Working in Italy from Brazil: Visa, Permit, Costs (2026)

The reality of working in Italy from Brazil

Moving from Brazil to Italy to work in trades like construction, caregiving, agriculture, or logistics is a dream for many. However, navigating the legal process requires patience and accurate information. Italy does not allow non-EU citizens to simply arrive on a tourist visa and start working. Every Brazilian worker without European citizenship must follow a strict legal pathway established by the Italian government.

The primary barrier for Brazilian citizens is the annual quota system known as the Decreto Flussi. Through this decree, the Italian government sets a strict limit on how many non-EU workers can enter the country each year for seasonal and non-seasonal jobs. Because demand far exceeds the available quotas, securing a spot can take many months, and success often depends on whether your employer applies the exact minute the application window opens. If you need to work abroad quickly, Italy may prove challenging unless an employer is actively waiting to sponsor you. For Brazilian workers seeking easier access, countries like Portugal offer dedicated job-seeker visas that do not rely on rigid annual quota lotteries. However, if you are determined to work in Italy, understanding how the Italian visa system operates is your first step.

The visa route: Decreto Flussi and the Nulla Osta

To work legally in Italy in a trade or manual role, you need a national work visa for subordinate employment (Visto per lavoro subordinato). You cannot apply for this visa on your own initiative. The process must always start in Italy with your future employer.

Here is how the official process works step by step:

• Step 1: The employer applies for work authorization. Your Italian employer must submit a formal request for a work authorization document known as the Nulla Osta. They submit this online to the local immigration desk in Italy (the Sportello Unico per l'Immigrazione) during an active Decreto Flussi application window.
• Step 2: Issuance of the Nulla Osta. The Italian authorities verify that no suitable local worker is available and that the employer offers legal contract terms. If approved, the immigration desk grants the Nulla Osta and sends it digitally to the Italian diplomatic network in Brazil.
• Step 3: The worker applies for the visa. Only after the Nulla Osta is issued can you book an appointment and submit your visa application in Brazil.
• Step 4: Arrival and residence permit. Once you arrive in Italy with your work visa, you have eight working days to visit the local immigration office to sign the contract of stay (Contratto di soggiorno) and apply for your residence permit (Permesso di soggiorno per lavoro subordinato).

Where to apply in Brazil and required documents

Once your employer receives your Nulla Osta in Italy, you must present your visa paperwork in Brazil. You will apply at the Italian consulate or embassy that holds jurisdiction over the state where you live in Brazil. Major Italian consular offices are located in cities such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Porto Alegre, Curitiba, and Recife. In some locations, visa processing may be handled by an official external service provider such as VFS Global.

To submit your application, you must gather a specific folder of personal and legal documents. Any official Brazilian document used for an Italian visa must be properly authenticated.

Typical documents required include:

• Valid passport: Your Brazilian passport must have at least two blank pages and remain valid for at least three months beyond your intended stay in Italy.
• Official Nulla Osta copy: A copy of the approved work authorization issued by the Italian immigration authorities.
• Signed work contract: A formal employment agreement specifying your wage, working hours, and job role in Italy.
• Brazilian police clearance: A clear background certificate (Certidão de Antecedentes Criminais) issued by the Brazilian Federal Police (Polícia Federal).
• Proof of accommodation: Evidence of where you will live in Italy, such as a rental agreement or an official declaration of hospitality provided by your employer.
• Apostille and translation: Official public documents issued in Brazil (such as background checks or trade certificates) must carry the Hague Apostille (Apostila de Haia) added by a Brazilian notary public (cartório). They must also be translated into Italian by a sworn translator (tradutor juramentado).

Expected costs for Brazilian workers

Planning your move requires clear expectations about expenses. You should separate official visa administrative fees from the preparation costs you will pay inside Brazil before departure.

