Australians wanting to travel to Italy for up to 3 consecutive months for business and tourism will soon be eligible to apply for the ETIAS for Italy visa waiver through a simple online application. The ETIAS Italy visa waiver will also allow Australians to take part in a short study programme or training course not lasting more than 90 days.
However, Australians who want to work in Italy will find the process of getting a visa a little more complicated. Those who have already secured a job in Italy will be able to apply for a work visa for Australians, while first getting a study visa or a Working Holiday visa for Italy are other valid options, depending on the applicant’s needs.
How to work in Italy as an Australian
Australians wishing to work as the main reason for the travel to Australia will be required to get a work visa for Italy.
However, this is easier said than done. Australian citizens must already be hired by an Italian employer or have signed a contract to be employed in Italy in the future, in order to apply for an Italian work visa.
Once you have your work visa, this will allow you to enter Italy to work, but you will also need a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) to live there while you work.
Australians must apply for the permesso di soggiorno within 8 days of entering Italy.
How to apply for an Italian work visa for Australians
It’s necessary to secure a job in Italy before applying, as the Italian employer holds the responsibility of submitting the application for the work visa for Australians.
You may wish to visit Italy as a tourist with the ETIAS to feel out the area you plan to live and work in before applying for jobs and visas — simply complete an ETIAS Italy application online.
The work visa may not be issued if the yearly decreto flussi quotas have already been met for Italy. These controls determine how many non-EU citizens can enter Italy and submit an application for a work visa if they meet the requirements.
If the work visa for Australians is approved, the Italian government will electronically send the completed application to the applicant’s nearest Italian Consulate in Australia for processing. The work visa will then be ready to pick up from the Consulate within 30 days.
Can Australian students work while studying in Italy?
Although the process for getting a work visa for Italy is strict, there are also other routes that Australians can take to travel to Italy for work.
It’s possible to enter Italy on a study visa and work part-time, while finding an Italian employer to sponsor the work visa.
The Australian and Italian governments have also implemented a Working Holiday Program for Australian citizens in Italy.
The Working Holiday Program in Italy for Australians
Australian citizens are eligible to apply for a Working Holiday visa for Italy if they meet the following criteria:
- Between the ages of 18 and 30
- Have no dependent children
- Normally resident in Australia
The Italian Working Holiday visa for Australians is available to those who want to enjoy an extended holiday in Italy, with work being incidental to the stay as a means of supplementing income.
Upon issue, the traveller has a total of 3 months to enter Italy with the working holiday visa. Upon arriving in Italy, the visa allows Australian citizens a stay of up to 12 months from the date of entry.
To participate in the Working Holiday Program in Italy from Australia, applicants must:
- Go to the closest Italian Embassy/Consulate in Australia to get the Working Holiday visa
- Apply for a Permesso di Soggiorno (Residence Permit) at an immigration office within 8 days of arriving in Italy
- Submit a request for a Work Permit to the Labour Office through your prospective employer, providing proof of the Permesso di Soggiorno
Australian Embassies and Consulates in Italy
Australian citizens who wish to travel to Italy with the working holiday program can apply at their closest Italian Embassy or Consulate in Australia:
Italian Embassy in Canberra, Australia
12 Grey Street Deakin, ACT 2600 Australia Phone: +61 2 6273 3333
Consulate General of Italy in Sydney
Level 19, 44 Market St Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia Phone: +61 2 9392 7900
Consulate General of Italy in Melbourne
509 St Kilda Rd Melbourne, VIC 3004 Australia Phone: +61 3 9868 5358
Consulate of Italy in Brisbane
Level 8, 199 George St Brisbane City, QLD 4000 Australia Phone: +61 7 3229 8944
Italian Consulate in Adelaide
215 Port Road,
Hindmarsh SA 5007
Australia
Phone: +61 8 8337 0777
Consulate of Italy in West Perth
Level 2, 1292 Hay St West Perth, WA 6005 Australia Phone: +61 8 9322 4500
