Italian employers can now submit online requests to hire highly qualified workers under the EU Blue Card program. To simplify procedures and offer more favourable conditions, the Italian Ministry of Interior has established a Services Portal. This portal includes a new, updated form that allows Italian employers to request the hiring of highly qualified workers from non-EU countries.
Italian employers can now use a new online form to request highly qualified workers in various fields. Once these requests are submitted, highly qualified non-EU workers can apply for the positions. If they meet the requirements, they will be granted an EU Blue Card, allowing them to live and work in Italy.
According to the Migrant Integration Portal of Italy, highly qualified foreign workers must meet several criteria to be eligible for the EU Blue Card. Non-EU highly qualified foreign workers aiming to obtain Italy’s EU Blue Card must demonstrate that they have completed higher education, possess at least five years of experience in their field, or hold a higher professional qualification with at least three years of experience.
Additionally, EU Blue Card holders must earn a salary at least 1.5 times the national average and must purchase travel health insurance, among other requirements. The EU Blue Card offers numerous benefits to its holders. A highly qualified foreign worker with an Italy-issued EU Blue Card can travel freely within the entire European Union.
Moreover, EU Blue Card holders enjoy the same work conditions and salaries as Italian citizens. They can also obtain permanent residence rights in Italy, and have the same educational, economic, and medical rights as Italians. After one year, they can move to another EU country. Recently, Greece has also facilitated the EU Blue Card application rules. The country now allows foreigners under the visa-free regime and those holding a short-stay visa to apply for the EU Blue Card. Additionally, Greece has modified the pre-screening requirements, allowing applicants to choose whether to undergo the process.