure a compliant lease so you can actually submit your application in the first place.
We’ve built a vetted network across Italy who understand digital nomads, and are able to explain the needs of digital nomads to convince landlords to rent to foreigners remotely-.
We offer:
- Verified listings that meet visa criteria
- Lease contracts that are pre-checked for compliance
- English-speaking support throughout the process
- Help navigating registration (registrazione del contratto), utilities setup, and move-in readiness
- Assistance with the submission of the Permesso di Soggiorno application (within 8 days of arrival).
No guesswork. No scams. No “hope this counts” when you walk into your visa appointment.
The other qualifications (that you’ve probably already googled)
Let’s go over the rest quickly, because if you’re here, you likely already meet these or are on track to:
- Remote income from outside Italy (employee, freelancer, or business owner)
- Minimum income threshold likely between €28,000 and €35,000 annually
- Health insurance that covers your stay in Italy (at least €30,000)
- Clean criminal background from your home country.
These are crucial, yes — but without a valid lease, they’re not enough. You’ll be blocked at step one.
We always suggest checking with your specific consulate for the detailed requirements.
Want to apply for Italy’s Digital Nomad Visa? Start with the lease
You can’t submit a Digital Nomad Visa application without proving you’ve got a legal home base in Italy. And unless you’re already here, navigating that on your own is next to impossible.
Whether you’ve already chosen your dream town or are still deciding between Milan or a quiet village in Abruzzo — we’ll help you secure a rental contract that ticks all the boxes and moves your application forward.
Contact us today to book a consultation call, or tell us where you want to live — and we’ll handle the part that’s stopping most digital nomads before they even begin.
