Italy, with its advanced public healthcare system, is one of the most prominent countries in the European Union for providing medical services and attracting specialized personnel from around the world. The country’s health system, known as the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN), is designed to provide free or subsidized healthcare to all citizens and legal residents and has always depended on specialized, committed, and trained human resources.
In the past decade, due to an aging population, the retirement of healthcare workers, and a shortage of specialists in various sectors, Italy has actively turned to attracting medical staff from outside the European Union.
For Iranian specialists in various healthcare fields, especially nurses, these developments represent a golden opportunity to start a professional life in the heart of Europe.
The nursing shortage in Italy; a new gateway for the immigration of Extra UE nurses.
Given the aging population trend and the increasing need for long-term care, the Italian healthcare system faces a significant nursing shortage and will need tens of thousands of new staff by 2030. Currently, only about 1.4% of active nurses in Italy are foreign nationals (around 37,500 people), mainly from African countries, South America, and Eastern Europe. However, qualified nurses from countries like Iran, given their reputable educational system, have a good chance of entering this job market.
The immigration of Extra UE nurses to Italy requires going through specific steps, including: qualification recognition of educational credentials by the Ministry of Health, registration with the Nursing Board, and passing exams in language and familiarity with Italian professional nursing regulations. After qualification approval, employment in healthcare facilities becomes possible. Overall, although the entry path is challenging, immigration opportunities are expanding due to the structural need of the Italian healthcare system.
What are the nursing specializations needed in Italy?
Nurses (Infermieri)
- General nurses
- Intensive care and ICU nurses
- Geriatric and home care nurses
- Mental health nurses
Elderly caregivers and nursing aides (Assistenti Sanitari / OSS)
- Home caregivers for the elderly (Badanti)
- Support staff in nursing homes and care centers
Conditions for nurse work immigration to Italy
If you are a nurse and you are planning to immigrate to Italy, you should first be aware of the immigration conditions and requirements. Familiarity with these conditions will help you make a more accurate decision and enter the practical steps fully prepared. Below, we will examine the conditions for work immigration for Iranian medical staff to Italy:
- Valid and Recognizable Educational Degree: Having an official university degree (at least a Bachelor’s) from a reputable your country university is the main prerequisite. These documents must be officially translatable in Iran and recognized by the Italian Ministry of Health in Italy.
- Work Experience (preferably at least 3 years): Having work experience in hospitals or reputable medical centers significantly increases the chance of receiving a job offer and obtaining work authorization.
- Proficiency in Italian: To work in the Italian healthcare system, proficiency in Italian is essential. This requirement is especially mandatory for nurses, with a level of B2 to C1 requested, as they are in direct contact with patients.
- No Criminal Record: Providing a certificate of no criminal record to obtain a work visa and residence permit.
- Physical and Mental Health: Being in full health to perform the medical job, confirmed by a medical certificate.
- Qualification Recognition by the Italian Ministry of Health and Oral Interview
- Registration with the Italian Order of Nursing Professions (FNOPI)
- Having a Formal Job Offer from an Italian Hospital or Medical Center
There is no specific age limit for work immigration, but generally, priority is given to individuals under 45 years old.
- After obtaining a work visa and entering Italy, you must apply for a work residence permit (Permesso di soggiorno) within a maximum of 8 days.
- The residence permit for nurses is issued simultaneously with the residence for their spouse and children.
- After 5 years of legal residence and paying taxes, it is possible to convert the temporary residence permit to a permanent one.
Reasons for nurses immigrating to Italy
1. Strong Need of the Italian Health System for Nurses
Italy is one of the European countries facing an aging population and an increased need for long-term care. According to official statistics, the country needs tens of thousands of new nurses by 2030. Consequently, the doors of the Italian healthcare system have opened wider to immigrant nurses, especially from countries with reputable educational systems like Iran.
2. Higher Income and Benefits
The average income for a nurse in Italy is between 2,500 and 4,500 euros per month, which is considerably higher compared to the income of nurses in Iran. Additionally, job benefits such as employment security, health insurance, and paid leave are much more favorable in Italy.
3. Stable Job Opportunities and the Possibility of Obtaining Residence
Many nurses who immigrate to Italy, after going through the process of qualification recognition and obtaining a work permit, find the opportunity for formal employment in public and private healthcare facilities. Furthermore, after several years of legal residence and employment, it is possible to obtain permanent residence and Italian citizenship.
4. Support from Recruitment Agencies
In recent years, some European agencies and employers, in cooperation with Extra UE educational institutions, have facilitated the process of Italian language training, qualification recognition, and adaptation to the Italian nursing system. This facilitation has reduced the barriers to immigration for Iranian nurses.
Workplaces for nurses in Italy
Nurses in Italy mainly work in public and private hospitals, specialized clinics, outpatient medical centers, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers. Given the centralized structure of the country’s health system, nurses play a key role in providing care services and attending to patients in various treatment departments.
Furthermore, job opportunities exist in the field of home care and local health organizations (ASL) for nurses. These environments, especially in areas with elderly populations, require nurses specialized in long-term care. The type of workplace and responsibilities may vary depending on experience, language level, and employment conditions.
