Italy Caregiver Visa is commonly used online to describe entry for badante or family-assistance work. It is not a self-sponsored visa that anyone can purchase. In 2026, applicants should understand two different employer-led paths: the regular Decreto Flussi family-assistance quota and a narrower extra-quota route for care of specified vulnerable people.
Regular family-assistance quota
Italy authorised 13,600 entries for colf, badante and babysitter roles in 2026. The A-bis click day took place on 18 February. An employer submits the request, and the application remains subject to territorial quota availability, labour checks and Sportello Unico approval. A click-day submission is not a visa approval or a lottery ticket owned by the worker.
The 10,000 extra-quota route
Decree-Law 145/2024 created an experimental allowance of 10,000 entries per year from 2025 to 2028 outside the ordinary flow quotas. It is limited to family or socio-health assistance for people aged at least 80, people with recognised disabilities and children up to six. The prospective employer must use an authorised employment agency or a domestic-sector employers’ association to submit the application.
| Point | Regular A-bis route | Extra-quota route |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Family-assistance employment | Care for specified eligible recipients |
| 2026 number | 13,600 | 10,000 each year |
| Click day | 18 February 2026 | Outside the click-day quota |
| Applicant in Italy | Employer or authorised representative | Specified agency or association for the employer |
What does a badante do?
A badante may assist with washing, dressing, meals, mobility, companionship, household routines and medication reminders. Clinical nursing, diagnosis and regulated medical procedures are different. If the job includes them, the employer must determine whether recognised professional qualifications are required. A caregiver should never be presented as available for uninterrupted work 24 hours a day.
Live-in and non-live-in work
A convivente worker lives in the household and may receive room and meals under the contract. A non-convivente worker attends for set hours and lives elsewhere. The written terms should identify normal hours, breaks, weekly rest, night presence, overtime, holidays and the applicable CCNL level. A single salary figure cannot describe both arrangements accurately.
Eligibility checklist
- A real employer in Italy and a genuine care need;
- appropriate employer identity, residence and financial evidence;
- suitable accommodation and lawful proposed conditions;
- a valid worker passport and consistent personal details;
- truthful, verifiable caregiving experience or training;
- a job description matching the Nulla Osta and contract;
- the current Bangladesh work-visa checklist.
Preparation that genuinely helps
Safe lifting, hygiene, elderly nutrition, dementia-aware communication, emergency response and basic Italian household vocabulary are useful skills. A genuine course can help demonstrate ability, but no training centre can bundle a certificate with a guaranteed quota. Check who issued the certificate and whether the claimed accreditation can be verified.
From employer application to arrival
- The employer selects the legally appropriate route.
- The Italian authority checks the application and supporting evidence.
- A Nulla Osta may be issued for the named worker.
- The worker follows the current Embassy/VFS registration and verification channel.
- The applicant submits the national visa application when officially instructed.
- The employer responds promptly to any SUI reconfirmation request.
- After entry, the residence permit and INPS employment steps are completed.
Pay and worker protection
Caregiver pay depends on whether the person receiving care is self-sufficient, the worker’s classification, weekly hours and whether the worker lives in. Use the official 2026 CCNL table, not an unsupported €800–€1,500 blog estimate. Confirm written pay, rest, ferie, thirteenth-month pay, TFR and social-security contributions.
Scam indicators
Be cautious of “free visa sponsorship,” guaranteed jobs without an employer interview, secret employer details, tourist-visa conversion, large cash demands and altered Nulla Osta documents. A genuine employer and even a genuine Nulla Osta do not remove the visa authority’s right to perform checks or refuse an application.
FAQ
Can every caregiver use the extra-quota route?
No. The care recipient, employer and authorised-intermediary conditions must be met.
Is an Italian certificate always mandatory?
Do not assume one universal certificate rule, but functional Italian is important for safe care.
Is a care-home job the same as a household badante job?
No. The employer, sector, qualifications and contractual classification can differ.
Verification note: Immigration rules, fees and submission channels can change. Before applying or paying, check the current Embassy instructions, the authorised application-centre notices and the official Flussi information. No agent or service centre can guarantee a visa decision.