If you are a foreign national and are employed by a company with offices in Milano, you’ll join the thriving community of expats that adds to the cosmopolitan character of the city: the French, German, American and British communities are probably the largest, but there is also a large number of Chinese and Russian expats, not to mention professionals from the Middle East or South America.

The bureaucratic requirements to be officially registered as permanent employee can be daunting, but we have broken down the whole process in simple steps so that you can through them in a piecemeal fashion. At the bottom of the page, you can find the link to our guide especially conceived for foreign employees who landed a job in Milano.

Let us summarize here the main points.

1. Your Italian employer must request a Nulla Osta per Lavoro (Employment Clearance), either online or at Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione at Prefettura di Milano (the city HQ of the Italian Ministry of the Interior), prior to your departure. The process takes 3-4 months.

2. You must apply for your Work Visa by going in person to the local Italian Consulate or Embassy in your country of residence. You need to make an online reservation before you show up. The cost of a work visa is €116.

3. You must obtain a Codice Fiscale (Tax Identification Number), which is usually done in Milano. Codice Fiscale, a unique 16-character alphanumeric identifier, is required for all fiscal requirements and commercial transactions, including signing a lease, opening a bank account, renting a car or scooter, signing utilities contracts, etc.

4. For working in Italy, you need to get health coverage, either by joining Italian National Health Service (SSN - Servizio Sanitario Nazionale) or by getting private health insurance, either prior or right after your arrival in Milano.

5. Apply for your Permesso di Soggiorno (Residence Permit) immediately after you arrive in Milano, which is the document required for non-EU nationals to have legal residence in Italy and be able to work. A Residence Permit lasts two years and can be renewed indefinitely. This is the most complex and time-consuming process and we delve into all the details to make the experience as smooth as possible.

6. Obtain your Certificate of Residence (Certificato di Residenza) from the Milano Municipal Registry (Anagrafe), located in Via Larga. The Certificate of Residence certifies that the holder is permanently living in the City of Milano. With your residence, you can apply for a Milano Municipal ID card, something which is strongly recommended but not mandatory.