Duties of nurses in Italy
Nurses in Italy are responsible for providing specialized, evidence-based care to patients at all stages of illness. Their main duties include assessing patients’ clinical needs, planning and implementing nursing interventions, monitoring treatment outcomes, and accurately recording clinical records. They play an important role in pain management, infection prevention, and caring for chronic or post-operative patients.
Educating patients and families about the treatment process, home care, and lifestyle modifications is also part of their responsibility. Nurses must work with modern medical equipment and adhere to national care protocols, especially concerning patient safety and quality control. Compliance with the ethical and legal requirements of the Italian health system, including familiarity with professional regulations and maintaining medical confidentiality, is mandatory for continuing practice.
Advantages of nurse immigration to Italy
Individuals who have studied in nursing or paramedical fields in Extra UE country can enter the Italian healthcare job market by following a clear path and benefit from the following advantages:
- Employment in a European-accredited healthcare system
- Obtaining work residence and a path towards permanent residence and citizenship
- Competitive income level and job security
- Possibility of obtaining a family visa for relatives (spouse, children, and in some cases, parents)
- Enjoying the amenities of life in one of the most beautiful countries in Europe (climate, art, food, culture)
- Access to specialized training and medical fellowships in reputable scientific centers
Steps for nurses immigrating to Italy
Italy is one of the best destinations for non-European nurse immigration. Unlike doctors, the immigration process for nurses is simpler and faster:
- Verification of educational qualifications: The nursing degree must be officially translated and approved by the Italian Ministry of Health. Then, the individual can proceed to register with the regional Order of Nurses (Albo Professionale Infermieri).
- Language exam: For employment in Italy, a nurse must have an adequate command of the Italian language.
- Issuance of work permit without quota restrictions: Nurses are exempt from the annual quota laws (Decreto Flussi), and an employer can apply for a work permit to hire them at any time.
- Work visa and residence: After the work permit is issued, the nurse receives a work visa and, upon entry into Italy, obtains a renewable work residence permit.
Obtaining a work permit for nurses in Italy
The work immigration of nurses and other healthcare personnel to Italy requires obtaining an official work permit (Nulla Osta al Lavoro) from the Italian government. This permit is the key to your legal entry into the Italian healthcare job market, and without it, obtaining a work visa is impossible. The process for obtaining a work permit for non-European nurses is as follows.
Evaluation and qualification recognition of educational documents (Riconoscimento dei Titoli)
To work in the Italian healthcare system, you must first have your educational qualifications verified and recognized, which includes:
- Official translation of documents into Italian
- Obtaining a Declaration of Value from the Italian embassy in Tehran
- Sending the documents to the Italian Ministry of Health (Ministero della Salute) for qualification approval.
- If approved, registration with the professional nursing association FNOPI is also mandatory.
Proof of Italian language proficiency
Since medical staff are in direct contact with patients, proficiency in Italian is a key requirement. Usually, a language certificate at level B1 or B2 and even C1 is required (depending on the job and region).
2Receiving a job offer from an employer (Offerta di lavoro)
After your qualifications and language skills are verified, you must receive a formal job offer or invitation letter from a reputable employer (hospital, clinic, or medical center) in Italy. This offer must include the following information: job title – workplace and employer details – type of contract (fixed-term or permanent) – salary amount – working hours and insurance conditions.
3Application for a work permit (Nulla Osta)
At this stage, the employer (not you) must submit a request for a work permit on your behalf through the Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione. The documents required for this request are: the proposed work contract – your identity and employment documents – the result of the educational qualification assessment – information about your insurance and accommodation in Italy.
If the request is accepted, a Nulla Osta is issued to the employer, and a copy is also sent to the Italian embassy in your country.
4Obtaining a work visa (Visto per lavoro subordinato)
After the Nulla Osta is issued, you can go to the Italian embassy or consulate in your country and apply for a Type D visa. The required documents are: visa application form – valid passport – issued work permit (Nulla Osta) – job offer – translation of educational documents – preliminary health insurance – certificate of no criminal record.
5Entry into Italy and obtaining a work residence permit
After entering Italy with a work visa:
- You must go to the immigration police office within a maximum of 8 days to apply for a residence permit.
- This permit is usually issued for 1 to 2 years based on the duration of your work contract and is renewable.
Summary:
Each of these steps requires careful follow-up, proper documentation, and communication with official bodies.
If you need specialized consultation for obtaining a work permit in Italy as a doctor or any other healthcare professional, our experienced experts at PAREX company will proudly be by your side.
Qualification recognition for nursing degrees in Italy (Riconoscimento titolo di infermiere)
If you are an Iranian nurse intending to work legally in Italy, you must first have your nursing degree recognized within the Italian healthcare system. This process is known as qualification recognition (Riconoscimento del titolo estero) and is carried out by the Italian Ministry of Health (Ministero della Salute).
- The nursing degree, transcripts, and other educational documents must be officially translated into Italian.
- The translations must be legalized by the Italian embassy in your country or by a court-certified official translator in Italy.
