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Italy flag — visa destinationNational Long-Stay (D) or Short-Stay (C) — EmploymentVerified 2026-04-20

Italy Employment Visa (National Visa D / Short Term C)

The Italy Employment Visa allows applicants to enter Italy for short-term (Type C) or long-term (Type D) purposes to work while earning a salary. Subject to an Authorization ('NULLA OSTA') issued by the competent Italian Authority ('SPORTELLO UNICO PER L'IMMIGRAZIONE'), valid 6 months from issue. At appointment booking, ALL applicants must pre-pay VFS service charge.

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Heads up — Italy Visa Checklists Vary by Jurisdiction

The info below is per the Embassy of Italy, New Delhi (North Jurisdiction).

Italy splits visa decisions across 4 Indian consulates — New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru — each with slightly different document checklists, fees rounding, and processing nuances. The requirements listed on this page match the New Delhi (North) jurisdiction.

New Delhi (North) jurisdiction covers

New DelhiHaryanaHimachal PradeshJammu & KashmirPunjabRajasthanUttar PradeshUttarakhandChandigarh

SureshotVisa helps Indian applicants across all states (and Indian citizens abroad) — not just New Delhi. If you reside in a Mumbai / Kolkata / Bengaluru jurisdiction state (or outside India), reach out and we'll confirm the exact checklist and steps that apply to your consulate.

Processing

Employment Long Stay: 90 working days

Stay Duration

Matching employment contract (typically 1–5 years, convertible)

Starting Fee

€116

Apply At

13 VFS centres

Special Instructions — Read Before Applying

These requirements apply to ALL Italy visa types. Violations mean your application will be rejected — read each one carefully.

  • 1North jurisdiction — Applications from residents of New Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Chandigarh are decided by the Embassy of Italy, New Delhi. Place of passport issue does NOT determine jurisdiction — residence does. Applications from other jurisdictions go to Mumbai / Kolkata / Bengaluru consulates with slightly different checklists.
  • 2Applicant MUST mention their OWN working phone number on the application form and at the counter — not the agent's or representative's number. The Embassy reserves the right to verify, and non-compliant applications may be judged incomplete.
  • 3Visa applications must be submitted in the country where the applicant has continuously lived for the last 6 months — proof of residence required. The Embassy cannot process applications from visitors to India (even Indian nationals abroad).
  • 4Passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond intended stay, issued within the last 10 years, with at least 2 blank pages. For Short-term visas, 6 months validity from travel date is required.
  • 5Travel medical insurance is mandatory for ALL Schengen visa applicants — minimum €30,000 coverage, valid throughout Schengen territory, covering the entire stay (or repatriation for multi-entry). Only approved Indian Travel Insurance companies are accepted (see VFS Italy site for the current list); alternatively, policies from countries where claims are recoverable in Schengen States.
  • 6Polio vaccination certificate required IF applicant is from / stayed >4 weeks in: Afghanistan, Kenya, DRC, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Syrian Arab Republic (vaccination must be 4 weeks to 12 months before travel).
  • 7Photo specs: 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm, light/white background, color, ≤6 months old, 80% face zoom, non-smiling, no sunglasses/hat (unless religious). Stick (don't staple) on the application form.
  • 8The Embassy reserves the right to ask for additional documents or a personal interview even if not mentioned on the official checklist.
  • 9Visa fee, VFS service charges, and value-added service fees are NON-REFUNDABLE if the application is refused or withdrawn while under processing.
  • 10D-Type Long-Term Employment visa applications must be submitted by APPLICANTS ONLY — no accompanying persons inside VFS centres.
  • 11Protocol number of Nulla Osta must be VISIBLE in Embassy records for application to be processed. Applicant cannot fix this at VFS — employer/SPORTELLO UNICO must ensure it's in the shared list.
  • 12Pre-payment of VFS service charge at appointment booking is MANDATORY and non-refundable.

Who Can Apply

  • Indian applicants with a Nulla Osta issued by SPORTELLO UNICO PER L'IMMIGRAZIONE in Italy
  • Italian companies sponsoring long-term employment
  • Short-term work contracts (≤90 days) with Nulla Osta

Not eligible under this visa:

  • Self-employment — apply for Self-Employment (Lavoro Autonomo) visa
  • Internship / training — apply for Internship D visa
  • Sports / artistic engagements — apply for Sports / Invitation visa

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Fees (in INR)

ItemAmount
Employment Long-Term (D) Visa Fee€116
Employment Short-Term (C) Visa Fee€90
VFS service charge (prepaid at appointment booking)₹631

Embassy fees are set in EUR by the Embassy of Italy — the INR equivalent shown is approximate and depends on the daily exchange rate. VFS Service Charge is ₹631 per applicant (inclusive of all taxes). Payment accepted via cash at VFS or Demand Draft in favour of 'VFS GLOBAL SERVICES PRIVATE LIMITED' (one banking instrument per applicant). Optional services: Courier Facility ₹795, Courier Assurance ₹631, Premium Lounge ₹4,669. Visa fee and service charges are NON-REFUNDABLE if the application is refused by the Embassy of Italy or withdrawn while under processing.