Official fees set by the Italian authorities and preparation expenses include:

• Italian National Work Visa fee: Approximately €116 (around R$ 600 to R$ 750, paid in local currency at the consulate exchange rate).
• Brazilian Federal Police record: Free to request online via the official Federal Police portal.
• Apostille certification in Brazil: Approximately R$ 100 to R$ 180 (€15 to €30) per document at a Brazilian notary office.
• Sworn translation into Italian: Approximately R$ 120 to R$ 250 (€20 to €40) per document page depending on length.
• One-way flight ticket to Italy: Approximately R$ 3,500 to R$ 7,000 (€550 to €1,100) depending on the departure city and travel season.
• Total preparation budget: A worker in Brazil should expect total personal preparation and travel costs of approximately R$ 5,000 to R$ 10,000 (€800 to €1,600).

Under Italian law and European standards, recruitment costs and official government fees for filing the Nulla Osta must be paid by the employer. An agency or business owner cannot legally charge you money simply to offer you a job or file a quota application on your behalf. Watch out for fake recruiters targeting Brazilians on social media who demand fees via Pix for a guaranteed job offer or faster Nulla Osta processing.

Trades that Italy hires for right now

While quotas limit total volume, Italian companies regularly request foreign labor in essential manual and technical fields. Here are three sectors actively recruiting foreign workers:

• Construction and masonry: Skilled bricklayers, carpenters, and general site workers are needed across Italy for residential renovations and public infrastructure upgrades.
• Elderly care and domestic assistance: Private households and specialized care facilities frequently seek dedicated caregivers (badanti) to support Italy's aging population.
• Agriculture and seasonal farming: Wineries, fruit orchards, and vegetable farms throughout northern and southern regions hire seasonal workers for harvesting and crop maintenance.

Myths vs facts

Understanding these common misunderstandings will protect you from scams and wasted investments:

• Myth: You can fly to Italy as a tourist from Brazil, find a trade job, and convert your tourist status into a work permit locally.
  Fact: Italian law requires non-EU citizens to receive an approved Nulla Osta while still abroad and obtain a work visa from the consulate in Brazil before entering Italy to work.
• Myth: Having an Italian surname gives you automatic work rights without needing a visa.
  Fact: Having Italian lineage does not grant work rights until you complete the formal recognition of Italian citizenship (cittadinanza iure sanguinis). Without recognized citizenship, standard non-EU visa rules apply to you.
• Myth: Paying an agency in Brazil guarantees you a spot in the annual Decreto Flussi quota.
  Fact: Quota approvals are processed by the Italian government on a strict timeline, and no private agent or agency can purchase or guarantee an approved spot.
• Myth: Brazilian public documents are automatically accepted in Italy as long as they are written clearly.
  Fact: Public records from Brazil must carry a Hague Apostille from a local cartório and be accompanied by an official sworn Italian translation to be recognized legally in Italy.

Before you sign

Before you commit to a job offer or pack your bags, complete this essential safety checklist:

• Verify company registration: Ensure the hiring business is officially registered with the Italian Chamber of Commerce (Camera di Commercio).
• Confirm the original Nulla Osta: Ask for a digital copy of the official authorization issued by the Italian immigration desk before paying for translations or flights.
• Check contract terms: Make sure your proposed wage meets official Italian collective bargaining agreements (CCNL) for your trade, and clarify who provides accommodation.
• Keep hold of your original documents: Never surrender your passport, original apostilled certificates, or personal identification to an agent or intermediary.
• Prepare initial living funds: Ensure you have enough savings to cover personal expenses for your first month in Italy until your initial wage is paid into a bank account.

Build your Workuro profile today

If you are a Brazilian worker ready to connect with European employers, make sure your Workuro profile clearly shows your practical qualifications. Add details about your specific trade skills, your experience level, and your current document status (such as whether you hold a valid passport or apostilled documents). Indicate your language abilities in Portuguese, Italian, or English so employers know how you will communicate on the job site.

Workuro is free for workers - employers pay to search the register, and nobody may charge you for a job.