- Obtaining a Statement of Educational Value (Dichiarazione di Valore): This document is issued by the Italian embassy in your country and indicates the standing of your university degree in the country of origin.
- The application is sent to the Ministry of Health along with the translated documents, forms, and relevant fees.
- The review process may take between 2 to 4 months.
- The Italian Ministry of Health compares your education, specialization, and work experience with Italian standards.
- If there is an educational gap, you may be required to: take a catch-up course or take a skills assessment test (Prova attitudinale) at a selected university.
This registration allows you to legally work in Italian healthcare facilities.
- Italian language level B2 or higher is mandatory for nursing degree recognition.
- Translated documents and their originals must always be presented together.
- This approval is valid for starting work for 2 years.
- After these steps, you can apply for a job offer, work permit, and work visa.
Documents required for nurse work immigration to Italy
Educational and professional documents
- Bachelor’s degree in Nursing along with official university transcripts
- Certificate of completion of mandatory service (if applicable)
- Membership card from the Iranian Nursing Organization
- Certificate of work experience
- Italian language certificate: minimum level B2, preferably an official certificate like CELI or CILS
- Complete CV translated into Italian or English
Administrative and legal documents
- Passport with at least 12 months validity
- Certificate of no criminal record
- Medical health certificate (Medical Certificate)
- Official translation of all documents into Italian, legalized by the Italian embassy
- Declaration of Value or CIMEA for educational documents
- Formal job offer from a hospital or clinic in Italy
- Work permit (Nulla Osta) issued by the employer
Costs for nurse immigration to Italy
- Official translation of documents and legalization by judiciary/embassy = about 200 to 400 euros
- Qualification recognition process (Esame di Stato) = about 100 euros
- Cost per Italian language test for each level B1 and B2 = about 150 euros
- National visa issuance = 116 euros + 30 euros
- Membership in the Italian Order of Nurses (Ordine degli Infermieri) = about 100 euros
- Flight ticket and initial travel costs = at least 400 to 1000 euros
- Initial accommodation costs in Italy per month = 400 to 1000 euros per month
Income of nurses in Italy
The average gross annual salary for nurses in Italy ranges from about 40,000 to over 70,000 euros, which translates to 30,000 to 54,000 euros net annual salary (minimum net monthly salary 2,000 euros). With increasing work experience, the net salary increases from 2,500 euros up to 4,500 euros per month. Reports indicate that experience level has a significant impact:
- 0 to 2 years of experience = 30,000 euros net annual salary
- 5 to 10 years of experience = 40,000 euros net annual salary
- More than 15 years of experience = 54,000 euros net annual salary
Italian residence for the spouse and children of nurses (accompanying visa)
The visa and residence for the spouse and children under 17 of nurses are issued simultaneously with their own, and the entire family immigrates together. Parents over 65 years old of the nurse can obtain Italian residence under certain conditions. This residence is of the family reunification type and is not issued simultaneously with the main applicant, but the process for requesting their family's residence begins after the issuance of the main applicant's first residence permit. Here we state the important points of the family reunification visa.
- Time process: About 6 to 12 months from the application date to receiving the residence visa and traveling to Italy.
- Conditions for nurses to obtain residence for parents: The applicant must have received the residence permit, the "Residenza" certificate, and the Italian national card – must have accommodation with a formal contract, of adequate size and standard for all family members – must have sufficient income to support their family.
- Residence for the applicant's parents: At least 65 years old – have no other children in your country – are financially supported by their child.
Work status for family members (spouse and children)
- Spouse's residence: Upon arrival, they can obtain free work permission – the spouse does not need a specific job offer and can work in any job in Italy.
- Children's residence: Permission to reside and free education in Italian schools – access to free healthcare – possibility of obtaining citizenship in the future.
Free consultation: Our specialists will guide you through the visa application stages and answer your questions free of charge.
Important information and explanations regarding Italian residence and passport.
Permanent Residence: Work immigration to Italy is one of the most reliable paths to obtaining permanent residence and ultimately Italian citizenship. After 5 years of temporary residence in Italy, you can obtain permanent residence in this country. Conditions for obtaining permanent residence include: having an A2 Italian language certificate, residing in Italy, having a minimum declared income in Italy for 3 consecutive years to cover living costs.
Italian Passport: The validity of the Italian passport ranks second in the world, even higher than the UK, Canada, and the USA. Usually, after 10 years of living and residing in Italy, you can apply for it. Conditions for obtaining Italian passport and citizenship include: having a B1 Italian language certificate, residing in Italy, no criminal record in Italy and Iran, and having a minimum declared income in Italy for 3 consecutive years to cover living costs.
PAREX services for obtaining Italian residence for medical staff
- Providing a formal job offer from an Italian hospital or medical center
- Qualification recognition of your documents at the Italian Ministry of Health
- Registering you with the Italian Order of Nurses/Medical Association
- Continuous Italian language training for you and your family by PAREX
- Assistance in preparing, translating, and legalizing all your documents
- The process of obtaining permanent residence and Italian citizenship for PAREX clients
- Enrolling children in Italian kindergartens and schools
- Consultation and accompaniment for renting or buying a car, home, and workplace