Documents Required

Core Documents

  • !
    Application form — fully completed + signed
  • !
    Valid passport (≤10 years, 3 months validity beyond visa duration, 2 blank pages)
  • !
    Passport-size photograph (white bg)
  • !
    Personal cover letter

Employment Documentation

  • !
    Nulla Osta copy issued by SPORTELLO UNICO PER L'IMMIGRAZIONE

    Valid 6 months from issue. Protocol number must be VISIBLE in Embassy records.

  • !
    At submission, VFS staff verifies Nulla Osta is present in Embassy records. Only processes if protocol no. is in the list.
  • !
    Requisite Documents for Employment Visa (check PDF)
  • FAC-SIMILE MODELLO C STAG (for short-term seasonal)
  • !
    Check List documents as per specific employment type

Financial + Insurance

  • !
    Overseas medical insurance (€30,000 min)
  • !
    Return flight reservation or contract confirmation

! = mandatory · = optional / if applicable

The journey.

5 steps from intake to approval. Curved spine on the right shows the natural pace — never as linear as government sites pretend.

  1. 01

    Italian employer applies for Nulla Osta at SPORTELLO UNICO PER L'IMMIGRAZIONE

    This is the critical step — employer must complete this first.

  2. 02

    Book VFS appointment + PRE-PAY VFS service charge

    At booking, all applicants complete pre-payment; receive appointment confirmation. Book within 6 months of Nulla Osta issuance.

  3. 03

    VFS verifies Nulla Osta in Embassy records

    At submission, protocol number must be in the list shared by Embassy. If not visible, application won't be processed.

  4. 04

    Gather employment-specific documents

    Per specific checklist for your employment type (seasonal, regular, long-term).

  5. 05

    Submit at VFS + biometrics

    Processing 90 working days (30 with N.O. SUI).

What works

10 levers that flip a borderline case.

  • Apply 3–4 weeks before travel — early enough to handle Embassy extension (up to 45 days), not so early that bookings become stale.
  • Fill the application form online at visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/ita/ BEFORE visiting VFS — most VFS centres have limited on-site PCs and filling there creates long queues.
  • Italian-language documents are preferred for Business / Family Reunion invitation letters — if originals are in Italian, include an English translation only when required by the Embassy.
  • Buy travel health insurance ONLY from the approved Indian insurers list (VFS Italy maintains the current list) — insurance from non-approved providers is rejected even with €30k+ coverage.

What kills cases

Top 3 refusal triggers we see.

  • 1Nulla Osta protocol number NOT in Embassy records
  • 2Nulla Osta expired or invalid
  • 3Employment type-specific documents missing

VFS Application Centres

VFS Italy New Delhi (North jurisdiction primary)VFS Italy JalandharVFS Italy ChandigarhVFS Italy Mumbai (West jurisdiction)VFS Italy Kolkata (East jurisdiction)VFS Italy Bengaluru (South jurisdiction)VFS Italy ChennaiVFS Italy HyderabadVFS Italy PuneVFS Italy AhmedabadVFS Italy GoaVFS Italy CochinVFS Italy Puducherry

Quiz not yet available for this visa type

We're actively building per-visa quizzes. For now, the best way to assess your eligibility for Italy Employment Visa (National Visa D / Short Term C) is a free 1-on-1 consultation with our team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is SPORTELLO UNICO PER L'IMMIGRAZIONE?+
One-Stop Immigration Desk — Italian authority that issues Nulla Osta for employment/self-employment/family reunion. Your Italian employer files the Nulla Osta application here.
N.O. SUI means what?+
Nulla Osta — Sportello Unico Immigrazione. The 30-day processing category applies when N.O. SUI has been issued with specific conditions. Check with your employer whether your case qualifies.
Pre-payment of VFS at booking?+
Unique to Employment visa — at appointment booking, you must pre-pay the VFS service charge (₹631 per applicant). You receive appointment confirmation only after payment. Non-refundable.
What if Nulla Osta isn't in Embassy records?+
VFS won't process your application. The Italian employer + SPORTELLO UNICO must ensure the protocol number is shared with the Embassy. Don't book VFS until this is confirmed.
Employment C vs D — what's the difference?+
Employment C is short-term (up to 90 days, typically seasonal). Employment D is long-term (>90 days, typically 1–5 year contracts). Both need Nulla Osta.
Can I bring my family?+
Yes — your spouse and dependents apply for Family Reunion (with your Nulla Osta listing them) OR Accompanying Spouse/Parents visa — submitted together with principal's application.

