Italy Domestic Worker Visa is a popular search term, but it is not the name of a simple visa that a worker can obtain independently. A Bangladeshi citizen coming to Italy as a colf, badante, babysitter or family-assistance worker normally needs a genuine employer in Italy. The employer starts the work-authorisation process. Only after a valid Nulla Osta is issued can the worker proceed with the national D-visa process in Bangladesh.
2026 status: Italy allocated 13,600 entries to the family-assistance sector under the 2026 Decreto Flussi. The A-bis click day was 18 February 2026. Official guidance says applications may continue until 31 December 2026, subject to quota availability. A separate experimental route provides 10,000 extra-quota entries each year for care of qualifying elderly or disabled people and children up to six years old.
Domestic-work roles in Italy
| Italian term | Typical work |
|---|---|
| Colf | Cleaning, cooking and general household support |
| Badante | Daily assistance for an elderly or dependent person |
| Babysitter | Child supervision and routine care |
| Assistente familiare | A broader family-assistance role |
These roles are not automatically equivalent to professional nursing. The offer should state the duties, weekly hours, live-in or non-live-in arrangement, CCNL level, gross pay, accommodation and rest periods. The job shown in the contract must be consistent with the job authorised in the Nulla Osta.
Italy Domestic Worker Visa process
- An eligible employer identifies a real vacancy and prepares the proposed employment terms.
- The employer or authorised representative submits the appropriate application through the Italian services portal.
- The Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione and other authorities examine the request.
- If approved, a Nulla Osta is issued for the named worker and job.
- The worker follows the current Embassy and VFS process in Bangladesh.
- After the visa application, the employer may have to reconfirm the job offer when requested by the SUI.
- If the visa is issued, the worker travels and completes residence and employment formalities in Italy.
Employer and worker requirements
The employer may need to prove identity or legal residence, financial capacity, suitable accommodation, genuine household demand and compliant pay and hours. A care case can require evidence about the person receiving assistance. Special income exceptions may apply when an employer needs a caregiver because illness or disability limits self-sufficiency, so one universal income figure should not be applied to every household.
The worker needs a valid passport, consistent identity details, a genuine job offer and documents required by the current visa checklist. Relevant experience or training should be truthful and verifiable. A single IELTS or Italian-language certificate rule should not be invented for every domestic-work application, although basic Italian is highly valuable for safety and communication.
Bangladesh application channel
Applicants holding a valid Nulla Osta issued on or after 22 October 2024 may begin through the dedicated VFS webform identified by the Italian Embassy in Dhaka. Older authorisations and certain L/N cases can follow a different verification route. The webform is not an application for a work permit and does not guarantee an appointment. Always follow the instruction applicable to the issue date of the Nulla Osta.
Fees, timing and salary
Separate the national visa fee, VFS service charge, bank charge, translation or apostille cost, travel and post-arrival residence-permit costs. Exchange rates and charges change, so there is no reliable universal “total package price.” Processing also has several stages: employer preparation, quota allocation, SUI checks, Nulla Osta verification, appointment, visa assessment and employer confirmation.
Domestic-worker pay is governed by the relevant collective agreement and varies by classification, hours and living arrangement. The 2026 official table lists selected live-in monthly bases of €958.55 at level A, €1,193.84 at C/CS and €1,474.73 at DS, with an applicable allowance for some higher levels. These are contractual minimum references, not a guaranteed net salary for every caregiver.
After arrival in Italy
The visa is permission to enter, not the final residence document. The worker generally needs to begin residence-contract and permit formalities within eight working days. The process can include the postal kit, Questura biometrics, a tax code and the employer’s INPS employment notification. Keep copies of the contract, receipts, payslips and contribution records.
Fraud warning
- Do not buy a “guaranteed quota” or “guaranteed visa.”
- Insist on direct contact with the employer.
- Compare names, job, address and pay across all documents.
- Never use a tourist visa as a promised shortcut to lawful domestic work.
- Do not submit a passport through an address that is not in the current Embassy/VFS notice.
Frequently asked questions
Can the worker apply for a Nulla Osta?
Under the ordinary sponsored route, the employer or an authorised representative starts the process in Italy.
Does a Nulla Osta guarantee the visa?
No. The visa authority still checks admissibility, documents and required confirmations.
Is the route closed after click day?
Quota availability and eligibility for the separate extra-quota care route must be checked through official sources.
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.