Italy is famous for its food and restaurants. Every year, thousands of hotels, restaurants, and trattorias need cooks, chefs, kitchen helpers, and dishwashers. If you are from outside the European Union (non-EU) and dream of working in Rome, Florence, Tuscany, Venice, Milan, or the Alps, this guide is for you. We explain everything in very simple English so you understand how to get a legal job and visa in Italy.
The Gateway: Understanding the Decreto Flussi
In Italy, non-EU people cannot just come and work. The government decides every year how many foreign workers can enter. This decision is called Decreto Flussi (the quota decree).
Every year the Italian government says: “Okay, this year we will allow X number of people to come and work.”
This is the most important thing for kitchen jobs.
The Two Main Types of Work Visa for Kitchen Staff
Seasonal Work Visa (Visto Lavoro Stagionale)
- This visa is for short jobs – usually 5 to 9 months.
- Perfect for summer season (May–October) or winter season (December–April) in tourist places.
- Most kitchen jobs (cook, chef de partie, kitchen helper, dishwasher) are seasonal.
- Good news: Italy gives the biggest number of visas for seasonal jobs in tourism and hotels.
- Example: In recent years they gave 80,000 to 110,000 seasonal visas every year.
Non-Seasonal Work Visa (Visto per Lavoro Subordinato)
- This is for long-term or full-year jobs.
- Used for experienced people like Pizzaiolo (pizza maker), Head Chef, or Pastry Chef (Pasticciere).
- The number of these visas is much smaller and harder to get.
Important: The application days are called “Click Days”. The online system opens only for a few days (sometimes only 1–3 days) in January, February, or March. You must be very fast!
The Two-Step Legal Process: Nulla Osta is King
In Italy, you cannot apply for the work visa first. Your employer must get permission first. This permission is called Nulla Osta (Entry Clearance).
Done by the Employer in Italy
Your future boss must do all this work:
- Give you a real job contract (written offer).
- Check that no Italian or EU person wants the job (this is the law).
- Go online to the government website (Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione – SUI) on Click Day and apply for your Nulla Osta.
- Pay fees and send all documents.
- If everything is okay and there is still quota left, the government gives the Nulla Osta.
- The Nulla Osta is sent to the Italian Embassy in your country.
- Nulla Osta is valid only 6 months – you must move fast!
The employer needs a special digital ID (SPID) and sometimes a lawyer to do this correctly. Many small restaurants use a lawyer because it is complicated.
Done by You in Your Home Country
When the employer sends you the Nulla Osta number, you can go to the Italian Embassy or Visa Center in your city.
You must bring:
- Your passport (valid minimum 1 year)
- The job contract signed by you and the employer
- The original Nulla Osta (or the code)
- Proof you have a place to sleep in Italy (hotel booking first month or contract)
- Proof you have some money (bank statement)
- Health insurance for the first months
- 2 passport photos
- Visa application form
If everything is okay, you get a D-type national visa (long stay) in your passport. This visa lets you enter Italy and work.
After you arrive in Italy:
- Within 8 days you MUST go to the police station (Questura) and apply for Permesso di Soggiorno (residence card). This card is very important – you need it to live and work legally.
Maximizing Your Success as a Kitchen Worker
The quota is small and many people want to come, so competition is very high. Here are easy tips to get the job and visa faster:
Choose the Right Job
- Specialized jobs are easier to get visa for:
- Pizzaiolo (pizza chef)
- Chef de Partie (section chef)
- Pasta Maker / Sfoglino
- Pastry Chef (Pasticciere)
- Sous Chef
- Basic jobs like Kitchen Porter or Dishwasher (Lavapiatti) are harder because employers can find EU workers easily.
Get HACCP Certificate
- HACCP = food safety certificate.
- In Europe every cook must know food safety rules.
- Do the HACCP course in your country (online or in person). It costs little money and makes employers trust you more.
Show Experience
- Collect proof of past jobs:
- Photos of dishes you cooked
- Recommendation letters from old bosses
- Certificates from cooking school
- Make a simple CV with photos – Italian employers love to see real food pictures.
Look in the Right Places
Best chances in tourist cities and seasons:
- Summer: Amalfi Coast, Sardinia, Sicily, Lake Garda, Venice, Rome
- Winter: Dolomites, Cortina, Madonna di Campiglio (ski hotels)
- All year: Florence, Milan, Bologna, Naples
Find Serious Employers
- Big hotels and hotel chains are better – they have lawyers and know the visa system.
- Famous restaurants or restaurants that already hired foreign staff before.
- Use Facebook groups:
- “Italians jobs for foreigners”
- “Lavoro stagionale in Italia”
- “Cercasi personale cucina Italia”
Be Ready for Click Day
- Have all your documents ready in December.
- Passport, CV, certificates – everything scanned.
- When the employer says “Click Day is tomorrow”, you must answer in 5 minutes!
Salary You Can Expect (2024–2025)
- Dishwasher / Kitchen Porter: 1,200 – 1,500 € net per month + free food + accommodation
- Commis Chef / Cook: 1,500 – 2,000 € net
- Chef de Partie: 2,000 – 2,600 € net
- Pizzaiolo: 2,000 – 3,000 € net (good pizza makers earn more) Most seasonal jobs give free accommodation and meals – you save a lot of money.
Final Tips
- Start looking for job 4–6 months before the season.
- Never pay money to agents who promise “100% visa” – many are scams.
- Only trust employers who give real contract and do Nulla Osta legally.
- Always check the newest Decreto Flussi on the official website of Ministry of Interior (www.interno.gov.it).
Disclaimer:
This guide is only for information. The Italian government can change quotas and rules every year. Always check the official government websites or speak with a real Italian immigration lawyer before you sign any contract or pay money. Good luck – we hope to see you cooking pasta in Italy soon!