CBS News
Italy is offering “digital nomad” visas. Here’s how to get one.
Ever dream of working from the picturesque Amalfi Coast? You might now be able to with a new “digital nomad” visa that Italy is offering foreigners who wish to pack up their laptops and venture abroad.
The Italian government signed the program into law in March 2022, but only opened applications on April 5 — nearly two years later. In doing so, Italy follows dozens of other countries in establishing a program to attract foreign remote workers who want to experience a European lifestyle while keeping their earnings tied to U.S.-based companies.
Drawing foreigners in can help boost local economies, particularly in smaller Italian towns where populations are dwindling as local residents age. But some experts warn that an influx of people earning U.S. salaries could drive up prices for local residents earning far less.
The new digital nomad visas are valid for one year, and can be renewed.
Am I eligible?
Applicants must meet a range of criteria in order to be eligible for the visas. For one, a worker must have the ability to do their job remotely, using a laptop or other tech tools. Workers must also be able to provide proof of employment or contract work with a firm based outside of Italy. Both employees of companies and freelance workers are invited to apply.
Candidates must have either a college-level degree or the equivalent in job experience. Additionally, a worker must be able to demonstrate that they’ve perviously worked remotely for a period of at least six months.
There’s an income threshold, too, of roughly $30,000 to apply. And, you can’t have been convicted of a crime within the past five years. You must also have health insurance, and be able to demonstrate that you have a place to live in Italy.
How do I apply?
Visit your local Italian consulate’s website for instructions, which vary by location. While application forms vary by consulate, the Italian consulate in New York has a form on its site that asks for basic information like one’s place of birth and passport information.
The application fee is just over $120, according to Italian law firm Studio Legale Metta.
Within eight days of arrival in Italy, digital nomads must also apply for a residence permit.
Previously Italy had a 90 day rule that meant visitors could only stay for that long without a work visa.
CBS News
Saturday Sessions: Marcus King performs “Save Me”
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
CBS News
New documentary explores the private life of “Superman” icon Christopher Reeve
Long before comic book characters dominated movie screens, actor Christopher Reeve made the world believes in superheroes with the 1978 classic “Superman.”
Reeve died in 2004, nearly a decade after an accident re-shaped his life. “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” is using interviews with family and friends and never-before-seen home videos to explore his real-life heroism.
Reeve started his career on the stage, studying at the prestigious Juilliard School and living with comedian Robin Williams. The pair had a friendship that was “more like a brotherhood,” said Reeve’s son Matthew. Reeve was in awe of Williams’ energy and versatility, Matthew Reeve said, but audiences quickly clued into Reeve’s own star power when he took on the role of the Man of Steel.
To his children, though, he “was just dad,” Matthew Reeve said. The documentary explores how Matthew Reeve and his sister Alexandra Reeve Givens grew up watching their dad take the stage as Superman. “Super/Man” also reveals their heartbreak over their parents’ breakup and the joy they found when Reeve re-married. He tied the knot with Dana Reeve in 1992, and the pair welcomed another child, William Reeve, later that year.
“Dana was sunshine,” Alexandra Reeve Givens recalled. “She just brought joy with her wherever she was and could find it even in the darkest moments.”
Those dark moments came suddenly, when in 1995, a near-fatal horseback riding accident left Reeve paralyzed from the neck down. The documentary allows viewers to see, for the first time, what went on out of the public’s view. Reeve can be heard talking about how he “ruined (his) life and everybody else’s,” but in a touching moment, old friend Robin Williams is seen visiting him in the hospital.
“Robin showed him ‘Hey, you’re still you,'” Alexandra Reeve Givens said. “‘You still have this foundation of friendship and people around you, who adore you. And you’re going to find those fun moments in life again.'”
That support from friends and family re-ignited Reeve’s legacy of activism. He made appearances at the Democratic National Convention and the 68th Academy Awards in 1996, about a year after the accident. Matthew Reeve said watching his father address his industry peers at the Oscars was “one of (his) most proud moments.”
“It was just a production for him to get out of bed every morning, let alone get across the country and go out in public for the first time,” Matthew Reeve said. “It was a big deal. It was a big deal to him, but it was also a big deal to the entire disability community. We stayed up in London till like three in the morning to watch that live. It’s a fond memory.”
Reeve also went on to launch what would become the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, which is dedicated to advancing research into spiral cord injury and help individuals and families impacted by paralysis. It was his dad’s mission to find a cure, Matthew Reeve said, while his stepmother wanted to focus on improving the lives of paralyzed people and their families. The foundation and Reeve’s platform helped bring unprecedented attention and funding to spinal cord injury research.
Reeve even kept acting and realized his lifelong dream of directing with the 1997 HBO movie “In the Gloaming.” Reeve died in 2004 from heart failure at 52.
“There is a huge amount of great actors and actresses out there, where their filmography might be amazing and what they achieve on a cultural level might be amazing, but have they actually achieved anything really as a human that moves the needle for our society?” said filmmaker Ian Bonhote, who made the documentary with Peter Ettedgui. “And Chris has done both things.”
“Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” will open in theaters on Friday, Oct. 11.
CBS News
How England’s most traditional meal is changing
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.