Before you apply

Two ways to apply for your Italy italy employment visa (national visa d / short term c).

Do it yourself

the risky route

  • You guess which papers Italy actually wants — one missing or wrongly-framed document triggers a refusal.
  • You copy a cover letter off YouTube or Google — often the exact template embassies already flag as weak.
  • You apply during a known peak-rejection window without realising it.
  • Embassy & VFS fees are non-refundable — refused means your money, flights and leave are gone.
  • One refusal stamp follows you for life — every future visa, anywhere, must declare it.

With SureshotVisa

the approved route

  • A licensed consultant checks your case honestly before you spend a rupee on embassy fees.
  • We build your Italy italy employment visa (national visa d / short term c) file the way the embassy approves — documents, cover letter, financials.
  • We catch the weak-ties, funding and intent issues behind 70% of Indian refusals — and fix them first.
  • We've rescued hundreds of files that were already refused once and got them approved.
  • Govt of Punjab licensed (Licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024) · 1200+ approvals.

Why DIY goes wrong

How a self-filed application turns into a refusal.

  1. 1

    You feel ready

    A few YouTube videos make the process look simple.

  2. 2

    You file it yourself

    You submit a sensitive italy employment visa (national visa d / short term c) on your own.

  3. 3

    One detail misreads

    A small framing slip looks like weak ties or unclear intent.

  4. 4

    Refusal

    Now every future visa, anywhere, must declare it.

Once you've been refused, you learn the hard way how much the small details mattered. We'd rather you never collect that first stamp.

Trusted by skilled workers & professionals

We've helped many skilled workers & professionals get their Italy visa — the easy way.

From first-time italy employment visa (national visa d / short term c) applicants to cases that were refused elsewhere, our licensed team has guided skilled workers & professionals through Italy's exact requirements — so the file is approved the first time, without the stress, guesswork or risk of a refusal.

1200+ approvalsGovt of Punjab licensed5★ · 90 Google reviewsRefusal recovery experts
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Other Italy Visa Types

Schengen Short-Stay (Type C) — Tourism

Italy Tourist Visa (Schengen Type C — Short Stay)

Schengen short-stay visa for Indian citizens travelling to Italy for tourism, sightseeing, and non-business leisure — up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Schengen Short-Stay (Type C) — Business

Italy Business Visa (Schengen Type C)

Schengen short-stay business visa for Indian professionals making conferences, negotiations, or exploratory business visits in Italy — up to 90 days.

Schengen Short-Stay (Type C) — Visit / Family & Friends

Italy Visit Visa — Family & Friends (Schengen Type C)

Schengen short-stay visa for Indian citizens visiting family members, relatives, or friends in Italy — up to 90 days. EU-national family members use a separate streamlined category.

Schengen Short-Stay (Type C) — Research

Italy Research Visa — Short Term (Schengen Type C)

Free-of-charge Schengen short-stay research visa for Indian researchers visiting Italy for research activity (≤90 days) with a Host Agreement (Convenzione di accoglienza).

Schengen Short-Stay (Type C) — Religious

Italy Religious Visa (Schengen Type C — Short Stay)

Schengen short-stay visa for Indian religious workers (priests, pastors, preachers, teachers) travelling to Italy for up to 90 days for religious work.

Schengen Short-Stay (Type C) — Study

Italy Study Visa — Short Term (Schengen Type C)

Free-of-charge Schengen short-stay study visa for Indian students undertaking courses ≤90 days in Italy, typically for entrance tests or short programs.

Schengen Short-Stay (Type C) — Sports

Italy Sports Visa (Schengen Type C)

Schengen short-stay visa for professional and amateur Indian sportspeople, judges, and adjudicators participating in sports events in Italy.

Schengen Short-Stay (Type C) — Transit / Seafarers

Italy Transit Visa (Schengen Type C) — Seafarers

Schengen transit visa for Indian applicants who have flight or ship connection in Italy — typically for seafarers joining/disembarking ships at Italian ports.

Source & Disclaimer

Data on this page is sourced from the official VFS Global Italy website and Embassy of Italy. Last verified 2026-04-20. Always verify with the official embassy before applying — fees and requirements change without notice.

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